Are people stupid or is MS afraid

[Arda Ozkal]

Wtf does msft's help and tips (beta) app do?
I think that It'll be a preinstalled app when its out of beta.
And when we all upgraded to 8.1, we got a sms which said,
"Hi there! To find out about the new, fun stuff that's in your Windows Phone 8.1 update, go to windowsphone.com/new

This is a free message."

and when we first opened our phones, we got a sms said,
"Hi! Check out our timesaving tips and videos for getting the most from your new phone.

windowsphone.com/hello

This is a free message."

you see, they already do that...
ps. like if you agree with me, thank me if you want to thank me because I typed the sms' here, they are only deletable

EDIT: If the fear really would be that people dont figure these things out, how about a small popup window when you first time enter the action centre or the multitasking view?

Just like on windows 8 huh Maybe...

 

[Moiz Mian]

Windows 8 for example didn't have a way of exitting metro apps except for swiping down. I know older people who used that as an excuse to hate the operating system because there was no clue as to what swiping down from the top did. And I kind of have to agree. The whole lack of a power button. The swipe in and out from the left to get to the multitasking, and the swipe down to close were not implemented correctly. At least if when you swipe down there was a garbage can halo that popped up at the bottom and you could just drag it into there. It would've helped by miles.

Anyway, for me personally, I understand how to use it. But my parents, older people, or people who don't care for technologyy will not figure these things out without help from others. It's strange how WP8 and W8 are so different in this regard. WP8 has these clues so people who aren't tech savvy can use the damn thing without complaining about not understanding.

 

[Guytronic]

Are people stupid or is MS afraid

MSFT isn't afraid yet the company seems to be bending to user whining.
I remember Mr. Nadella's words:
"Our industry does not respect tradition — it only respects innovation."
Satya Nadella email to employees on first day as CEO

I really don't think people are stupid.
Folks just use what works for them.

Constant changes and trying to keep up with them just makes life difficult as far as I'm concerned.

I tap the "X" because that's what works for me.
When that was implemented in the black preview I was happy.

Takes time as we gain age to re-learn...

 

[MDK22]

For the OP (& the rest of you) ... has NO one heard of Sect 508 ?

The 'X' will probably stay there to accommodate those that are sight impaired, etc. One of the posts on this forum was from just such a person - sight impaired in some respect, asking about the NARRATOR feature (screen reader). NOW, some of you are going to say (those that are sighted) that the swipe down would work better, BUT, you have to walk a mile in an adaptive technology needing person. They could (for example) be swiping down from the wrong screen, with NO results & getting very frustrated (they're sight impaired). They need a marker that this is the correct screen for that action. Perhaps the NARRATOR will blow that 'X' up to approx. 250%, to indicate the screen you're looking at.

Besides, the 'X' was there first, NO code to fix, just two triggers for the same action (object). It may actually take code to remove it. There may be future uses for this feature, everything is evolutionary. (dynamic, constantly changing)

:eck::shocked::angry:

 

[spaulagain]

Users are in general very bad at finding invisible things.

Very true! I did a re-skin of my company's control panel for our customers. I hid the username, account ID, log out button, etc under an avatar icon in the top right corner. It's a very common place/pattern for such an item, but people still have problems finding those items there.

 

[spaulagain]

For the OP (& the rest of you) ... has NO one heard of Sect 508 ?

The 'X' will probably stay there to accommodate those that are sight impaired, etc. One of the posts on this forum was from just such a person - sight impaired in some respect, asking about the NARRATOR feature (screen reader). NOW, some of you are going to say (those that are sighted) that the swipe down would work better, BUT, you have to walk a mile in an adaptive technology needing person. They could (for example) be swiping down from the wrong screen, with NO results & getting very frustrated (they're sight impaired). They need a marker that this is the correct screen for that action. Perhaps the NARRATOR will blow that 'X' up to approx. 250%, to indicate the screen you're looking at.

Besides, the 'X' was there first, NO code to fix, just two triggers for the same action (object). It may actually take code to remove it. There may be future uses for this feature, everything is evolutionary. (dynamic, constantly changing)

:eck::shocked::angry:

Section 508 applies to government/federal interfaces, etc. Windows Phone is a product of a private company.

That being said, a private company taking into account 508 standards certainly helps them create products that are very accessible.

 

[aikidaves]

I've been an enterprise software developer for 30+ years. I see no problem with having more than one way to perform the same action. I especially like to always have at least one visual cue for how to perform actions, as people do frequently forget the invisible ones. Yes, the swipe is elegant and I use it a lot, but there are times when it's easier to just tap the X. My wife has an iPhone, has trouble with the swipe sometimes, and would be very happy to have an X to press as an alternative. (For that matter, I'm always trying to swipe down on her phone when I'm helping her. Hard to override habits.)

So, bottom line, I'm afraid I have no sympathy for the idea of removing one interface method just because a new one has been added.

 

[k0de]

No people are not stupid and MSFT is never scared. MSFT is trying to make it easy for everyone. We are all different and like to have options.

Just use what suits you.

I do hope that in the future OS updates. We have the ability to customize our phones to our liking.

 

[matty032]

I believe its the former and not the latter. When people prefer the Windows 3.1 look of android, and ios, because tiles are too confusing, I believe that says it all.

 

[CrossedFaith]

I prefer the X method myself. Could be from all these years hitting the X to close web pages and whatnot on my computer.

 

[onysi]

Your title says it all. People ARE stupid AND Microsoft is afraid to confuse general public. Not everyone tech savvy.

 

[Reflexx]

Not being tech savvy doesn't mean someone is stupid.

Thinking that would be... well... pretty stupid.

 

[tgp]

Not being tech savvy doesn't mean someone is stupid.

Thinking that would be... well... pretty stupid.

Correct. But if they are called "stupid", then Microsoft has to design their OSs to be able to be used by "stupid" people.

 

[herbertsnow]

It's because stupid people are stupid.

 

[elmacho]

The X helps with discoverability. Gestures are great and much more efficient than cluttering the UI with more elements. BUT they lack one key ingredient for usability, discoverability. In this case, the Xs follow existing UI patterns (tabs in IE), so they are fine where they are and help with discoverability.

This.The X`s follow UI patterns , it helps the user have a single user experience throughout the OS. In my opinion, they never wanted to implement the swipe to close apps in the first place but the users who switched from android and iOS started to complain ,and so they had to implement it also.
I strongly feel this shouldn`t be removed because the X is much more easier to understand even for an old person or for somebody who is new to the smartphone world which is one of main targets of the platform at present.Again,unlike android and to an extent, iOS the users do not have to even bother about the apps running in the background,the OS does it all for you.You don`t even need to look at the multitasking screen at any time.Don`t understand the annoyance at all,its just another option for those who prefer a unique WP experience and not something just because other platforms have it.

 

[smoledman]

That's because iOS has the little X so WP has to have it as well. However, Android 4.4 doesn't, you have to swipe either right or left.

 

[Jan Tomsic]

Users are in general very bad at finding invisible things.

Exactly. Remember the windows 8 absence of (visible) start button? Even though it appeared when you pointed at the corner and it was in the same spot where Start has been since Windows 95, people still couldn't find it.

 

[oditius]

I have come to the conclusion from reading this thread, that I AM STUPID. Here is the reasons why:

1) I actually read this thread..
2) I use the X buttons even though I know about the swipe down function
3) I am actually posting on this stupid thread of a user who has a God Complex.
4) I posted #3 so now expect to get flamed from the OP and the other posters here who believe their way is the ONLY way. All others should hit the highway. :devil:

 

[Loco5150]

I have come to the conclusion from reading this thread, that I AM STUPID. Here is the reasons why:

1) I actually read this thread..
2) I use the X buttons even though I know about the swipe down function
3) I am actually posting on this stupid thread of a user who has a God Complex.
4) I posted #3 so now expect to get flamed from the OP and the other posters here who believe their way is the ONLY way. All others should hit the highway. :devil:

LOL... So many wrongs here. I never said that I think people that use or like the X to close apps are stupid, or people shouldnt use it while its there. I think you should maybe put more thought when you read things, or maybe your trying to be funny somehow?

In general it would be better if MS has a vision of swipe gestures, to follow it to keep things unified in the OS. All they end up doing is confusing people.

 

[oditius]

LOL... So many wrongs here. I never said that I think people that use or like the X to close apps are stupid, or people shouldnt use it while its there. I think you should maybe put more thought when you read things, or maybe your trying to be funny somehow?

In general it would be better if MS has a vision of swipe gestures, to follow it to keep things unified in the OS. All they end up doing is confusing people.

Are people stupid or is MS afraid

No wrongs, I am Stupid, I like the X a lot better than the swipe feature. If they get rid of the X I will be pissed and probably start a post that states

Is MS Stupid?

As to why they got rid of a feature that took no screen space and maybe a nano-byte of code to leave it in, just because someone didn't like it. I am on a WP because I get to choose what I want. I am switching back android as soon as my M8 comes in. But that has to do with apps that I want and need that I don't want to play run around with.

And what about this sentence?

Is MS trying to please everyone and keeping things like that around, or are people so stupid that they dont get how to do things by swiping?

So where do you think I got the idea that you are calling people like me Stupid?

Oh BTW, there is a ' in don't... I didn't catch it, because I am Stupid, that is why I have a spell checker running.. LoL

So, I came to the conclusion that next to you, I am Stupid. And since you believe that without walking a foot in other peoples shoes, it means you have a God Complex. Because notice not once did I ever think or say you was stupid. Because quite frankly I don't know you, nor do I care.