Simple, Like Pen and Paper

Every few weeks, there seems to be a new mobile device coming out. Whether rumor or the real deal, we sure do have a ton to choose from. But there are only really a few that capture the attention and funds of those who are looking. For whatever reason, some habits -- such as purchasing based on brand loyalty -- are hard to break.

I used to wonder why that was so, but looking at many of the devices out there, the fact is that many of them aren't different enough from the best sellers to make a dent. And when they are, they are usually too far out there for the larger groups of purchasers to come out and buy them.

I understand that mobile devices, like automobiles, come in different shapes and sizes to fit nearly any type of user. This is a good thing. But where I don't ever see these niche devices stand out is in making big improvements in the user interface. With the exception of Apple, Palm, and HTC, no one really digs into why their devices are easy to use... or why not. And only Apple seems to make a big enough deal out of it that people care when they are making the purchase.

Keep It Simple

I come from a web design background. The rule there is that while flashy is good, simple and to the point always keeps people coming back. When it comes to mobile devices, I'd love to see some of the niche players start really pushing that "making things simple" mantra. Do something that would make users understand that reading and writing on a mobile device can be as simple as doing it with pen and paper. Push some simple feature that simply speaks to how we want use our mobile devices, and then more people will purchase them -- no matter how obscure the brand of the device is.

As the weeks go on and on, we will see more smartphones and handhelds introduced, and more complicated features come to the forefront. It would be nice if someone took the simple and easy approach and made a device that sits at my computer like a Post-It note. That would really be a niche of need to fill, and probably one that would elicit sales like pens and paper tend to enjoy.