Under Construction 2007

Click image to enlarge

Snarky comment: We're sorry. Our system isn't working right now. And...we can't help you either. This is customer service at its best.

What's wrong here? It's one thing that the system isn't working. It's quite another that the help link opens a page that's under construction. Under Construction! It's 2007. Who still has Under Construction pages? Jeez, this is lame.

Too Much Skin in the Game

Click image to enlarge

Snarky comment: This - believe it or not - is a video format conversion program. I can't for the life of me fathom or explain why it looks like an overgrown sign-post from the wild west.

What's wrong here?

1. My personal feelings about skinning aside [I hate it], this application skin makes this window look and behave like nothing else on your desktop.
2. There's no menu bar, there's no application menu, and the close and minimize buttons are barely noticeable.
3. Most of the application's functions are accessed through the hanging wooden panels, inscribed with arbitrary Gothic imagery. They're barely readable.
   
4. Speaking of barely readable, check out the column headings. If you can't find them, look closely at the horizontal wooden bar near the bottom.
5. Each of the controls is custom built, so none of them works quite like you might expect. For example, the lists fade in and out when clicked, and the check box doesn't display a check, but a tiny little bold "o" when selected.
   

Source: Apple TV Video Converter Home Edition

No Searchie, No Tickie

Click image to enlarge

MESSAGE: Please note.

We limit the rate of web page requests that can be made by individual users in any given time period. Your web page requests have exceeded these limits and your access has been temporarily disabled. We impose these limits to protect the web site from automated programs, as part of our efforts to promote fair access to tickets. Please allow several minutes and then try again.

BUTTONS: Back

Snarky comment: Not only are the tickets overpriced, users also have to deal with TicketMaster's website limitations. Have the developer's ever actually tried to interact with this site?

What's wrong here?

1. While visiting TicketMaster's site and looking for Comedy shows within a specific time range in a particular location, the you up in an endless loop. And then you get insulted.
2. First, in the Browse area on the left, enter just your zip code and select Go. Immediately the user is prompted with a message "You must enter a category to view your search results" [No, I didn't misquote, there is no title or punctuation.] This, in and of itself is ridiculous, as there is no reason you should have to add a category. What if you want to see all shows in your area?
3. But play along by selecting the Comedy category and clicking Go. Results will render. At the top of the results, choose "select date range" from the third dropdown list and click Search. Now you encounters the Change Location page. Huh?
4. But, again, I'm game...reselect the city or re-enter the zip code. From here, you are redirected back to the main page with just the Location pre-filled in the Browse area. Additional frustration encountered as apparently the message from step b is not really valid (at least not when the server enters information (HAL, is that you?)).
5. But this game isn't over. Try reselecting Comedy and then "select a date range," then select Go (again). Back at the Change Location screen. Loop ensues. Frustration heightened.
6. And, to add insult to injury (and frustration), eventually the message above is displayed. Nice, touch, TicketMaster! Do you realize the user is trying to throw money at you for very overpriced tickets? The limitations of your own code has lead me to a loop and eventually insulted me. Can't wait to get to the payment page (but I suppose that function works very well, huh?).

Source: www.ticketmaster.com

Must Have Cookie

Snarky comment: The VA provides veterans and their families with all kinds of valuable services. I'm very proud of our nation's veterans. I'm not so proud of our VA's web site.

What's wrong here?

1. Many of the online services on the VA's web site launch a completely different web site with a completely different (much less polished) look and feel. Why? This is confusing. It's all the same agency as far as I'm concerned, so why isn't it all branded the same?
   
2. The site that opens, the "Electronic Department of Veterans Affairs" [tell me that name isn't just a little disturbing], requires that your browser accept cookies. If your browser doesn't accept cookies, it will just sit there clicking, infinitely trying (unsuccessfully) to load the (E)VA web site. Better: Check to see if a visitor's browser will accept cookies before trying to dish them out, and gracefully handle the case when it doesn't.
   
3. Better: Don't use cookies unless absolutely necessary. Each of the items in this menu that launches to the (E)VA site simply takes you to a landing page that lists options available to you. This could certainly be implemented without cookies.
4. Consider the audience. A majority of our veterans are between the ages of 45 and 80. What percentage of these people know how to change their browsers' cookie settings? I can't remember from browser to browser, and I'm in this business!
   

Source: www.va.gov

Half Double Decaffeinated Half-caf, with a Twist of Lemon

Snarky comment: How do you like your coffee: Regular or Decaf? Flavored or...not? What's the opposite of flavored?

What's wrong here?

1. This store uses graphics that look like check boxes to present the features of each coffee selection. It's a confusing way of showing this information, since it looks like these are options that you might be able to select. They aren't. It's also confusing because it's not even a correct use of these controls if they were options that you could select.
   
2. A little white space below the heading would have been nice.
   

Source: www.greenmountaincoffee.com

Your Middle Digits

Click image to enlarge

Snarky comment: Please provide your first, middle, and last...Social Security Number.

What's wrong here? There are layout problems all over this page:

1. "Your Information" is presumably aligned to the form fields...but why? In fact, why is it even there? It's kind of redundant.
   
2. Generally, I put spaces between my first name, middle initial, and last name. Why doesn't this form?
3. The individual name labels are closer to the Social Security Number fields than the Name fields. Much closer. That's a little confusing.
4. The labels to the left don't align consistently (or properly) with the text boxes.

The Great Expanse

Click image to enlarge

TITLE: SigmaTel Audio Control Panel

Snarky comment: Holy jeez, you think you gave yourself enough room there?!?

What's wrong here?

1. The tab panel used to present these options is so large, it doesn't even fit entirely within the control panel window! This layout is an absurd, unnecessary, and improper use of screen real estate (and, for the record, not necessary for the options displayed on the other, hidden tab panel either).
   
2. I'd argue that the option labels should be in sentence case, not title case.
3. I'd also like to see a colon after "Power Saving State."
4. What...no buttons? I wonder if they're there, but they don't fit in the window.
   

Source: SigmaTel Audio Control Panel

Limited Option

Click image to enlarge

TITLE: Nero 7 Ultra Edition - Installation Wizard

MESSAGE: Language Selection

Please Select the languages you want to be supported

[x] English

BUTTONS: Back/Next/Cancel

Snarky comment: Choose any language...as long as it's English.

What's wrong here? Political and social beliefs aside, this is a crappy user experience. You have no options here. This step is both unnecessary and insulting. Better: When only one language option is available (as in this case), skip this step altogether.

Source: Nero 7 Ultra Edition Setup

Tabs in Tabs in Tabs

Click image to enlarge

Snarky comment: Three levels of tabs...not rows - levels. Three hierarchical levels. Three!

What's wrong here?

1. Generally speaking, it's a bad idea to hierarchically nest tabs because it can be confusing to users. In this case, each level of tabs sits immediately below its parent, making it easy to confuse this set of hierarchical tabs with the more traditional (but arguably equally confusing) multi-row tab layout popularized by Word's Options dialog.
2. A three-level deep hierarchy for Options seems overly complex. I'd argue that the developer should rethink the navigation and organization of these options.
3. As much as possible, a tab's label, or name, should clearly suggest what might be on that tab. That's not necessarily the case here. Even at the highest level, it's unclear how these options are grouped without clicking through the tabs.
   

Source: IsoBuster

Subtle Differences

Snarky comment: As a general guideline when placing UI elements, don't eyeball it. Rely on your development tools or on simple math to ensure that elements are spaced evenly...and then tweak it by hand, if necessary.

What's wrong here? These options are not spaced evenly. In fact, each successive line is just slightly further away from the line above it. The problem is barely noticeable to the human eye, but your brain probably senses that something seems wrong - slightly off, if you will, even though you can't put your finger on it. While this might seem outrageously picky, an application or page peppered with these types of layout inconsistencies would ultimately look sloppy and unprofessional.

Source: Nero InCD

Critical Restart

Click image to enlarge

TITLE: DivX for Windows Setup

TYPE: Critical

MESSAGE: Your computer must be restarted in order to complete the installation of DivX for Windows. Do you want to reboot now?

BUTTONS: Yes/No

Snarky comment: How, exactly, does this qualify as a critical message?

What's wrong here?

1. Overstating the severity sets the wrong tone - the situation about which this message advises is hardly critical. This should be a warning message.
   
2. The first sentence uses the term "restart," while the question that follows uses the legacy term "reboot." I'd assert that the consistent use of "restart" would be more clear.
   

Source: DivX for Windows Setup

What is That?

Click image to enlarge

Snarky comment: What's that thing below the language list? Believe it or not, it's a button. But here's the kicker: it's entirely unnecessary.

What's wrong here? The button that appears below the language list...

1. doesn't look like a button - it looks like a text box;
2. could use a little elbow room;
   
3. like all buttons, should be in title case: Change Language; and
   
4. isn't even necessary; selecting a language in the list submits the form automatically.
   
   

Source: www.nero.com

Top This

Snarky comment: I'm...perplexed by the language chosen to describe the duplexing options for this printer. Top-Top? What is that supposed to mean in this context?

What's wrong here?

1. A list instead of option buttons to select duplexing means an extra (unnecessary) click for you to perform.
   
2. Were it not for the little changing graphic when select each option, you likely wouldn't know what any of these options mean. Better: None/Long edge/Short edge.
   

Source: Xerox DocuColor printer driver

My Messy Desk

Snarky comment: My desperate plea to software companies: "I have a hard enough time keeping my desktop clean. Please stop cluttering my desktop with shortcuts when I install or update your software on my computer."

What's wrong here? It seems like every time I install or update software on my computer, the manufacturer finds it necessary to re-assert their presence on my desktop. I don't want these icons on my desktop - they just add to the clutter. Better: Ask me during the installation if I want shortcuts (and which ones) placed on my desktop. [For the record, I'll always say "no."]

Source: DivX for Windows Updater

The Revenge of the Epic App

Click image to enlarge

TITLE: Adobe EPIC_APP

TYPE: Warning

MESSAGE: Adobe EPIC_APP cannot be launched at this time. You must launch at least one other suite component (such as Adobe Photoshop) before launching EPIC_APP.

BUTTONS: OK

Snarky comment:

Test case:

• Purchase Adobe Creative Suite 3 Web Premium
• Run Setup, installing only Acrobat Professional
• Reboot
• Run Acrobat Professional

Expected result: Acrobat Professional opens successfully

Actual result: Acrobat Professional opens, and then a jargon-laden message about the EPIC APP [cue echo] appears; on closing the message, Acrobat also closes

Pass/Fail: FAIL

What's wrong here?

1. What is EPIC_APP? Should you know? Should you care? Um...no.
2. WOW that text is big!
   
3. If any one application in a suite is dependent upon another, then the Setup program should automatically install the required application.
4. If any one application in a suite is dependent upon another first being executed, then the developers should probably go back and rethink some things (...in my opinion).
   

Source: Adobe Acrobat Professional 8 (as part of Adobe Creative Suite 3)

Feeling Blue

Click image to enlarge

Snarky comment: Blue on blue to highlight the selected item? You might want to rethink that.

What's wrong here? This site "highlights" primary menu items, as you hover over them, by making them...um...well...harder to see.

Source: www.smarthome.com

Got Minutes?

Click image to enlarge

TITLE: Setup

MESSAGE: Setup Status

TouchKit Setup is performing the requested operations.

It needs minutes for uninstall. Please wait.

BUTTONS: Cancel

Snarky comment: Imagine a world where you could trade your unused mobile calling plan time for...software! Well, it's time to pull out your calling cards because this program needs minutes.

What's wrong here?

1. This isn't an installation process - this step is uninstalling software. A better name for this wizard step would probably be just "Status."
2. "Needs minutes..." is a bad translation. Better: It may take a few minutes to uninstall the TouchKit drivers. [Note that "uninstall" is a verb, not a noun.]
   
3. I'm...intrigued...by the alignment of that second sentence.

Source: TouchKit Setup

Slash Slash Slash Slash Slash Slash Dot Dot Dot

TITLE: \\\\\\\\\\\\\\

TYPE: Critical

MESSAGE: \\\\\\\\\\\\\\

The network path was not found.

BUTTONS: OK

Snarky comment: Not found, huh? Go figure. Now...if only I knew what program threw this error and why. Seriously, I have no idea why I'm looking at this message.

What's wrong here?

1. A meaningful title that provided some context might be more helpful.
   
2. Some better error handling might have detected that what should have been a path is - for all intents and purposes - undefined.
   

Do Not Look Directly at Happy Fun Ball

Click image to enlarge

Snarky comment: I wonder if I also have to chant to the moon, spin three times on my left foot, and throw salt over my left shoulder to better enable this site. Oh wait! The site is supposed to be enabling me!

What's wrong here?

1. No double clicking? Well, of course, now I have to try just to see what happens.
2. I can't use my browser's [note the possession] Back [note the appropriate mixed case] button? This can't be resolved programmatically?
3. If I need to call the dedicated travel department, it would be nice to have the contact information readily available.
4. No Firefox? Refer to #1 ("now I have to try just to see what happens.")
5. Mandated screen resolution, cookies, and pop-ups? How about detecting these options and providing feedback to the user on how to set them if required?
6. "Need Assistance?" I didn't think I did. But now I'm questioning that thought.
7. Which number do I call if I'm stuck in middle America and need some travel help, East Coast or West Coast?
8. As a side note, I always prefer to talk with "live" agents. The dead ones are just not very helpful (lots of moaning and such).
9. It is awesome [note lots of sarcasm] that the support desk is not available during major holidays...for example, on the holidays when many business travelers are trying to get home. Nice customer service touch.
10. Overall, I find this "Welcome" page fairly annoying. Not only is it not so welcoming but it also contains a mixture of technical specifications, as well as functional travel-related directions. The page is displayed each time I enter the site. Every time I enter the site, I am immediately told what not to do and how the application is limited.
11. Finally...less noticeable is the "Go" button in the upper right corner of the screen. For a split second, I wondered if it meant "Go, get out now; leave this site because your experience will likely get worse." Alas, it simply means "Go to the next [main travel reservation] screen." Perhaps a better label such as "Make a Reservation" would be more appropriate (and noticeable).

Source: RESX Corporate Travel Site

Cart Before the Horse

Click image to enlarge

Snarky comment: Choose from what? I don't see any choices. There's one field to enter a code I don't have and don't know how to get. Oh yeah...and a Submit button in front of this field.

What's wrong here?

1. These instructions don't make any sense. There are no methods from which to choose.
2. On this form, the button you click precedes the field. And we're not talking right in front of the field. It's waaaaaaay over there.
   
3. I'd argue that the quotes around Submit aren't necessary; but since they're here, the period should be inside the closing quote.
   

Source: StayOnline High Speed Internet service at Doubletree

Dumping the Trash

Click image to enlarge

TITLE: Delete Multiple Items

TYPE: Warning

MESSAGE: Are you sure you want to permanently delete these 2 items?

BUTTONS: Yes/No

Snarky comment: Are you sure you want to accidentally delete [some] files permanently due to unclear messaging?

What's wrong here? When you empty your Recycle Bin, Windows asks you the same question it asks if you choose to permanently delete files from elsewhere on your computer. So how can you be sure that you're just dumping your trash and not accidentally deleting important files from your desktop? You don't. One simple change could remedy this problem. Change the title of this message to "Empty Recycle Bin."

Source: Microsoft Windows Vista

Thank You - Goodbye

Click image to enlarge

TITLE: Change

MESSAGE: Thank You - You have been removed.

Snarky comment: This is a disturbing way to start the day....

What's wrong here?

1. The tone of this oddly punctuated...sentence...is a bit unsettling. What's been removed, exactly...me?
   
2. Some context here would be nice. Better: Your e-mail address was removed from our mailing list.
3. The page title is no help here - it just adds to the odd undertone. Better: Pinnacle Systems Mailing Lists
   
4. This is a dead end - what are you supposed to do now? Better: a link back to somewhere on the vendor's site.
   

Source: Pinnacle Systems' mailing list subscription service

All Boxes are Not Created Equal

TITLE: Communication Port Setting

BUTTONS: OK/Cancel

Snarky comment: It's as though each dialog in this application was designed and developed by a different person. Either that or by one person with no sense of consistency.

What's wrong here?

1. None of the Settings windows in this program - there are (unnecessarily) four - looks or behaves like any of the others. [See one of these other gems here.]
   
2. This settings window uses a floating palette control to draw its window. Like a dialog box (but unlike a palette), it is modal to the application (i.e., you can't do anything else until you close this window). You might not guess that though, since it looks like a floating palette.
   
3. The default button in this window is Cancel. Cancel! What sense does that make? Seriously, what unrecoverable harm could possibly come from accidentally changing the com port?
   
4. Speaking of default buttons, OK and Cancel don't need (and shouldn't have) shortcut keys.
   

Source: Sony RM-TP100 Editor

Information Overload

Click image to enlarge

Snarky comment: This page...showcases the user interface features of Plone 2.0, an open source content management system. Just looking at this starts me hyperventilating. The thought of this page bearing the responsibility of showing off the new UI.... If I showed this to a client, there's no way they'd consider using this product.

What's wrong here?

1. Where possible, web pages should strive to standardize on image sizes. Multiple, arbitrary image sizes lead to layout challenges - as evidenced here.
   
2. With all of the images competing for attention, the real information on this page - the list of new features - gets lost. Better: run the images inline, after each relevant paragraph.
   

Source: www.plone.org

Heed Your Own...Punctuation Rules

TITLE: Update Table of Contents

MESSAGE: Word is updating the table of contents.  Select one of the following options:
...

BUTTONS: OK/Cancel

Snarky comment: Seems like Microsoft doesn't follow its own punctuation rules. Had they run this text through Word's own Spelling and Grammar check, they might have noticed the extra space after the period.

What's wrong here? Two spaces after a period. While Word flags two spaces after a period as incorrect, some (but not all) of its own messages violate this guideline. Whether you believe it's wrong or right [I believe, with the proliferation of proportional fonts, it's wrong], it should be applied consistently.

Source: Microsoft Office Word 2007

And in This Corner...

Click image to enlarge

TITLE: Backup Database

MESSAGE: Backup completed successfully.

BUTTONS: Close

Snarky comment: This window is designed in a way that suggests the message text and button are sparring partners in a ring.

What's wrong here?

1. Backup (n); back up (v). The window title should be "Back up Database."
   
2. Seriously, what's with all the white - er, gray - space?

Source: ebay TurboLister

The Silent Treatment

TITLE:

MESSAGE:

BUTTONS:

Snarky comment: For hours, iTunes displayed this message window while updating my library. Do you think it was angry with me?

What's wrong here? Clearly this was a bug of some sort, but if iTunes can grab enough system resources to display this window, then it should be able to muster the energy to say something.

Source: iTunes 7

Kex to the Kingdom

Click image to enlarge

TITLE: PuTTY Configuration

BUTTONS: About/Help/Open/Cancel

Snarky comment: I can just imagine the user instructions: "Set your SSH kex options, and click Open to..." Wait...click Open?

What's wrong here?

1. Originally, I thought by 'kex' they meant 'key.' I've since been corrected, but it begs the question...why use jargon that might be confused with a real word?
   
2. Presumably, by 'Open' they mean 'OK.' Who knows...maybe them mean open; but if so, it just adds to the confusion.
3. A colleague thought that 'Options controlling SSH key exchange' was a button - probably because of how it's formatted. It's not a button...it's a heading. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like one.
4. Cancel should not have an assigned shortcut key. The keyboard equivalent for Cancel should always be ESC.
   

Source: PuTTY

TMI

Click image to enlarge

TITLE: Change Calendar Time Zone

MESSAGE: If you have permanently moved to a new time zone or your Windows time zones have permanently changed, use this tool to move appointments, meetings, and reminders from the original time zone to the new time zone.

BUTTONS: OK/Cancel

Snarky comment: I have a hard enough time trying to understand the impact of time zones or Daylight Saving Time on my schedule. Why does this utility make it seem even more difficult?

What's wrong here?

1. There's just too much going on here with no headings or groups to help segment and organize the various directions and controls.
   
2. Microsoft provided this utility to adjust your Outlook calendars for this year's change to Daylight Saving Time. Do you see an option for that scenario? This tool's long-term purpose is to adjust your appointments if you've moved to a different time zone. I'd assert that Microsoft should have packaged this utility with a much simpler skin for the DST change.
   
3. The warning at the bottom of the window advises that you must update meetings that you scheduled. So why is this an option, then? Just do it.
   

Source: Time Zone Data Update Tool for Microsoft Office Outlook

Padding Your Numbers

Click image to enlarge

We recently changed our loan format to 10 digits. If you don't have your 10 digit loan number, enter your 7-digit number with three zeroes added before the first digit. For example, if your loan number is 1234567, enter 0001234567.

Loan Number (10 digits):

Snarky comment: You couldn't do this for me?

What's wrong here?

1. There's absolutely no good reason why I should have to know about - and manually compensate for - their new numbering scheme. They should detect the length of the number I enter and pad it accordingly behind the scenes. Better: Loan Number (7 0r 10 digits).
   
2. Inconsistency between '7-digit' [hyphenated] and '10 digit' [not hyphenated].
   
3. Presumably, they changed the format of their loan numbers. Not the loans themselves.
   

All Your Musics Are Belong to Us

Click image to enlarge

Snarky comment: This new HP television can play all your medias...photos, videos, and musics! If this UI is any indicator, though, it seems that HP's decision to drop Digital Entertainment Center PCs in favor of MediaSmart TVs was...hasty. I'm thinking maybe they should leave media center design to the pros.

What's wrong here?

1. Musics [plural...-ish]. Hah! I can't even type it without laughing out loud. It might not seem so bad if it didn't appear three times on this screen. HP is a U.S. company. Did no one who speaks English as a first language even look at this? So what does this say of HP's quality control?
   
2. Genre [singular].
3. The selected filter, All Musics [::snicker::], is actually de-emphasized by a foreground color that's not as bright as the other items.

Source: HP MediaSmart HDTV