3G iPhone Users Disappointed With IOS4

Posted on Wednesday, 23rd June 2010 by Keith Beucler

I had a chance to meet with a group of 3G iPhone users who had just recently updated their iPhone to OS4. It was an informal meeting with about 20 users. This is the same group that I use for UI testing new apps. The group pretty much covers the typical iPhone user base from tech savvy to new iPhone users.

When doing UI testing you normally just ask the tester to accomplish a certain task and observe how easily and quickly they are able to accomplish it. Today I deviated and interacted with the group. They wanted to know how to enable multi tasking. I explained that on a 3G multitasking was not enabled. Another asked how to change the home page wallpaper. Once again I explained that this was not possible on the 3G. I could see the frustration on their faces.

So what exactly did the new OS bring to the 3G platform? Not much. One participant explained that their friends jailbroken iPhone was seemed to be more capable. Now I personally haven’t spent much time on a jailbroken iPhone but from what I recall, it does seem that even with the IOS4 upgrade, Black Rain was a better choose for 3G users.

So why would Apple choose to disappoint rather than thrill? Well I honestly can’t speak for Apple but it seems as though they of course want you to buy a new phone. But is this really what is going to happen? Or are they going to drive users to jailbreak their devices.

At this point I think its time for a little head to head competition. So give a little time to get the group together with the two different Operating Systems and see if a group of hackers can out perform Apple’s engineers.

I’d love to hear you thoughts especially if you have already compared the two.