A new experience

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

I have absolutely no problem with Harry, I pretty much expected that response from him. I can only write about my experiences and my impressions. Since I didn't like reading on a 'puter I didn't have the multi window experience, hence a new experience.

Certainly a new experience on a 'phone/tablet'

I definitely see how it could be useful. The situations where I've run into it was when I have had to log in to a website -- such as this one even -- and need to look up my login/password from my password vault. I have to switch applications find and remember the login/password, go back to the login page etc...

I don't use dictionaries much but I can see how that might be useful. On the fire however it pops up the dictionary entry when you tap on a word, so that works fine for me for what little I use it.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Asawi

Cool! Definitely something I miss on tablets, so it's great news it's coming! Cause, even though it's just on few devices right now, it will spread, I'm sure!
It probably need a screen size around the 10" to be really convenient, but even on smaller screens it would be nice to have the feature available.

Multi-window interfaces have been tried before on portable devices - eg Windows CE had them back in the 1999/2000 timescale. The reason they went out of use is that companies like Microsoft and Apple, who do enormous amounts of research on user interfaces and usability, have found that such interfaces just don't work well on small screens. I strongly suspect that this will not catch on as a popular interface for o/s's like Android and iOS - it's just too fiddly to use.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Certainly a new experience on a 'phone/tablet'

I definitely see how it could be useful. The situations where I've run into it was when I have had to log in to a website -- such as this one even -- and need to look up my login/password from my password vault. I have to switch applications find and remember the login/password, go back to the login page etc...

But you're talking there about multitasking - that's not the same thing as multi-windows. Operating systems like Android and iOS already do multitasking perfectly well. It's easier, on a small screen, to switch between applications than it would be to switch between windows.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by HarryT

But you're talking there about multitasking - that's not the same thing as multi-windows. Operating systems like Android and iOS already do multitasking perfectly well. It's easier, on a small screen, to switch between applications than it would be to switch between windows.

No, I'm talking about not having to switch back and forth, but have both open.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by kennyc

No, I'm talking about not having to switch back and forth, but have both open.

Yes, I understand exactly what you're saying. What I'm saying is that user interface studies over the years have shown that multi-window interfaces just won't work very well on small touchscreens - they're too fiddly to use. Your finger is too clumsy a tool in proportion to the size of the window. The reason they work on PCs is that a mouse is a lot more accurate. It's not just arbitrary that we have the UI's we do - it's the result of an awful lot of effort in usability research.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Yes, I understand exactly what you're saying. What I'm saying is that user interface studies over the years have shown that multi-window interfaces just won't work very well on small touchscreens - they're too fiddly to use. Your finger is too clumsy a tool in proportion to the size of the window. The reason they work on PCs is that a mouse is a lot more accurate. It's not just arbitrary that we have the UI's we do - it's the result of an awful lot of effort in usability research.

Nor is that what is being discussed. Sheesh.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Nor is that what is being discussed. Sheesh.

We're talking about the experience of using multi-window interfaces on touch screens, so it seems to me that an explanation as to why such interfaces haven't proved successful in the past is highly relevant.

I don't know if you've had a chance to use Windows 8 yet, but when you do, you'll notice that apps designed for the new "Metro" interface run full screen. That's for the same reason - full screen works a lot better for a touch interface.

[Kumabjorn]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Yes, I understand exactly what you're saying. What I'm saying is that user interface studies over the years have shown that multi-window interfaces just won't work very well on small touchscreens - they're too fiddly to use. Your finger is too clumsy a tool in proportion to the size of the window. The reason they work on PCs is that a mouse is a lot more accurate. It's not just arbitrary that we have the UI's we do - it's the result of an awful lot of effort in usability research.

Well, the Note 10.1 does have a 10" screen and a very accurate stylus so from that perspective it works just fine. I can see it being a problem on a phone though. I can hold the tablet in portrait mode, have a book take up 80% of the screen and a dictionary or Wikipedia the other 20%. It is just there, I don't need to search for it. Anyway, I like it, and that is what is important for me.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

Anyway, I like it, and that is what is important for me.

Absolutely . It'll be interesting to see how it works out.

[kennyc]

Do keep us posted as I'm very interested in this one myself. No plans to jump in right now though.

[frahse]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

Well, the Note 10.1 does have a 10" screen and a very accurate stylus so from that perspective it works just fine. I can see it being a problem on a phone though. I can hold the tablet in portrait mode, have a book take up 80% of the screen and a dictionary or Wikipedia the other 20%. It is just there, I don't need to search for it. Anyway, I like it, and that is what is important for me.

That's cool man.

I expect to have a smaller Galaxy Note one day or an improved Galaxy Player 5" or so.

[Fluribus]

This would seem to be useful for studying chess books. Have the book and a chessboard open simultaneously. There is an android app that does this but it only works for limited formats (PDF being one).

[Kumabjorn]

I've had the same book open in two windows, one for reading the other for maps, that way I could keep up with troop movements much easier in the text.

[Pookeysgirl]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Do keep us posted as I'm very interested in this one myself. No plans to jump in right now though.

We'll get it on the Galaxy SIII with the next update coming soon

[kennyc]

Yeah, but as Harry mentioned upstream it's not going to work so well on the smaller screen.....certainly not with my ancient eyes.