UX

A better infinite scroll?

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Google has a new blog post up with their recommendations for implementing infinite scrolling. Also be sure to check out the demo page.

Google’s tips and examples address SEO concerns with this feature, but don’t really address the possible user experience issues it introduces. As someone who is lucky enough to observe and work with actual users during usability testing, I’m not sure there is such a thing as a “good” infinite scrolling technique right now.

At least with this example the back button works as expected but I’m still not sure the positives outweigh the confusion infinite scrolling always seems to introduce. As with pretty much every UX issue, this of course depends depends on your audience and content. Like any other feature, get it in front of real users and test, test, test.

Design, Tech

Apple iWatch concept design

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Incredibly appealing design concept for the mythical iWatch by Todd Ham. Looks like a mix of a iOS 7 and an incredible screen on a Nike Fuelband form factor.

Looks fantastic but I’d probably cut another 50% of the functionality demoed and simplify even further. My guess is Apple will too. If they ever do actually release an iWatch my hunch is that it would be a phone companion device focused on health/fitness and won’t tackle tasks such as initiating calls. I also hope it would have a 10x more helpful lockscreen than just a clock.

Tech, Web Development

Embeddable, interactive iOS app previews using App.io

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App.io (which used to be Kickfolio) allows users to create interactive previews of your iPhone and iPad apps. Not sure exactly how its working but pretty darn cool. Check out Airbnb example below:

I think this will be overkill for a lot of apps where simple screenshots will work, but it’s amazing tech and would be useful for certain types of apps that might need a little more in-depth explanation/preview before a person is willing to plunk down 2 bucks.

I would not recommend using App.io if you’ve got a free app. Get those potential customers to the App Store as quickly as possible to download your app and that can be the “demo”. I will be trying App.io out soon, as much to see how it works as anything and will post my thoughts about it afterwards.

Internet

Give the “gift of gif” with Gifpop!

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Animated gif print from Gifpop!

Gifpop! takes animated gifs (up to 10 frames) and turns them into fun cards thanks to lenticular printing.

They’ve got a lot of examples from popular Internet gif-related memes if you want to see how they work. I already bought a couple to give to my wife as Christmas stocking stuffers. Excited to see how they turn out.

Also a big fan of the fact that they clearly pronounce “gif” correctly since they rhymed it with “gift” and didn’t say “jive the jift of gif” as their tagline.