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Why Google's bookmark manager and Docs have purposefully bad UI

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Re: Why Google's bookmark manager and Docs have purposefully bad UI

#61

Post by TeMPOraL »

zackbloom wrote: post #47

The person writing this is confusing their personal opinion for objective UX fact. It is commonly accepted that only highly organized users use features like tags. The vast majority of people simply don't. Rather than jumping to the conclusion that this is hostile it's possible Chrome and Docs just have a wider user-base than this particular author.

People will very much use organizing features if you provide them. Whether it's groups for icons, folders for files, labels for e-mails, tags and colors for documents, or drawers for socks - most people seem to recognize that being organized is a virtue, and will attempt it to the extent it is possible and convenient.

Not giving features for self-organization is a choice.

Re: Why Google's bookmark manager and Docs have purposefully bad UI

#62

Post by rednalexa »

twhb wrote: post #55

I’ve noticed the inverse: when I replaced the Chrome new tab page with a custom .html file, I suddenly found myself using Google Search much less, using Google URL suggestions much less, and syncing less data to Google servers. The difference between a useless new tab page and a decent one had a real impact on my habits. Similarly, when I switched from Google Maps to Apple Maps, the favorites UI was enough better tha…

What did you replace your tab homepage with? Anything in particular to call out?

Re: Why Google's bookmark manager and Docs have purposefully bad UI

#64

Post by gweinberg »

zackbloom wrote: post #47

The person writing this is confusing their personal opinion for objective UX fact. It is commonly accepted that only highly organized users use features like tags. The vast majority of people simply don't. Rather than jumping to the conclusion that this is hostile it's possible Chrome and Docs just have a wider user-base than this particular author.

I don't even think it's about organization, more aesthetic sensibilities. Why would anyone want to have special folder icons? "Because it looks nice" is the only possibility that occurs to me. I probably have over 1000 bookmarks myself, but I can't think of why I would want to "tag" a bookmark. Tags can be useful for finding new content, but if I bookmark a sit I probably know enough about it that I wouldn;t benefit from a tag.

Re: Why Google's bookmark manager and Docs have purposefully bad UI

#65

Post by sobjornstad »

whimsicalism wrote: post #32
tasogare wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is tons if options to find files on macOS: the find command, spotlight, search in the finder, hierarchical view in the finder. Which popular OS has a better system than that?

The search on MacOS is unusable for me. It always surfaces wrong/irrelevant things and defaults to searching in the oddest places.

This exactly. Yesterday I needed to change my Touch ID settings and typed "Touch ID" into Spotlight search. First result: the dictionary definition of "Touch ID". Nowhere in the list: The System Preferences applet called exactly "Touch ID". Seriously?

Re: Why Google's bookmark manager and Docs have purposefully bad UI

#66

Post by TeMPOraL »

Nicksil wrote: post #49
pkulak wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And two of the streets on the screen are named!

>And two of the streets on the screen are named! Man, I thought I was going nuts. For a pretty long time now I've just been dumbfounded when no or seemingly arbitrary street names are rendered (usually when I zoom in; when it counts). This happens for all sorts of streets, regardless of their significance. It's slightly insane this still occurs.

That still occurs, and shows no signs of changing. It seems to be a purposeful decision.

And this very aspect is what makes Google Maps not a proper map. It's optimized for point-to-point navigation, where you know the place you want to get to.

Re: Why Google's bookmark manager and Docs have purposefully bad UI

#67

Post by version_five »

TeMPOraL wrote: post #61
zackbloom wrote: post #47

The person writing this is confusing their personal opinion for objective UX fact. It is commonly accepted that only highly organized users use features like tags. The vast majority of people simply don't. Rather than jumping to the conclusion that this is hostile it's possible Chrome and Docs just have a wider user-base than this particular author.

People will very much use organizing features if you provide them. Whether it's groups for icons, folders for files, labels for e-mails, tags and colors for documents, or drawers for socks - most people seem to recognize that being organized is a virtue , and will attempt it to the extent it is possible and convenient. Not giving features for self-organization is a choice .

Do you have some basis for these assertions? Personally I agree with the GP but it's personal anecdata only. I would never consider using tags (or a sock drawer) and in my experience working with others with collaboration tools that use tags, there might be one person who is keen in them but they are never widely used. I think this backs up the GPs point that yes, some may find it useful, but it's not necessarily a "must have" that the majority are looking for, or even would use if it was splashed in their faces.

Re: Why Google's bookmark manager and Docs have purposefully bad UI

#69

Post by TeMPOraL »

TchoBeer wrote: post #42
UI_at_80x24 wrote: post #36

Could we use this as a place to suggest alternatives to Google Maps? I have tried OpenStreetMaps (albeit 5+years ago) and couldn't search for an address. So if that's improved I'd like to know. I don't need/want "find X near me" or fluff like "what restaurant's are open right now?". All I want is navigation between current location and target address.

I use Google maps for navigation between locations and it works great, not sure what your problem with it is, but if you want an alternate Waze works better imo.

The parent wants a map, which Google Maps currently isn't much of.

Re: Why Google's bookmark manager and Docs have purposefully bad UI

#70

Post by yupper32 »

benatkin wrote: post #38
riffic wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> it very nearly caused 2 accidents for me this weekend This wouldn't have been accidental, it would have been fully your own fault for negligence. I'll fully admit this is a pedantic tangent but it's been long acknowledged that "accident" is a problematic word to describe vehicle crashes because it minimizes the agency of a driver and intentional decision making processes that lead up to a crash (for instance, using…

> It's my fault for using the phone, but it very nearly caused 2 accidents for me this weekend

"it" did not very nearly cause 2 accidents. They're trying to avoid some of the blame, as if they're not 100% at fault.
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