There is plenty to be said for (and against) the new iPhone and all the new apps flooding to our screens but aside from the sluggish response times and occasional crashes, the biggest problem I have is keeping track of and organizing all these apps.
Applications of all types are now spread across multiple screens as I try, mostly in vain, to come up with a strategy that doesn’t leave me needlessly flipping through 3 to 5 pages just to find the thing I want. I have tried to organize them by grouping like apps together on screen but I don’t really want a whole screen for music-related apps or games. Then I tried by frequency of use with the most frequently used apps on the first couple screens and then those I rarely use on the last few. This too was less than ideal as it isn’t readily apparent when I am search for something how many times I really use it. I guess I could try alphabetical.
How about adding folders?
The folder is a simple organizational mechanism that could help keep my applications in order: Creating and naming folders and then dragging apps into them could work nicely. (like shown above)
Double tapping the folders brings up a radial menu of its contents – app icons – that can be clicked. I have mocked up how that may look (see below). A simple, dark overlay similar to a lightbox effect to represent the mode change would work well.
This example only shows a folder with six applications in it and I am uncertain how to deal with folders containing more than eight. Perhaps there would be a number on the the folder and then single tapping would tab through them.
Until I get something like this the number off application I will be downloading will be significantly restrained.
Bonus gripes to Apple:
1. Please let us delete (or at least hide) those app you included on the phone that we do not use. I don’t need stock quotes and notes.
2. When updating an app, don’t move its position. This is very annoying.
3. Get the stability and fluidity of the interface back to the point where it was when the phone first launched. I don’t think you can totally blame the apps being installed, but if you can, then be more stringent on the apps you let in the store.
4. For next iPhone INCREASE THE RAM!
