Archive for category Uncategorized
HTC Desire
Posted by saif in Uncategorized on 09/05/2010
I just got a new toy today and I can’t wait to take it for a spin. The most pressing question right now for me is can I have Arabic on it. I’ll post a full review in a couple of days. Here is a sneak peak:
My new toy
Arabic on Android – Take 2
Posted by saif in Uncategorized on 31/12/2009
I see that a lot of the visitors to my blog are interested in Arabic on Android and most of them go to my previous post entitled, rightfully, Arabic on Android.
So to follow-up I’ve been doing some search. I found a mod (KB7SQIs Magic Mod w/arabic v2.7.2) that is based on Sapphire HTC Arabic Etisalat 2.56.494.7. I’ve installed it on my G1 and happy to report that the Arabic support is pretty good, even though it is based on Android 1.5. Arabic text on the browser is displayed properly and is displayed well everywhere else. I’ve attached some photos of the mod in action.
If you want to learn more about this mod and all of the other available mods, go to AndroidSPIN and look under AndroidSPIN DB directly under the big Android.
Google Nexus One Android Phone
Posted by saif in Uncategorized on 25/12/2009
OK first there were rumours that Google will launch a phone, then those rumours died down when Google announced Android. However, Google did have a phone coming and its called the Nexus One. The first reviews looks very promising, maybe something to do with the horsepower on this thing; a rumoured 1Ghz Qualcomm QSD 8250. Also the screen is reported to be amazing, even better than that on the Droid. There is a lot of hype for this phone. You can read more about it here, here, and here. Now that I have too many options, I do not know what to pick.
Upcoming Android Phones I Like
Posted by saif in Uncategorized on 01/11/2009
This is a short post.
I am looking for an upgrade for my T-Mobile G1 (aka HTC Dream) phone. I like it but like any 1st generation models they have their drawbacks. I haven’t found a phone with an actual physical keyboard. I also want to keep the G1 as a testing phone, you know try the stuff I cannot do with a phone I actually use to receive calls on.
Previously I’ve talked about the HTC Hero, which seems like a very nice phone but without a physical keyboard, and I have read about it being a bit underpowered. Now, however, there are two amazingly good-looking phones that I can’t wait to check out. First Sony Ericsson Xperia X3 Sony Ericsson Xperia X10. It has a big screen (800 x 400 pixels), 8 mp camera, and a rumoured 1 Ghz processor. The release date is rumoured to be Nov 3rd.
Another impressive Android phone that was making headlines lately is the Verizon Droid, made by Motorla. This phone has some impressive specs, including a big screen (854 x 480 pixels), 5 mp camera, and a physical keyboard. What makes this phone ‘extra’ amazing is that the phone is just a hair thicker than the iPhone 3GS with the physical keyboard. It also includes the new Android 2.0 OS with a turn-by-turn Google maps/navigation. It is around $599 and $199 with a two year contract (in the US). The ‘rest-of-the-world’ release of the Droid is called the Motorola Milestone and will set you back around $700.
Any other Android phones you think are worth mentioning here?
Android News. 50+ Android Phones expected in near future
Posted by saif in Uncategorized on 21/10/2009
It is amazing that just about a year ago we had the first Android phone; the HTC Dream (aka T-Mobile G1), a phone I own. Now there seems to be a much larger selection of phones to choose from. I am looking forward for the Sony Ericsson’s Xperia X3.
V Smile TV Learning Plus
Posted by saif in Uncategorized on 28/09/2009
Let me start by saying that I really like the concept of an educational system that incorporates drawing, voice, and characters known to the children. This is what V Smile does. However, if it does not allow the children to play the same way they are used to on a Sony PlayStation, a PSP, a Nintendo DS/DSi, or even a computer then they end up being frustrated.
I am talking solely from personal experience and it might be that my children’s V Smile system is defective but I did see a couple of these systems, including the one in the shop.
The main reason of frustration is the controls; they are not precise enough. I gave it to my daughter who is 5 years old and she got frustrated quickly. The drawing pen is way off and ends up not drawing the same character required. I she was frustrated because she could not finished the level so I tried to help her but found out that the controls was not enjoyable. I saw the same thing happen with my two boys (6 & 7).
I see that they have a similar device called V.Flash which is for 6+ years. I am wondering if it has a better experience.
British Airways In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) Video on Demand (VOD)
Posted by saif in Uncategorized on 10/08/2009
I am a frequent flyer of British Airways. I like the service and the timing of their flight so I make sure I travel with them.
Many airlines offer In-flight entertainment (IFE) with video-on-demand (VOD). It seems most of which run Linux (look here and here for examples). those IFEs are usually based on touch-screens that allow direct interaction.
The system on BA allows the variety of choice of what to watch: new releases, comedy, action, shows, kids .. etc. After several attempts to “complete a task” I noticed a problem with the interface design, unfortunately I was too lazy to stand up, grab my bag, take out the camera, and snap a photo, so I suppose an illustration will suffice.
British Airways VOD Interface Design
As can be noticed from my high-tech illustration, even though the listing has enough spacing between them to be able to click on each easily without much concentration, there is a problem when trying to click the “next” button located on the bottom of the screen. Clicking on the “next” button requires a high level of concentration and because of various issues such as the turbulence and the condition of the touch-screen (being used by so many different people) the accuracy is low. I actually tried clicking on it several times before I go it right. A simple solution might be to move the bottom row buttons a bit lower; if I remember correctly there is enough space for that. However, the reason of not moving them lower might have to do with the quality of the touch-screen; not being that responsive on the edges.
An alternative solution would be to redesign the listing to better utilize the area and allow for easy clicking. One way of doing it would be like this second illustration. This allows for a larger clickable area without decreasing the amount of information displayed.
Video-on-Demand Redesign Alternative
A third and final alternative could be like the following illustration. This second alternative layout places the movie titles the same as the current design, however, it moves the context buttons (back, next, main menu) buttons to the right of the screen which allows greater space for the movie titles and separates context buttons.
Video-on-Demand Redesign Alternative 2
Now I really wish I did take that photo so that I can have some more insight for a redesign. Maybe next time.
iPhone 3Gs: Copy & Paste … ooooh
Posted by saif in Uncategorized on 03/08/2009
This is a short post. It is funny when the main selling point of a phone is copy & paste. This is exactly what the new iPhone 3Gs advertisement tries to dol. It would of been OK if people haven’t asked for the feature since iPhone 1.0 and after versions and versions they finally have it on the phone and then they advertise it like it is a huge thing. Funny.
SUSE Studio: An Easy “Build Your Own Live CD” Service
Posted by saif in Uncategorized on 03/08/2009
I’ve always thought that Linux, in general, had the advantage over Microsoft and Apple when it comes to operating systems (OS) because of the “Try before you install” approach, commonly known as “Live CD“. This allows you to actually run the OS through the CD and check that everything is working before actually installing the OS. Novell now offers a service called SUSE Studio 1.0 which allows you to configure the Live CD and add the software you want before you actually install it. I will not go into details here but think about what you do when you first install a new OS: you spend a lot of time installing software you actually need. Now what if you can configure the OS to actually include the software before burning it to the CD? Especially when you manage several computers with the same hardware, like a class. I know there is ways to do that on Windows and Linux, but I believe this is a much easier way to do it. Don’t take my word for it though, go check it out yourself.
Usablity = Good Design?
Posted by saif in Uncategorized on 26/07/2009
Usability and the relation between usability and good design really interests me. By usability I mean “extent to which a product can be used by specified users to achieve specified goals with effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction in a specified context of use” ISO 9241-11. It interests me so much I’m doing a PhD in it.
In the title of this post, I am not saying that making a website usable will actually make that website better designed. Usability is important but not the ultimate goal, the ultimate goal is to allow users to achieve what they are there to do. I visit many websites that are “fun” to interact with, but when you set a goal the interactivity changes from “fun” to “frustrating”. Many of all-flash websites fall into this category. To complicate things further, some users find the websites pleasant and others do not even though they take the same amount of time to achieve their goal.
An additional factor that relates to achieving one’s goal is utility. Utility is “The quality or condition of being useful; usefulness”. So we have utility and usability. However, when I was looking up usability, one of the thesaurus I found was utilizable: “capable of being utilized”. In that sense, I do not think that something can be utilized if it is not usable. However, sometimes people are forced to use a software/system or another and there, even if that software usability is not great, that software/system will be utilized. Maybe it would not be utilized to the extent required but it will be utilized nonetheless. Now what really suffers here is the satisfaction, because this is the only factor the user can control, or modify. Usability in this case comes in to increase the satisfaction by increasing, or trying to increase, the efficiency and effectiveness of the software/system.
An example of that which is universal is a trip to the Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV), known in the UK as Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency DVLA. People always hate that trip: it is usually slow and bureaucratic, similar to getting your tooth pulled out, which is another good example here. Now how can we fix that with one thing to change? Say making it faster but you will still have to go through the same process, or by making it less bureaucratic but takes the same time. I understand that one should effect the other positively, making it less bureaucratic should make it faster, but let us assume that only one could one be changed that wouldn’t have an effect on the other. Would that increase the satisfaction of users?
I am just thinking through words here. Any input?