[maemo-developers] Launch image to increase feeling of responsiveness (a la iPhone)

[From: Kalle Vahlman]

2008/3/9, Michael Wiktowy <michael.wiktowy at gmail.com>:
> It is an interesting idea but I can see how some might be ambivalent
>  to Apple's implementation. Spending more resources (storage space for
>  bogus images, non-zero CPU time and battery life) and *actually*
>  slowing application launch just to give the *perception* of speed may
>  not be the correct direction to head.

Storage space, CPU time and battery life sound a bit artificial
arguments here. I doubt that showing an extra image on startup would
cut your battery life in any noticeable way.

But for actual vs perceived speed, nobody will be using stopwatches as
entertainment while an application starts up, so nobody will know
whether it took 5 or 7 seconds to load up. They will however get bored
after few seconds if the thing they requested didn't show up. I think
this is what makes the banner feel a bit inadequate, it's not even
close to what I want (the application) and thus feels a bit detached
(or maybe it's just the fact that I know it has nothing to do with the
actual application startup...).

I agree that applications should defer any work that they can to
*after* showing something to the user. That doesn't invalidate the
fact that if the launcher can show already *something* (the actual UI
won't work due to the theming issues IMO) in the place where the
application will be, it'll improve the user experience. And if you
keep your user happy, they will forgive any defects your program might
have.

Apple knows this very well and that is what makes it so successful.
They restrict the user even in ridiculous ways (no c&p? would you
tolerate that in maemo?) but in turn they deliver polished, unified
and snappy-feeling UI which keeps the user *mostly* happy so they are
forgiven.

-- 
Kalle Vahlman, zuh at iki.fi
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