Mobile usability

Preface

Why Mobile Is Different

Screen Shots Are Examples Only

1. Our Research: How We Ran the Usability Studies

Diary Studies

Usability Testing

Qualitative User Research

2. Mobile Strategy

Usability Varies by Mobile Device Category

A Separate Mobile Experience Is Best

Mobile Site vs. Full Site

Mobile-optimized Sites

Why Full Sites Don't Work for Mobile Use

Mobile Is Less Forgiving than Desktop

Responsive Design

Usability Guidelines Are Rarely Dichotomies

Mobile Sites vs. Apps: The Coming Strategy Shift

Current Mobile Strategy: Apps Best

Future Mobile Strategy: Sites Best

When Will the Strategy Shift Happen?

Mobile Apps

Mobile Apps Are Intermittent-use Apps

Half-speed Progress, But Hope Ahead

3. Designing for the Small Screen

Wasted Mobile Space

Chrome

Overloaded vs. Generic Commands

Case Study: Optimizing a Screen for Mobile Use

Typing on Mobile

Download Times

Early Registration Must Die

Example: Pizza Ordering Application

Case Study: The WSJ Mobile App

Confusing Startup Screen

Degrading the Brand

A Better Design

A New WSJ Workflow

Better Next Year

4. Writing for Mobile

Mobile Content Is Twice as Difficult

Why Mobile Reading Is Challenging

If in Doubt, Leave It Out

Filler = Bad

Old Words Are Best

Bylines for Mobile Content?

Defer Secondary Information to Secondary Screens

Example 1: Mobile Coupons

Example 2: Progressive Disclosure in Wikipedia

Deferring Information = Initial Info Read More

Mini-IA: Structuring the Information About a Concept

Linear Paging? Usually Bad

Alphabetical Sorting Must (Mostly) Die

Example: Usage-relevant Structure

Usage-driven Structure

5. Tablets and E-readers

iPad Usability

Tablets Are Shared Devices

What Are iPads Used For?

The Triple Threat of iPad Design

Inconsistent Interaction Design

The Print Metaphor

Card Sharks vs. Holy Scrollers

Swipe Ambiguity

TMN: Too Much Navigation

Splash Screens and Startup Noises

Orientation

Toward a Better iPad User Experience

Kindle Usability

Kindle: The E-reader

Kindle Fire Usability

6. Looking Toward the Future

Transmedia Design for the Three Screens

PCs Will Remain Important

The Third Screen: TV

Transmedia User Experience

Beyond Flatland

In the Future, We'll All Be Harry Potter

Next-generation Magic

Don't Harm the Muggles

Appendix: A Bit of History

Field Study in 2000

WAP Doesn't Work

Déjà Vu: 1994 All Over Again

Mobile Killer App: Killing Time

Index