Friday, August 28, 2009

Why is it important to support landscape mode in Android apps?

Looking for answers on that one. The assumption is that for basic apps like calculators users will prefer to hold the Android in portrait mode. Or not?

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi. Carole here. I use the G1 android phone. Portrait mode does work for calculators but remember thaqt the numbers then are on screen and not using soft keyboard. Most users I know don't use the soft keyboard if at all posible. It is clumsy and difficult to use. Often press wrong key etc etc. The landscape mode allows for fast accurate input of data. When using keyboard, it just makes sense for the app to turn into landscape mode. Also, when using weightpoint app, often pointing more than one thing so easy input is essential to encourege continued use of app. Most users like landscape, its probably as simple as that! Carole

BeMeCollective said...

Hi Carol,

Thank you for posting here!
OK, I understand. I do not have a hard keyboard on my device, that might be the reason of my misunderstanding.
So you are saying that even in portrait mode you do NOT see the soft keyboard (numbers only) popping up for your convenience as I intended?


I am working on the landscape mode. It is quite a lot of work, so I will re-publish it when I am satisfied with the results. Thank you again for your explanation.

Regards

Anonymous said...

Hello. No, I don't think I explained it very well. In portrait mode I can see the soft keyboard/ numbers. But what I meant was that with a calculator the numbers are on the screen all the time as part of the app. Calculators don't use a soft keyboard. Hope this makes sense. Carole

BeMeCollective said...

Hello Carol,

Yes, it makes perfect sense. This means I will need to incorporate landscape mode in all future BeMeCollective apps.
BeMeWeightPoints will be the first one. I have completed the addition of Landscape mode into it and after proper testing I will publish version 1.2.
Thanks for helping.

Regards