Read between the lines: Fine tune your app
Often small differences in look and feel can turn a well made app into a failure. And when it comes to BlackBerry 10 OS which is widely regarded as unlike any OS to date, it can be hard to determine how to design an app. Both visually and functionality-wise.
One of the best recently written posts that deals with the matter is difference between rejected and accepted BFB Application – Example: ClipMan where the author explains his experience with Built For BlackBerry (BFB) certification. These “small” differences can mean a lot even if you are not applying for BFB. In the above article it is clear and obvious that the author wants to point out the design guidelines.
However, many posts and reviews about BlackBerry 10 were not written to teach the reader how to design an app. There are device reviews, thoughts on the OS, projections and visions of the future…and reading between the lines can save time and make guidelines clearer. How? Let’s take an example: somewhere on the Internet you find a BlackBerry Z10 review from techradar. You go to page 2 and read:
” This has resulted in a platform which is very different to the one found on previous BlackBerry handsets running BB OS7, which means a steep learning curve is required for both new and current BlackBerry users.
BlackBerry decided to move away from the physical buttons found on iOS and many Android devices, instead opting for a gesture-based system as the main form of navigation.”
In the context of app design this can be translated as: Do not design strictly as you would on BB 7. The users will have to learn. That will happen quickly and gestures are dominant.
Before the user even has the opportunity to download an app, she/he will already be used to the gestured flow interface with tabs sliding out from the side of the screen. Making use of knowledge the user already has will make the app more pleasant and easy to use.
And that can be learnt from a nontechnical review written for general public that you, as a developer, would probably read one way or the other.
This is just one example. There are many different post you can run into, and depending what you want to know, you can get informed even if the main topic is something completely different.
Thank you for this posting. And thanks to mention my posting about ClipMan. I hope this will lead to a lot of great BB10 Apps.