XOOM Status Bar (Top vs. Bottom)

[Rob]

One thing I find very interesting about how Google chose to design their tablet UI is the location and actions of the "Status Bar". You've now got the top bar for activities designated for the specific application/screen you're in/on and the bottom bar for status messages and system tray type functionality.

Why diverge from the phone UI with pull-down notification tray? While this works well once you get used to it, part of my wishes they kept things a bit more consistent. I could have much easier picked up the XOOM without a learning curve.

I'm just curious if anybody else thought the same thing for the first few hours of playing with their XOOM.

 

[Woosh]

One thing I find very interesting about how Google chose to design their tablet UI is the location and actions of the "Status Bar". You've now got the top bar for activities designated for the specific application/screen you're in/on and the bottom bar for status messages and system tray type functionality.

Why diverge from the phone UI with pull-down notification tray? While this works well once you get used to it, part of my wishes they kept things a bit more consistent. I could have much easier picked up the XOOM without a learning curve.

I'm just curious if anybody else thought the same thing for the first few hours of playing with their XOOM.

For some reason I had no learning curve with the Xoom. I believe I have picked up everything at first glance.

I actually prefer how they did it for the Xoom but like how they do it for phones. I hope they keep them separate.

 

[papermonkey01]

It makes it more laptop-like. I do wish you could customise it though (I like customising)

 

[marctronixx]

rob,
did you try the labs "thumb wheel" option? you swipe your finger from the (facing the screen) left and it opens up a thumbwheel wit shortcuts...

 

[drhill]

I love the pull down shade on a phone, but on a table it makes sense to have the status bar and buttons near the bottom where you will be holding it.

 

[androidguy65]

rob,
did you try the labs "thumb wheel" option? you swipe your finger from the (facing the screen) left and it opens up a thumbwheel wit shortcuts...

Right also works

 

[Old Member]

rob,
did you try the labs "thumb wheel" option? you swipe your finger from the (facing the screen) left and it opens up a thumbwheel wit shortcuts...

I'm not sure what you mean? I've never seen anything like that.

 

[aleis]

I let a vehement iphone competitor hold my Xoom. i told her to just go with it.
do what she likes. man she learned it immediately! even how to connect home network to the Xoom. its really very easy. the problem is, we are used to the phone layout. but newcomers are not. and they find it very easy to navigate the xoom
BTW she loves it!
but thinks the browser is slow (i agree).

 

[Plakius]

I'm not sure what you mean? I've never seen anything like that.

I believe that works in browser only

 

[Don S]

The pull down works great on the phones, and isn't really reasonable while holding a tablet. They are different sized devices, so to me it makes a lot of sense to have the status bars exactly as they are currently constituted on the phones and the tablets. Why have to move your hand 6 to 8 inches every time when there is no need to? With your phone, you can reach the top easily anyway. Phones = top, tablets = bottom, works great for me.

 

[nycebo]

I'm not sure what you mean? I've never seen anything like that.

Yeah, could someone elaborate on the 'thumb wheel' option?

 

[inphoenix]

Yeah, could someone elaborate on the 'thumb wheel' option?

In stock browser touch the right or left side of screen and hold it for couple of seconds. See what pops up.

 

[Psychokitty]

Because of the wayi have to hold the tablet while typing, I find the task bar art the bottom to be very annoying. I'll get used to it soon enough I'm sure, but it couldn't be too difficult to have given users the choice to be able to place it where they feel most comfortable with it.

 

[drhill]

In stock browser touch the right or left side of screen and hold it for couple of seconds. See what pops up.

You have to turn it on in the Labs section of settings. It's useful but horrible when you actually need to click on something in the first/last 10+ pixels of the screen.

It should be triggered by a gesture, not a tap. As a matter of fact, we should be allowed to 2 finger swipe between tabs (left for left, right for right, down for close, up for address bar) as well as other actions (forward/back = 3 fingers left or right).

 

[drhill]

Because of the wayi have to hold the tablet while typing, I find the task bar art the bottom to be very annoying. I'll get used to it soon enough I'm sure, but it couldn't be too difficult to have given users the choice to be able to place it where they feel most comfortable with it.

It is probably at the bottom so you can easily hit the home/apps button. I know I hold my tablet near the bottom, so my fingers are very close to the status bar.

 

[LunchBB]

It would be better if Google will put all controls in the status bar. Now I hated the way they have things in all 4 corners of the screen.

 

[drhill]

All the system buttons are on the status bar. All the app buttons are for the top. I'm ok with this and understand what I think their reason is, but I definitely understand why people don't like it.

 

[nycebo]

Like anything, it just takes time to get used to it. What bothers me is that the buttons are a tad small in the bottom bar. And no, my vision isn't poor nor do I have 10 thumbs. Just an observation is all.

But, I'm liking the OS the more I use it.

 

[gamul1]

The pull down stuff works great on phones because of limited space on the screen. But I still hate it on the phone anyway. I really like the way the Xoom does it.