Complicated for some, effective for others and NOT an iPhone clone
By Sergiu Gatlan, Communications News Editor
21st of February 2007, 16:21 GMT
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All kinds of mobile users have raised praises to the interface offered by Apple's iPhone. Even if I decided a few days ago that I wouldn't write "iPhone" and "clone" in the same article, I will do it today in this one because I have to.
Why do you guys put the "iPhone clone" tag on every phone having
a touchscreen? Why wouldn't any other phone manufacturer build a cellphone without any type of hardware buttons, a device sporting only a full sized touchscreen display, without getting yelled at for copying Apple's phone?
If you're wondering why am I so angry of this fact and why am I doing this in this article in the first place, well... because I want to defend the little guy released by Neonode during the 3GSM expo. IT has been called all kind of names since its launch but the "clone" tag I don't agree with.
This handset sports a totally different interface than that of the iPhone and it doesn't use the same technology to accomplish whatever tasks you may think of (the N2 uses a light grid to sense what you want to do next; the iPhone uses a multi-touch interface, something completely different).
Its interface is the same thing that made it so famous after its launch: it features Neonode's rather cryptic Neno user interface. If you aren't used to the way it works and what gestures you have to make to be able to use it, you'll get stuck very easily and probably scream your brains out in frustration.
If you're wondering what are those secret thumb actions you have to do in order to be a successful N2 user, take a look at the attached picture in the left side of your screen and the mystery will solve itself out.
And yes you'll have to memorize those directions written in the picture if you want to not throw this little guy into the closest wall in sight.
For some more directions on how to use its interface (it looks complicated but I think that it is also innovative and it also makes some of your brain cells do a little exercise, which if you think a little, is not such a bad thing after all), watch the video bellow and I'm sure you will want to get your hands on it, at least for a short spin to understand what does this device have and others don't.