Design vs Art Blog

The BBC Radio 1 is celebrating its 40th anniversary being one of the most attractive radio services on the net. They put online a new section for this special event with a lot of interesting content, like video interviews, old shows and stories, Myspace badges and a section where long time listeners can post memories.

The BBC and, specially, the Radio 1 have proved to be updated with the last technology and design. The Radio 1 site was recently redesign with a quite clean organization. For example, right at the top the current show information is displayed with very clear links to start the online radio listening and webcam:

Getting the information you are interested in is very easy as the shows and featured stories are sorted by genre.

There are also quick links to entertainment news, UK Singles Chart and to the Radio 1 Playlist. They know what the users want and they put it on top:

More Technology
They have a broad technology offer, with a lot of information about the BBC audio podcast sorted by show, digital, mobile and satellite radio. They also explain how to listen to the radio with the Freeview, satellite and cable television. It makes me happy that the feeds are organized by genre and board topics.

The Bad Thing
I wonder why the BBC put a widget in the main page displaying the most texted words. Why? Who cares? Well, nothing is perfect…

Anyways, the BBC Radio 1 site has nice design with a lot of information and they are celebrating the 40th aniversary with great technology and design. Cool.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Now that the Apple iPhone release is confirmed to be on November 9 in the UK, France and Germany, I would like to tell you why I will replace my new Nokia E61 with an iPhone.

Internet
Getting access to the internet everywhere and being able to see web sites on a “big” display was the main reason I bought the E61. Well, I have to say that not even this is well done by this mobile that comes with two different browsers, one for normal web pages and other for wap ones, so you have to switch between them all the time.

Also, checking sites is not as nice and comfortable as with the iPhone, with which you can easily zoom in, select and point. Ajax support is also missing on the Nokia E61.

Synchronization
I am not a Mac user but synchronizing through iTunes is a fantastic feature. Right now I have to use a very user-unfriendly application provided by Nokia that makes my life boring while trying to put my music, videos and pictures into my phone.

General Design
The Nokia E61 has many design and usability flaws. Like trying to open an Excel file that was imported from the computer is a pain, with the phone telling you that the document is in “another” format, but ridiculous enough at the end displays it.

The navigation through menus is also badly design, having to go back and forth all the time. When you want to activate the Silent mode you have to go to a special menu, click on Silence, then Option, then Activate, then it will display a message saying that the Silence mode is activated, then it goes back the Profiles menu (why I would like to stay there if I have just changed the profile?!). Puuufff, this telephone is making my life more complicated.

Price
I have just checked the prices in the UK and with plans starting at £35 with unlimited internet access this mobile is not going to be more expensive than my previous one.

I am waiting for the Apple iPhone release in Germany!

Popularity: 11% [?]