"For a company that's built a reputation on stuff that "just works", this is unbelievable. You're lucky I can't use anyone else's software to put music on my iPod. "
Not just me then? Again, any chance of iPod Ubuntu?
The art to wonderful software lies in making people's lives better without pissing them off. It is remarkable that you can make someone's life better whilst still pissing them off but as Virgin trains will quickly attest, it is nonetheless entirely possible.
If you don't want to build software that pisses people off then you have three choices:
- Build software that doesn't make anyone's life better - no-one will use it and no-one will be pissed off
- Make absolutely 100% sure that if your software does make life better then it doesn't piss anyone off. Firefox=better living/happy bunnies, Word (v.paper) = better living / angry mob.
- Don't build software.
1 comments:
It is ironic that the iPod is so simple in functionality and design, yet the software for iPod (iTunes) is bloated and contains a counter-intuitive user interface.
I had to un-install Quicktime in order to view something on a web page, and to my surprise, when I opened iTune I received this error message: (see error screenshot here: http://www.nickfessel.com/images/QT.jpg)
It is mind-boggling why I need to have two applications installed for one particular application to work. Now THAT is bloated and un-friendly design.
I've given up on iTunes. Now I use Quintessential Player (http://www.quinnware.com). Although it has less functionality than iTunes, at least I'm not a slave to bad interface design.
-Nick