Few competitors have managed to match the iPhone's usability
Rival touch-screen devices failing to live up to iPhone
/v3-uk/news/2004802/rival-touch-screen-devices-failing-live-iphone
17 Feb 2009, Phil Muncaster , V3
Five of the 10 worst handsets as voted on by users are touch-screen models, suggesting that most manufacturers are failing to rival the iPhone, according to new research released today by Reevoo.
The reviews aggregation site polled 19,000 buyers, asking them to assess 226 phones against a range of criteria, including style and function.
Apple's iPhone 3G and LG's KC910 Renoir, both touch-screen models, made it into the top 10 best handsets in eighth and ninth place respectively. However, the bottom 10 was populated by HTC's Touch Diamond, RIM's Blackberry Storm 9500, and Samsung's Armani, i900 Omnia and F490 models, all touch-screen handsets.
Jo Reale, mobile phone category manager at Reevoo, said that, although manufacturers are keen to jump on the touch-screen bandwagon, their efforts are falling short of consumer expectations.
"We love the look of touch-screen phones, and the ability to watch videos on a large screen, but they are hard to get right and many shoppers are complaining that touch-screen interfaces are just too fiddly," she added.
"If mobile phone manufacturers want to make an impact in the touch-screen arena, they need to listen to consumers and address the issues they have with current touch-screen models."
The research found that the most important feature for phone buyers is style, followed by size and camera quality. Lowest ranked were web browsing and email functionality.
Christian Lindholm, a director at mobile design consultancy Fjord, argued that 2008 was "the year of the bad touchscreen". He explained that the two main technologies used for these screens - "capacitive touch " and "resistive touch" -both have drawbacks.
"With capacitive touch the resolution is lower and it only reacts to finger touch, so you can't use the stylus … and resistive touch requires more force and is more insensitive in a way," he added.
© Incisive Media Investments Limited 2010, Published by Incisive Financial Publishing Limited, Haymarket House, 28-29 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4RX, are companies registered in England and Wales with company registration numbers 04252091 & 04252093
Do you agree?
Untouched by Touch Screens
I'm so tired of my Samsung Saga. Not a bad looking phone, saddled with Winmo 6.1. I could live with Winmo (what real choice is there?) but I'm so tired of loading multiple applications while on talking on the phone. Did no one think about the fact that you have to put the phone to your ear to talk, and then think about how a touch screen would react? I've learned to use the screen lock to avoid pocket calls, but I'm tired of having to close three or four applications in addition to hanging up the phone at the end of a call. I'm strating to think that touch screens are just a gimmick that actually detracts from the usefulness of a phone.
Posted by Michael S., 18 Apr 2009
Touch screens aren't for me
I honestly will never have a need for touch screens. I've interviewed enough users to know that typing is the biggest drawback. iPhone users: "Love the phone. Texting is so-so, but you get used to it."
I can type extremely fast with my Blackberry Curve keyboard. Every key is close together requiring very little finger movement and the certainty of pressing any particular character by mere touch alone is unmatched by any touch screen.
The other thing is that the larger screen is so unnecessary for me. It might be worth it to others, but I do email and applications. I don't need videos. This is my device for getting business done and making $$.
...waiting for the new upgrade to the Tour myself.
Posted by CO, 26 Feb 2010