iPad Apps: One Year Later
One set of instructions for the Moleskine iPad app. Image courtesy of WIRED.com.
Neilson Norman Group has released a follow-up to their report last year on the usability of iPad apps. A year after the iPad was introduced and changed the very course of human history, some apps are still stuck in Web 1.0. The full report is a fascinating study in user experience on a unique platform, but here are the key takeaways:
Less is more: Apps with too many navigation techniques are typically confusing for users. Further, good apps require less navigation for users.
No splashing: Apps with elaborate introductions can be eye-catching at first, but quickly wear out their welcome.
Conspicuous consumption: App developers would do well to remember iPads are first and foremost used for media consumption: videos, music, web. Give the people what they want.
It’s also interesting to see how good apps mirror good websites (it’s amazing what a back button can do)—years of navigating the web have left their mark.
What apps do you think are easy (or maddening) to use? Tell us on @WIREDInsider or facebook.com/wiredinsider.
