10 Tips for Designing Mobile Widgets Rajesh Lal Senior Engineer, Nokia Maemo Devices, Mountain View, California

Q&A Top 5 Tips 5 Contextual Tips Why Should We Care 15 minutes

Why Should We Care

Worldwide 1 Billion Computers and ~ 4 Billion Mobile Phones Today Computer to Mobile ratio is 1:4 Smartphone sales estimate: 20% increase annually, today 140 million to 423 million in 2013 Source: Wireless Expertise

Data based on study at published July 27, 2009

Q&A Top 5 Tips 5 Contextual Tips Why Should We Care

Design for a Mobile User Tip: 1

Short attention span Divided attention Interruptible Dynamic environment

Know Widget Tip: 2 A Widget is a small, light weight application, meant for a single purpose.

Mobile Widget [ ] Desktop Widget Konfabulator, Desklets, Dashboard, Vista Widget Engine Native APIs Web Widget igoogle, Wordpress, Pageflakes, Facebook Web browser (server) based + = HTML, CSS, JavaScript, XML, Ajax, RIA Mobile Widget S60, Maemo Web Runtime Device APIs

11 Target Specific Set of Users Tip: 3

12 Highly personal device Rich features specific to users Allow for customization Target sport events, conferences

Play Nice Tip: 4

Follow design guidelinesJustify space Do not poll data frequentlyDo not be a memory hog

Utilize Device Potential Tip: 5

N900 Features qwerty multi-tasking personalized desktop widgets flash Ajax integrated gps 5 mp camera linux os 3d graphics Open GL web run time Qt 32 gb wireless broadband powerful processor Innovative design 800 × 480 resolution video touch screen 48 gb exp memory firefox browser radio

Q&A Top 5 Tips 5 Contextual Tips Why Should We Care

Focus on One Functionality Tip: 6

Know what Widgets are meant for Quick information Casual games Simple utility Media application Search / Lifestyle Widget Recent Trends Social Widgets Branded application Subtle advertisements Mini Web Apps

Simplify Features Tip: 7

Easy to Look Easy to Understand Easy to Use Most effective designs are least complicated Paperclip Principle

Grab the User Tip: 8

1. Attract at entry point Short title, simple headings Nice professional icon Precise description 2. Make it alive Compelling data Dynamic information Make it interesting 3. Get statistics No. of downloads No. of users Feed based statistics 4. Hear your user Include Online forum Allow for feedback

26 Add Social Tip: 9

27 Mobile is a social device Mobile is a social device Always Available Always Available Meant for communication Meant for communication Interactive Interactive

Make it Fun Tip: 10

29 If it's not fun, you're not doing it right –Bob Basso Add Extra Fun Delight users Give pleasant surprises Make it special

7. Simplify Features 1. Design for a Mobile User 10. Make it Fun Ten Tips 2. Know Widget 3. Target Specific Set of Users 4. Play Nice 5. Utilize Device Potential 6. Focus on One Functionality 8. Grab the User 9. Add Social

31 Q&A Top 5 Tips 5 Contextual Tips Why Should We Care

32 Thank You Join