Questions relating to mobile computing devices, such as cell phones, tablets, and e-readers. Includes consideration for both small screen size as well as the mobile and "always on" nature of the devices.
9
votes
5answers
962 views
When should a mobile app have only one orientation?
Under what circumstances should a mobile app only have one orientation? That is, when you flip your phone landscape or portrait, the view does not adjust. Why did the following two iPhone apps force ...
9
votes
2answers
68 views
Differences between websites and their mobile counterparts
I am looking for some opinions on a topic I have been thinking about recently.
When comparing full websites to their mobile sites/apps it's noticeable that clients are FAR happier to keep the ...
9
votes
2answers
701 views
How should modal popups and tool tips be handled in responsive websites?
I am reviewing some website wireframes from a client and have decided to make the new site responsive. I've had pretty good luck so far with responsive theming and design from a few past projects and ...
9
votes
4answers
626 views
How to present Actions (eg. CRUD) buttons without taking focus away from main content?
I am looking for a way to present Actions (eg. CRUD) buttons while not taking focus away from main content. It'll be great to see examples of good application design (I am doing a web app (probably ...
9
votes
5answers
3k views
How do you map the flow of a mobile application? Can you provide examples?
I'm currently working on the IA/UX for a mobile application and as I'm mapping it out it doesn't seem like a traditional site map makes sense nor does a flowchart. Can anyone point me to a good set of ...
9
votes
1answer
1k views
Are the Metro UI icons poor for usability?
While looking at Metro UI styles I thought about one of the unique aspects of the icons. Their placement inside circles. E.g.
I can imagine that this provides a target like effect, emphasising the ...
9
votes
5answers
304 views
What's the best way to implement product comparison on a mobile web site?
I have found only one example of this so far (Best Buy) and it is not very well executed. I'm wondering if there are any good examples of mobile sites that allow product comparisons, or if perhaps ...
9
votes
6answers
537 views
What are some tools to monitor user interaction in mobile apps? [closed]
What tools and services are available for monitoring user interaction in a running mobile (iOS) app? Is there a way to monitor users taps, time spent in between taps etc?
8
votes
6answers
229 views
Is speed the most important factor in mobile applications?
I've been noticing a trend when using my phone for music at work. Sites like Bandcamp have an excellent mobile site that is simple and intuitive. However, once I find a cool group on Bandcamp I end up ...
8
votes
7answers
664 views
Search Icon vs Search Input Box - Both Require One Click/Touch: Which to use?
I'm working on a mobile site of a rather large site. There are quite a few iA and navigation hurdles already, so I'm pushing to use a search icon instead of a traditional search input box.
My ...
8
votes
3answers
194 views
How should I indicate to a user that they've already viewed an item?
In a mobile app in developing, I'm showing a list of results where each item can be clicked on to view more details.
For each item in the list I'd like to indicate to the user that they've already ...
8
votes
8answers
352 views
Icons vs. Dropdown for primary mobile navigation
I am working on a responsive design in which there are 5 selections in the primary navigation. I'm thinking because there are only 5 I could use icons instead of a dropdown for the primary navigation. ...
8
votes
5answers
569 views
On mobile phones why is the green (call) button at the left and red (hang) button at the right side?
Some old mobile phones have switched position of green/red buttons.
Currently the green button is at the left and red button is at the right side on mobile phones.
Why? That is rationale? Which ...
8
votes
6answers
693 views
iPhone like UI for Desktop apps
Is there any reason why an iPhone like UI paradigms shouldn't be adopted while designing a desktop application? Let's say you're developing a windows application, can you not use something similar to ...
8
votes
2answers
10k views
Android List View - delete row button, delete selected button or delete from item click menu?
Android List view activity with item rows. User needs to be able delete some rows.
I know standard way in Android is to use item click menu. But it's 2 clicks. Is it best way?
8
votes
1answer
233 views
How to format UI control screenshots so users don't think they're touchable?
I have a need in a touchscreen mobile app to show users a message that informs them about some system function that they should know might affect my app. As well as describing the issue, I want to use ...
8
votes
2answers
183 views
Has user testing ever revealed that you have to change your app's UI colour?
Dark-themed UI colours have been popular for a while on certain desktop applications (Adobe Lightroom as an example), and seem to be popping up on mobile applications as well. I'm referring to the ...
8
votes
1answer
354 views
Checklist App (Process Documentation) Interface For Android Mobile Tablet & Phone
I'd like some help figuring out a good interface design for my app. It will be a checklist application, I guess somewhat similar to a todo list but instead of for things todo it is for documenting a ...
8
votes
3answers
1k views
Are “submit” buttons important for forms on iPhone and Android apps?
When inputting text on the last text field in a form on an iPhone and Android app, the enter key can be highlighted or (on iOS anyway) renamed "done", so that tapping it will submit the form. ...
8
votes
4answers
263 views
Is “search” really used on blogs?
I'm working on a a blog (which includes a mobile version), and I am not sure how useful a "search" button / box would be - especially on the mobile version. I can think of how it could be useful, but ...
8
votes
3answers
343 views
screen video capturing (usability test) on mobile
I'm trying to figure out how to conduct a usability test upon a handset device (smartphone).
it seems there aren't many methods for screen video capturing of a user making use of an app.
Do you know ...
8
votes
4answers
475 views
How do I handle secondary navigation within a wizard-style form that will work for touch screens?
I am working on redesigning the UI for a Web app that registers users for something work-related (so my audience is captive). One of the main reasons for the redesign is to make it mobile-friendly; I ...
8
votes
2answers
155 views
Text entry methods for mobile devices
There are many ways to input text on different mobile devices:
numeric keyboard (ordinary mobile phone)
handwriting recognition (with stylus, e.g. MS Courier)
physical qwerty keyboard (e.g. ...
8
votes
3answers
500 views
Should we include a “Back to top” button for mobile websites?
When building a mobile web site that needs to be accessible — do you consider it to be best practice to include a "Back to top" anchor link in a footer menu for long pages?
I'm thinking about those ...
8
votes
2answers
1k views
Is switching to a selectbox navigation for mobile devices a good solution for complex menus?
An example of this functionality can be found in this site (shrink the browser viewport to see the selectbox navigation take over.)
Is this a good practice? Wondering if anyone has any experience to ...
8
votes
5answers
298 views
What are the best practices for tooltips on mobile websites?
What are the best practices for tooltips on mobile websites? I'm designing the mobile version of a website for customers' accounts (where they can see their latest bill and settings for their ...
7
votes
4answers
4k views
Breadcrumbs: ok to use on mobile site?
Wondering if anyone has thoughts on using breadcrumbs as a method of navigation on a mobile website (for a content site). The breadcrumbs would show the heirarchy of the site as such:
Site >> ...
7
votes
3answers
287 views
Is it ok for a mobile site to be a limited subset of the full site?
I'm working on yet another time-tracking web application. This application has, next to the normal site, a mobile version. Now I wonder, is it ok for the mobile version to be a limited subset of the ...
7
votes
4answers
544 views
Designing for mobile web browsers
What is the best approach for designing a web site to run across most all modern mobile web browsers?
Is targeting WebKit based browsers enough?
7
votes
3answers
542 views
Swipe indicators on a small screen
My Android app has a screen that displays the details of an item selected from a list, as shown above. The screen allows the user to scroll to the next or previous item in the list by swiping ...
7
votes
2answers
599 views
What are Windows Phone 7 best practices ? [closed]
What are WP7 best practices ?
Here are some sub-questions
What are main differences between a good iPhone UI and a good WP7 UI ?
For a cross-platform app, should we choose a look-likely UI or ...
7
votes
3answers
259 views
What is the best interaction pattern for entering a range on a mobile phone?
I have a mobile application where I need to filter a list by a range. (Imagine a dating app where you want to filter people by age). How should one design the range picker?
A person should be able to ...
7
votes
3answers
128 views
Is there any issues with approaching a website re-design from a mobile first perspective?
I've read the book Mobile First and agree with many of the points made. However, I still do not approach a project creating a set of mobile wireframes and then desktop. I still design the other way ...
7
votes
3answers
299 views
What do you call the screens/pages/interfaces within software?
Websites have pages. Does software? I'm mainly thinking of smartphone apps.
'Interface's is probably technically correct, but 'interface' could equally refer to sub-menu that appear within a given ...
7
votes
4answers
530 views
How many elements are too many for one screen of a mobile (iOS/Android) application?
Without scrolling, what would be the maximum amount of centered buttons I could arrange on a vertical axis before it became too cluttered? Interface Builder gives suggested distances between ...
7
votes
6answers
591 views
What's the best “show navigation” icon for limited screen space
I read through the article and comments on "We need a standard show navigation icon for responsive web design" by Andy Clarke and it got me thinking about the subject and I'd like to hear your ...
7
votes
2answers
546 views
What is the optimal layout for a mobile search form with a large number of fields?
I'm working on the layout for a search form that has approximately 8-10 fields. At this point, the search form fills nearly the entire viewport. My research has turned up general strategies for large ...
7
votes
3answers
295 views
Do icons need labels on mobile apps?
There have already been studies that prove labelling icons enhances usability on desktop applications. This is why Microsoft Outlook started labelling its icons.
Does the same logic apply to ...
7
votes
2answers
233 views
Is it good or bad for user to give a feel and look of native apps to Website for mobile?
Is it good or bad for user to give a feel and look of native apps to Website for mobile?
Transition effects on page change
Fixed floating footer or header
Hide address bar
Native app like UI
or ...
7
votes
4answers
345 views
How do you show non-affordance?
There is a tendency to use badges or status images to show information, but very often these badges look like other items which you interact with, such as buttons.
There is a lot of information on ...
7
votes
1answer
674 views
User accessibility for mobile applications [closed]
What are key points of mobile UI accessibility?
What is a difference between mobile and desktop accessibility?
Is there any recommendations we can use?
7
votes
1answer
148 views
Any studies (or experience) regarding mobile device use and purchasing behavior?
I am presently trying to determine whether the creation of a mobile-friendly interface to an established retail site is worth prioritizing over other improvements; given that the present ...
7
votes
4answers
539 views
Is it good to hide url bar from Mobile websites?
Is it good to hide url bar from Mobile websites?
By default it shows. but there are some JavaScript tricks which can hide the bar on page load. but user can get back by dragging from top.
For a ...
6
votes
5answers
557 views
Why are icons on mobile phone menu screens square or rectangular but not circular?
If you take a look at the app page of any mobile OS, for example iOS, Android, Ubuntu, Win8, BADA, etc., they all have square icons, either with rounded corner or sharp corners (shown in the first ...
6
votes
3answers
568 views
Do I need to design four different apps for Android, iOS, smartphones, or have one common design?
I have to start designing for an app which will be used by Android & IOS users both on Smartphones and Tablets.
Do I need to design four different apps or have one common design and then ...
6
votes
5answers
380 views
Why did microsoft designers place an arrow at the right top of the windows phone home screen? What would be the UX logic?
I find it strange that there is so much space below the arrow mark at the top right of the windows mobile home screen. An entire column is kept blank. Is it a good design practice? What's the purpose ...
6
votes
3answers
527 views
What's the best way to show you can scroll on mobile devices?
I'm trying to find the best method of showing users on mobile devices that they can scroll in a <div>.
As iPhones/iPads don't have scrollbars, I will need an indicator to show that you can ...
6
votes
3answers
2k views
Mobile Website: navigation at the bottom of the page with an anchor link at the top
On a mobile site I'll be putting the main navigation at the bottom of the page so that the main content is visible without having to scroll past lots of navigation options. (As per w3c ...
6
votes
4answers
943 views
How to present heavy data tables on smartphones?
Problem: I've got a table with 10 columns and ~100 rows. What is the best way to present these on small screens? My idea: effective search + data displayed row-by-row. Is there any better solution?
6
votes
7answers
1k views
One website for multiple client resolutions
I keep thinking that although creating a single website for multiple client resolutions or screen sizes might be hard work, it's far more maintainable than creating a separate website for each device ...
