I’ve been downloading iPhone apps like a mad man lately, just to check out functionalities, common practices and just all around knowledge on iPhone apps and one thing that I’ve noticed is that most apps are guilty or something i absolutely loathe.
In almost any app you’ll find on the app store, there will be some kind of button that takes you somewhere outside of said app. I have no qualms with that, however i do have a problem with not informing the user that said button WILL be doing that. How many times have you (if you’re an iphone user) clicked a button, only to find out that its closed the application and moved on to its designated task?
I completely understand the necessity and want to have an app do some sort of activitiy outside of itself, I don’t understand, however why so many apps dont mention this to the user, either explicitly or implictly. If you are going to a website, use the safari image on the button, or just have the text imply that clicking the button will take you out of the app.
I guess on the other side to it, the developer could say “well the user should know clicking that link would take them out”, but i think that’s an unfair assumption.
Have you had any frustrations with this? If so let me know!
Totally agree with you. Combined with the fact that the iPhone doesnt automatically restore you to where you left of in said app this proves to be a very annoying occurrence.
I think to solve this problem some apps like Tweetie have included built in browsers which is very useful, but adds extra work for the developer.
Also, maybe an alert box to let users know they are leaving the app would be a good idea like you mentioned above.
Overall I think the workflow between apps on the iPhone could be a lot better. Maybe they could work on apps staying open in the background but the issue of memory management/use with keeping apps running in the background while switching could be a problem.
Im sure Apple will amaze us all with some brilliant solution