> For anyone (cough, elderly parents) who aren't adept at discovering hidden features.
I'm in my mid-30's and I find Apple awful at discoverability.
Take using Apple Pay. I don't use it often, but covid has had me wanting to. I can't ever seem to remember what sort of hand waving I need to do to get it open. I seem to occasionally bring it up when I don't want to. (It's triple press the home button when the display is off, long press is Siri.)
30 here. On my iPad, if I bring up an app in the floating view, I often have to rediscover how to dismiss it. I just tried to do it now and this is how it went:
My first instinct was to flick it up from the bottom, but that brings up the recents switcher. Next instinct was to try flicking it off to the right, but it just moves a bit and springs back. While trying more times to fight the spring I noticed a short bar at the top and realized it was probably a drag handle. Grabbed that and tried to flick it downwards. No luck, but it moved in a way that made it seem like dragging down more would do it, but nope of course that wasn't it either. How about a flick to the right? Nope. Dragging it to the right? Agh! It's trying to dock into split screen mode! I dragged it around some more hoping for different behavior before dropping it back into place and again trying a flick to the right using the handle at the top. And that FINALLY did it. Apparently I didn't put enough enthusiasm into the first flick I tried... What a pain in the ass.
I don't like how sensitive to speed some of the actions are. I have similar issues with bringing up the dock. I usually end up going to the home screen instead.
I struggled with this too. You can use the mnemonic that it behaves like an iPhone(the new ones without the home button) on top of your iPad apps. The gestures are the same then. Swiping from the bottom of the floating window behaves the same as it does in an iPhone screen. Not very intuitive but I guess it’s the same framework.
Good games are pretty good at discoverability like this. I remember playing GTA IV or V and if I hadn't been using some skill, it surfaces tips. Apple has to be slightly more careful because it can't just spam you with "Double-tap to Apple Pay," but recognizing that you just used Apple Pay, but you unlocked you phone and did it from Wallet might mean there's a new skill they can show you.
I was thinking about this as I recently started playing "Ultimate NES Remix" They are quick mini-games made from old nes games. These quick little mini-games really make good tutorials on how to actually play the real game they are taken.
No, gotta put your credit card info into the wallet app before use as it needs to verify it's your account. Also, Apple Pay doesn't accept all cards. My main card isn't accepted, which is sad.
Way before I ever tried, I had seen videos of RFID "contact less" demos where you tap the device to the machine. Like at a gas pump. The icon usually gives you a clue to tap as well, but I suppose you have to imagine it is even a theoretical possibility.
I don't think there is way to make it discoverable without a big sign saying tap here ↓. Not from the phone anyway. Just something children will see and in the future never think twice about.
I'm in my mid-30's and I find Apple awful at discoverability.
Take using Apple Pay. I don't use it often, but covid has had me wanting to. I can't ever seem to remember what sort of hand waving I need to do to get it open. I seem to occasionally bring it up when I don't want to. (It's triple press the home button when the display is off, long press is Siri.)