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The Win8 lockscreen being confusing depends on the context. For example, a first time user buys a Win8 slate there's probably a basic 'This is how to unlock' ti

The Win8 lockscreen being confusing depends on the context. For example, a first time user buys a Win8 slate there's probably a basic 'This is how to unlock' tip somewhere, I imagine. Also, seeing average users pick up wild Android unlock schemes I think they'd be okay. :P Though, if they suddenly started playing with a friend's slate the exploring of the interface would be interesting to watch.

kevingadd 15y ago
Android is an interesting point of comparison because the lock screen on the Galaxy S2 is exactly like the Windows 8 lock screen. When I first got the phone, it took me minutes to figure out how to unlock it. I handed it to a couple friends and asked them to figure out how to unlock the phone and they struggled as well. On the other hand, I feel like somehow the feedback for the Windows 8 version of unlock is a little bit better - it responds to the swipe a little bit quicker. I do fear that it creates a bad starting point for your first experience with the device though - going into it confused isn't a good thing. A lot of the gestural input in Win8 feels like it relies on blind exploration to discover how to use the device, unless someone teaches you. In a way, that could be a good idea - encouraging the device's owner to explore and play with gestures - but I think the risk of features remaining hidden and undiscovered is pretty significant.
- saturdaysaint 15y ago
  Good points. The chromeless IE interface looks like another example where users will chafe. I can go completely "chromeless" in Chrome for OSX but I never do because seeing open tabs and having immediate access to extension buttons at all times is too important. I imagine less seasoned users will feel the same way about the URL bar and their favorites.
- barista 15y ago
  Actually Windows phone lock is screen is very similar to the windows 8 lock screen as well. I didn't see it in the video but the windows phone lock screen jumps up a little bit hinting that it needs to be pulled up to unlock. Very intuitive.
wavephorm 15y ago
Why bother with a lockscreen at all. Unless you want to password protect it, I see no reason why the device can't just always be logged in. Upon hardware power-on I want it to shoot directly to the web browser or whatever I was doing last.
- jsnell 15y ago
  Because devices will accidentally wake up when in a pocket / bag / etc, and you'd prefer not to feed random touch events to whatever program you're running. Of course sometimes this won't be relevant, and you could do away with the lock screen. E.g. the Eee Transformer requires the usual Honeycomb unlock gesture when it wakes up undocked or in the dock by pressing the power button, but not when it's in laptop mode and is woken up by the lid being opened.
  - wavephorm 15y ago
    Back in the portable CD player era they had a hardware lock switch to prevent accidental power-on and button presses, and it worked just fine.

kevingadd 15y ago

Android is an interesting point of comparison because the lock screen on the Galaxy S2 is exactly like the Windows 8 lock screen. When I first got the phone, it took me minutes to figure out how to unlock it. I handed it to a couple friends and asked them to figure out how to unlock the phone and they struggled as well. On the other hand, I feel like somehow the feedback for the Windows 8 version of unlock is a little bit better - it responds to the swipe a little bit quicker. I do fear that it creates a bad starting point for your first experience with the device though - going into it confused isn't a good thing. A lot of the gestural input in Win8 feels like it relies on blind exploration to discover how to use the device, unless someone teaches you. In a way, that could be a good idea - encouraging the device's owner to explore and play with gestures - but I think the risk of features remaining hidden and undiscovered is pretty significant.

saturdaysaint 15y ago
Good points. The chromeless IE interface looks like another example where users will chafe. I can go completely "chromeless" in Chrome for OSX but I never do because seeing open tabs and having immediate access to extension buttons at all times is too important. I imagine less seasoned users will feel the same way about the URL bar and their favorites.
barista 15y ago
Actually Windows phone lock is screen is very similar to the windows 8 lock screen as well. I didn't see it in the video but the windows phone lock screen jumps up a little bit hinting that it needs to be pulled up to unlock. Very intuitive.

wavephorm 15y ago

Why bother with a lockscreen at all. Unless you want to password protect it, I see no reason why the device can't just always be logged in. Upon hardware power-on I want it to shoot directly to the web browser or whatever I was doing last.

jsnell 15y ago
Because devices will accidentally wake up when in a pocket / bag / etc, and you'd prefer not to feed random touch events to whatever program you're running. Of course sometimes this won't be relevant, and you could do away with the lock screen. E.g. the Eee Transformer requires the usual Honeycomb unlock gesture when it wakes up undocked or in the dock by pressing the power button, but not when it's in laptop mode and is woken up by the lid being opened.
- wavephorm 15y ago
  Back in the portable CD player era they had a hardware lock switch to prevent accidental power-on and button presses, and it worked just fine.