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Rumor: Apple employee says tablet UI has "steep learning curve"

by Dave Caolo Jan 6th 2010 at 11:00AM

There's yet another tablet post at Cult of Mac today. This time, a reader shares info from a "friend" who works at Apple (the Internet seems rife with people who've got loose-lipped friends at Apple; friends who are willing to discuss their employer's secrets at coffee shops) regarding the tablet's UI. According to the friend, consumers should "...be ready for a steep learning curve regarding the 'new' Apple product about to be released [and its] interface."

The reader goes on to say that his informant was fresh from a meeting when s/he shared this little tidbit. Perhaps using her iPhone. In the hallway.

The takeaway is obvious without this post: The tablet will behave in a way that we aren't expecting. For some, the iPhone's UI took some learning, as most consumers hadn't seen a touchscreen device before, let alone a touch-based phone. That doesn't mean it will be difficult to use, just different.

Rumors are rumors but one thing is certain: they're only going to get worse between now and the tablet's release.

[Via MacDailyNews]

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There's yet another tablet post at Cult of Mac today. This time, a reader shares info from a "friend" who works at Apple (the Internet...
 

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37 Comments

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(01)

3D interface with the dynamic tactile keyboard? Mind blown.

January 06 2010 at 8:50 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
TIm

I think this would be the hype mashine you are looking for ;-)
http://www.macrumors.com/2010/01/06/former-apple-marketing-insider-sheds-light-on-apples-controlled-leaks/

January 06 2010 at 4:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jaredrbyer

Real simple.
Do you climb a mountain on a curve.
A graph line is often described as a curve however.

The reason people use the expression steep learning curve to mean that it is difficult to learn is because they don't know better.

Just the same as people now say I could care less to mean that they in fact could not care less.

January 06 2010 at 3:29 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
lane

I LOL'd +1

January 06 2010 at 2:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
phlavor

I've got a friend that works at Apple. In the iPod division in fact. I don't ask him anything about his job because he's got an NDA and a baby on the way and I'm sure that he values his family's financial security more than satisfying my curiosity.

January 06 2010 at 1:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to phlavor's comment
Damien

He's as real as the rumours on this blog?

January 07 2010 at 2:44 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Willson Smith

I think I might just stop reading TUAW all together until after the 27th.
These rumors are extremely annoying, maybe every second post shouldn't be about a possible tablet?

January 06 2010 at 12:36 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Willson Smith's comment
lane

nah, keep reading because it's going to get flooded SOON.

January 06 2010 at 2:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Drifter71

Maybe this whole thing is meant to steal thunder from Apple to put focus on the new "Micro$oft Tablet"

http://www.pcworld.com/article/186028/microsoft_tablet_to_beat_apple_to_the_punch.html/

January 06 2010 at 12:22 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Drifter71's comment
milkmage

the MS/HP announcement at CES could the be courier.

they're hinting at some really cool UI (user INTERACTION) here.. and it does look somewhat "complicated" or at least not really intutive right out of the box. you're going to have to get used to it.

http://gizmodo.com/5365299/courier-first-details-of-microsofts-secret-tablet

Apple traditionally doesn't include documentation with their products.. but I think they're going to have to change that if they want people to use all it's capabilities (or simply remember that "you can do that")

if you watch the vid, there are no menus (used) and no keyboard, so you're going to need to remember how to do something as easy as cut/paste.


January 06 2010 at 1:02 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Will

This is what I am most interested to see. They need to create a way to put text into the device while holding it comfortably and securely. whats the best solution? really god handwriting recognition? (when I hear steep learning curvre I fget PTS from my old palm pilot's crazy hieroglyphics). maybe we all have to learn ASL and the devices camera will read our hands. or is these some kinda crazy one handed keyboard.

I am sure Apple has cracked the input nut but it wouldn't surprise me at all if is going to take some getting used to.

January 06 2010 at 12:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Will's comment
heathsnow

*eh-hem* 'good'

January 06 2010 at 1:09 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mentok

I'll go one better than solarpos:

exApple Employee = New Employee(Adobe, MSFT).

Adobe & Microsoft are pretty much on Apple's hate list right now. Read the remarks of this marketing twat from Adobe about 'unnamed company 1' (MSFT) and 'unnamed company 2' (1 Infinite PITA according to Adobe):

http://theflashblog.com/?p=1607

Adobe has some real idiots who don't seem to understand that oceans are no boundary for the 'net.

No rumors from me. I just want cameras and WiFi Meshnet in every Apple device:

http://mindtaker.blogspot.com/2010/01/dear-uncle-steve-i-can-has-camera.html

Oh, and hold the rumors. Because you guys are so easily punked by 'other companies' employees who meet in coffee shops'.

-Drunken Economist
http://twitter.com/drunk_economist

Mentok out.

January 06 2010 at 12:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
manhattnik

They should just blow the dust off Newton OS. Still beats the hell out of any other tablet/pen OS out there.

January 06 2010 at 12:13 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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