capcloud

Now, I really like my new Sony-Ericsson K610i. But there are a few things that annoy me. Things that usability testing should have picked up.

For example, one thing that I do a lot (i.e., every time I talk on the phone) is to hang up, then lock the phone.

Straightforward enough, you might be thinking. Press Cancel (right soft-button). Then star. Then Lock Keys (right soft-button again).

But what happens if the person you were talking to hangs up first?

This key sequence then becomes Menu -> bottom-left menu item (the menu items are in a 3×4 grid that corresponds to the keypad keys), which in this case is “calls” -> More (which brings up a list of actions for the last call).

So then you’re three levels deep in the menu system and you have to navigate your way out.

How could they have done it better? They could have put in a small delay after a call is ended by the other party, during which a press on the right soft-button is ignored. The key sequence would then be interpreted as Do nothing -> star -> Lock Keys.

And if I really did want to go into the menu straight after ending a call, having to press the key twice is no great inconvenience.