SJ wanted the original iPhone to have a permanent ‘back button’ like Android

[chagla]

so....back button would be overly complicated and confuse users. WOW... they don't think highly of users intelligence it would seem.

Interestingly enough, the iPhone design Apple unveiled in January of 2007 might have looked vastly different if Steve Jobs had his way. According to Imran Chaudhri, a veteran Apple designer who spent 19 years working on Apple’s elite Human Interface Team, Steve Jobs wanted the original iPhone to have a back button in addition to a home button. Believe it or not, the original iPhone could have very well looked like a modern-day Android device.

Full Article : http://bgr.com/2017/06/19/iphone-history-steve-jobs-home-button/

 

[keysofanxiety]

Jobs also didn't want an App Store.

Wow! The iPhone could have very well looked like a Windows phone!

 

[mrochester]

Thank goodness they didn't put one on! The back button is a pretty horrible part of Android.

 

[eyoungren]

WOW... they don't think highly of users intelligence it would seem.

IDK. For some users it's best to keep it very simple.

I work with a woman who for the last 13 years has wanted (and still wants) absolutely nothing to do with technology. This is a person who proudly declared to me on my first day, "I don't DO computers!"

I'm still explaining the same stuff to her that I was explaining 13 years ago. She uses a mouse with two hands and she's wiped out folders in her email and on our server several times without knowing how she did it.

She owns an iPhone. And still has problems using it.

 

[mrochester]

I don't think it's anything to do with keeping it simple but doing it right.

 

[eyoungren]

I don't think it's anything to do with keeping it simple but doing it right.

Right is an opinion in this case. It assumes Android is doing it wrong. Which is interesting, considering the market share Android has compared to Apple.

Of course, the argument is that there are other factors involved. And sure. But, apparently 'wrong' doesn't trump those other factors and cause those users to join Apple.

 

[mrochester]

Right is an opinion in this case. It assumes Android is doing it wrong. Which is interesting, considering the market share Android has compared to Apple.

Of course, the argument is that there are other factors involved. And sure. But, apparently 'wrong' doesn't trump those other factors and cause those users to join Apple.

Lots of people can't afford an iPhone so have to live with the Android way wether they like it or not.

 

[eyoungren]

Lots of people can't afford an iPhone so have to live with the Android way wether they like it or not.

I would buy your argument if you couldn't pick up anything other than the current model.

Lots of older iPhones on the bay or craigslist or swappa or wherever for the same price or less than a brand new iPhone.

 

[mrochester]

I would buy your argument if you couldn't pick up anything other than the current model.

Lots of older iPhones on the bay or craigslist or swappa or wherever for the same price or less than a brand new iPhone.

That doesn't work in China, India or Africa where Android numbers are made up.

 

[eyoungren]

That doesn't work in China, India or Africa where Android numbers are made up.

OK.

I'm not trying to win an argument with you, nor am I saying your initial statement is wrong. I'm just offering a different viewpoint on the matter.

I have no knowledge of the numbers in regards to those countries, either, so I can't offer a counterpoint to that.

 

[mrochester]

OK.

I'm not trying to win an argument with you, nor am I saying your initial statement is wrong. I'm just offering a different viewpoint on the matter.

I have no knowledge of the numbers in regards to those countries, either, so I can't offer a counterpoint to that.

Absolutely, me neither, but when you bring market share into an argument, you have to acknowledge that iOS and android are starting from 2 completely different points that makes them essentially uncomparable other than at the high end, which is where Apple operates.

 

[eyoungren]

…you have to acknowledge that iOS and android are starting from 2 completely different points that makes them essentially uncomparable other than at the high end, which is where Apple operates.

That's a fair point, but I think there are exceptions. I also made an assumption, which is unfair to you. I assumed we were speaking of the US or North American markets.

As to the exceptions I mentioned, I'm one of those. I am an iPhone user, but I'm not in the income bracket where I can afford a new phone every year. Our phones (my wife and I) get replaced every 2.5 to 3.5 years. My son is currently using my wife's old iPhone 5.

And for those where the price of the current model is too high there is a large market for older models.

In any case, I don't pursue iPhone or iOS because it's implementation is right. If I did, none of my devices would be jailbroken (and they are). I have a real problem with how Apple does some things, but my desire for the aesthetics tends to win out over that.

Android's implementation of things is wrong to me, yet they get some things right that Apple could learn from I think.

 

[mrochester]

That's a fair point, but I think there are exceptions. I also made an assumption, which is unfair to you. I assumed we were speaking of the US or North American markets.

As to the exceptions I mentioned, I'm one of those. I am an iPhone user, but I'm not in the income bracket where I can afford a new phone every year. Our phones (my wife and I) get replaced every 2.5 to 3.5 years. My son is currently using my wife's old iPhone 5.

And for those where the price of the current model is too high there is a large market for older models.

In any case, I don't pursue iPhone or iOS because it's implementation is right. If I did, none of my devices would be jailbroken (and they are). I have a real problem with how Apple does some things, but my desire for the aesthetics tends to win out over that.

Android's implementation of things is wrong to me, yet they get some things right that Apple could learn from I think.

I buy iPhones because of iOS and Apple's market philosophy (pro-capitalism and competition). I don't buy Android phones because of Google's market approach (advertising, open source and predatory pricing model).

 

[danny_w]

IMHO the back button is the best thing about Android and the most glaring missing feature of iOS. I have returned to iOS now after many years and that is the one thing that I miss the most.

 

[mrochester]

IMHO the back button is the best thing about Android and the most glaring missing feature of iOS. I have returned to iOS now after many years and that is the one thing that I miss the most.

I always hate using Android because of the back button! Sometimes it goes back in an app, sometimes it goes back to a different app, sometimes it goes back to the home screen. And sometimes it even hides the keyboard! It's just so inconsistent and badly designed.

 

[danny_w]

I always hate using Android because of the back button! Sometimes it goes back in an app, sometimes it goes back to a different app, sometimes it goes back to the home screen. And sometimes it even hides the keyboard! It's just so inconsistent and badly designed.

Actually to my way of thinking it is extremely consistent, far better than the limited Apple task switcher which only goes back to previous apps. When I really miss it is when clicking a link in an email that opens a web browser, the back button closes the window it opened and puts you back in the email client with a single button; the same thing on iOS takes several actions and is so wasteful. And if you want a previous app an app switcher is always available too, so you get the best of both worlds. If Apple would only add this one feature I would be satisfied (if you don't like it you don't have to use it).

 

[mrochester]

Actually to my way of thinking it is extremely consistent, far better than the limited Apple task switcher which only goes back to previous apps. When I really miss it is when clicking a link in an email that opens a web browser, the back button closes the window it opened and puts you back in the email client with a single button; the same thing on iOS takes several actions and is so wasteful. And if you want a previous app an app switcher is always available too, so you get the best of both worlds. If Apple would only add this one feature I would be satisfied (if you don't like it you don't have to use it).

Sadly you would have to use it it were there so I'm very glad it's not

 

[cbreze]

I always hate using Android because of the back button! Sometimes it goes back in an app, sometimes it goes back to a different app, sometimes it goes back to the home screen. And sometimes it even hides the keyboard! It's just so inconsistent and badly designed.

The back button is very useful. You just need to know how it works. It does what you say, but knowing that and what task the button press is going to perform is what makes the difference. Totally dependent on whats on your screen at the time. Android takes some adjustment. iPhone is easy and why it is so popular. People generally like easy. iPhone won't even let you place icons so you don't cover up an area of your wallpaper pic. SMH over that one all the time. The customization of android is a challenge and that is a big selling point because it can be customized from easy things to much more intricate designs and endless custom options from the smallest to the largest detail. Users choice totally. iPhone lets me change my wallpaper. Sounds like the iPhone is for you.

 

[mrochester]

You just need to know how it works. It does what you say, but knowing that and what task the button press is going to perform is what makes the difference. Totally dependent on whats on your screen at the time. Android takes some adjustment. iPhone is easy and why it is so popular. People generally like easy. iPhone won't even let you place icons so you don't cover up an area of your wallpaper pic. SMH over that one all the time. The customization of android is a challenge and that is a big selling point because it can be customized from easy things to much more intricate designs and endless custom options from the smallest to the largest detail. Users choice totally. iPhone lets me change my wallpaper. Sounds like the iPhone is for you.

Don't worry, I know how to use it, I just don't like it and think Apple does it right.

Definitely the iPhone is for me; much better OS than android.

 

[cableguy84]

IOS doesn't need a back button

 

[robbietop]

I have used every iPhone since the original and have never needed a back button.
For those who need something similar, there is the iOS 10 innovation of the APP Return in the top left or the app switcher, which is faster to me since neither's behavior changes regardless of the app you are in.