[bangraman]

No, but at least the members are voluble and descriptive enough for us to be able to figure out exactly how unreliable it may be

 

[Emmanuel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spad Illogical? Either you've never used an iPod or you're simply trolling. I suspect the latter, but that's okay--it's all fun.

Neither, I'm afraid. One of the things I have studied, albeit a long time ago, is HCI (human-computer interaction). It now plays a major part in my job (I am an IT Consultant - at least one kind of them).

It is illogical to use a rotating interface to navigate, essentially, up/down & left/right. I guess, we approve the iPod's interface because we are an illogical race.

The proof that the iPod's navigation interface (the click-wheel) is not logical lies with the fact that a blind person can not navigate through it. At a point onwards, one would be moving circularly upwards while scrolling down and vice-versa.

Should it matter? I guess not. Good interfaces are as rare as they come; even on MS Windows I have to click 'Start' in order to stop using my computer (i.e. shut down)...

Yes. It's all good fun.

 

[blessingx]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emmanuel It is illogical to use a rotating interface to navigate, essentially, up/down & left/right. I guess, we approve the iPod's interface because we are an illogical race. The proof that the iPod's navigation interface (the click-wheel) is not logical lies with the fact that a blind person can not navigate through it. At a point onwards, one would be moving circularly upwards while scrolling down and vice-versa.

Emmanuel, I agree with some of your points, but disagree a tad on how much it applies for anyone who has had the experience of driving a car and turning right while going up a hill.

On that note blind drivers scare me!

 

[Emmanuel]

Navigating a car is extremely logical and a blind person shouldn't have any trouble with the 'interface' (loosely defined here). The only problem for a blind person driving a car does not have actually anything to do with the car itself... It's avoiding the obstacles.

Mind you, many sighted drivers have the same problem...

 

[proximal]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emmanuel It is illogical to use a rotating interface to navigate, essentially, up/down & left/right. I guess, we approve the iPod's interface because we are an illogical race.

A rotating interface is much quicker than buttons, and more ergonomic than vertical touchpads. It is less logical, but rotary controls have become so common (on radios, climate controls, computer mice) that it isn't really an issue for most people. Besides, there's practically no learning curve. The only place I've found rotary controls to be counterintuitive is on my microwave, and that has nothing to do with moving up/down.

 

[bangraman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emmanuel Originally Posted by Emmanuel

All theory, no practice. Flawed theory to boot.

 

[warpdriver]

If my wife can understand how to use it in the first minute, then it is intuitive

You can argue all you want about being "illogical", but the real proof is that real people have no trouble using it. That's all that matters. Intuitive UI == good UI.

Blind people are a different story....their needs are different. I do accessibility useability testing for UI (blind and deaf people).

 

[Spad]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emmanuel It is illogical to use a rotating interface to navigate, essentially, up/down & left/right.

Perhaps it will appear more logical if you think of it as up/down or left/right, which is, in fact, how it works. This is why menu navigation with the iPod is immediately intuited by most or us. It's hardly like steering a car, old chap.

 

[sno1man]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bangraman No, but at least the members are voluble and descriptive enough for us to be able to figure out exactly how unreliable it may be

and speaking as head fi member with a brand new nano.... Right now my new toy is just to much fun to be able to do a rational, analytical test of it right now.

After i get over the 'boy this thing is cool" stage I will look at it more closely. For good or bad I think it sounds at least as good as any other ipod I have except maybe my lowly shuffle. When I get home I will confirm, but I think it still may have an edge.

 

[Spad]

Did you guys happen to see this from Playlist Magazine:

"It’s also the first iPod that includes an unplayed podcasts indicator (a small blue dot that appears next to podcasts you haven’t yet listened to) and a Lyrics screen where you can view any lyrics added to a track within iTunes’ song information window.

And, as you might expect, it sounds as good as any other iPod you’ve owned."

I know, I know, it's just "incrementalism," but still a nice little touch.

 

[rsaavedra]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emmanuel even on MS Windows I have to click 'Start' in order to stop using my computer (i.e. shut down)...

Well, to stop using the computer you do need to "start" the shutdown process in fact.

Technically speaking it is perfectly logical.

Anyway, Human Computer Interfaces are fertile ground for endless discussions that have little to do with actual effectiveness of the interface. The test of an HCI is in the people using it, not in people analyzing it. If people start using it without a problem then it's intuitive and then it's good. The proof of intuitiveness and easy of use is not in any debate no matter how logical, it's in the slope of the learning curve and adoption rate for the masses.

 

[Masolino]

Considering that the nano is the first flash-based DAP to have four gigs of capacity, does it stand any advantage compared to HD-based players in playing back low or uncompressed files such as WAV or AIFF? If yes, that would be another reason to get the Nano in addition to what older ipods one may have (i.e. the Nano would function exactly like a portable carousel cd player).

 

[akwok]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Masolino Considering that the nano is the first flash-based DAP to have four gigs of capacity, does it stand any advantage compared to HD-based players in playing back low or uncompressed files such as WAV or AIFF? If yes, that would be another reason to get the Nano in addition to what older ipods one may have (i.e. the Nano would function exactly like a portable carousel cd player).

Ideally there should be no load time and no lag at all.. much better than a portable CDP

 

[Masolino]

Then the nano would truly complement, rather than compete with, older ipod's in one's collection.

 

[adhoc]

after a day or so of thinking - if it sounds as good as the suffle, i'll take it.