Touch screen hysteria.

[mrochester]

Hi guys here's a topic for debate...

2007 seems to have become the yeah of the touch screen in mobile phones, with the iphone, and now the Symbian touch interface.

What I don't get is why everyone is getting so excited about touch screens? All they do is retract from the usability of your device (pressing a flat surface as opposed to a proper button that moves) and are prone to being inaccurate (when I press the 5 button on my phone I will always get a 5, not some other key that the touch screen thinks I've pressed). I personally think it's completely the wrong way for mobile devices to go. Right now I can walk down the sound typing a text in one hand. Such convenience will be completely gone with an entirely touch based device.

Are there any other people here who are simply not interested in touch screens at all? Does anyone else agree that touch screens are the wrong focus for mobile phone manufacturers?

[chlettn]

I'd say non-TS devices will still make up the majority of the market for at least a few more years. And they'll never extinct either until we have some kind of morphing screen that provides hardware-like keys...

Sure, there is some hysteria, and I'd say the influence of TS is overblown at the moment. I'm not that sure if an all-TS handset is the right way either...

[Dogmann]

@mrochester

Well obviously you have missed one of the unique things that the Nokia Touch UI will have which is why they bought a license for it not long ago. Haptics which in real terms means tactile feedback when you press a button you will get feedback confirming your action.

Also whilst the Video shows a iPhone like device Nokia have confirmed there will be several different styles of devices some will be touch screen but still include a full qwerty keyboard as well. They also announced that all S60 apps should work on the Touch UI and that they we will start to see Flash Lite 3.0 on our devices next Year to enhance and give a rich media Internet experience.

Personally having moved away from UIQ to S60 some 16 months ago i really am not sure i want to go back to touchscreen devices although will reserve judgment until i have seen these S60 devices up close.


Marc

[Itachi]

I think its not just the touch screen thing. Obviously the potential for multi touch and gestures is exciting but its also the large screen that would often come with such a device.

With the consumer market heavily focused on internet on the go and media playback I think its only fair they get the hype we are seeing. You cant deny that watching a film or tv show on a 3.5 inch screen or surfing on such a big screen would appeal to anyone.

The transition from non touch screen to full touch screen will be a slow one as people are used to only buttons. I think thats partly down to having a stylus but im sure the more companies that take up finger touch screens, the more people will slowly take more interest.

[Dogmann]

@bavlondon

I agree with what you say especially as here in the UK by Year end we will have up to 7.2mbps HSDPA which will meaning streaming or downloading media will be quicker than most peoples broadband at home. At last the full potential of the Internet on our Mobile devices will become a reality and be able to deliver a quality experience.

Marc

[Mweb]

I love TS, My PC is TS, My camera is TS, I really believe just prodding what you want is much better than scrolling through an entire screen to get at what you ACTUALLY want :D.

[Dogmann]

@mweb6161

Does this mean you may be leaving your beloved UIQ for S60 some time soon? as Nokia's implementation of Touch UI has both finger control or stylus by design as well as tactile feedback which should make a better user experience. Not forgetting all the other positives S60 and Nokia bring.

Marc

[Mweb]

Yes Marc, (love the dog pic BTW) I'm really excited about Nokia's TS potential next year, Could be my next Major phone purchase :D

[Itachi]

I think the iphone is just the begining. I had hoped (and it looks like it happened) that the iphone design would act as a catalyst.

I dont deny phones are always on the up and up but a fully interactive touch screen with plugins and all I think really is the next step to being mobile.

I think the phrase "its was computers have become" was used on the wrong product to be honest, its more suited to what we are about to see from Nokia.

Im very excited indeed as are most im sure.

[Freddo]

Are there any other people here who are simply not interested in touch screens at all? Does anyone else agree that touch screens are the wrong focus for mobile phone manufacturers?
I'm not interested in touch screens for cellphones at all. I'm only interested in old fashioned plain candybar phones. No clams, no slider, no touchscreen thanks.

However, I don't think it's wrong of the companies to focus on it. It's clearly where the news hype is right and what generates a lot of talk, so they should focus on it to make profit and be a healthy company.

It would be wrong if they only focused on touch screens, but they don't. Old fashioned phones with buttons will live on for quite some time.

[alexandr3]

I thought i would pass on a TS phone, but the feeling is really growing on me. Hell I'd love to have a tablet PC right now, and the more i see and read about S60 touch the more i want it.

[Franz]

I wouldn't mind touchscreen in my phone, I would actually prefer it for web browsing, but don't take away my keypad, that's all I ask!

[SonyLover]

That's great. I like TS producs :)

[Itachi]

I wasnt a big fan of touch screen products at first but they grew on me. Im sure if the iphone was able to create so much hysteria with the iphone then surley Nokia can do one better as we know it will be very feature filled.

[Pixel Peeper]

I wouldn't mind touchscreen in my phone, I would actually prefer it for web browsing, but don't take away my keypad, that's all I ask!

X2 for this statement... I'm okay with a touchscreen (but not that I NEED or WANT one) as long as they don't do away with a physical keypad AND provide a 'touch disable' function