As I mentioned in the previous post, I posted a reveiew of the digital video management application FrameVault. To sum up the review, I said the application worked as described, but that it had almost no “Mac Polish.” to it. What is Mac Polish? Here’s a few examples:
- Excellent UI design
- Drag-and-drop
- Keyboard access
- Authentic Apple Help (ie. using Help Viewer)
- Other little things that are always overlooked (like setting a table cell editable on insertion)
I think that I have been sniffing too much of the polish, because I tend to frown upon applications that aren’t covered in it. Applications like Delicious Library NetNewsWire, VoodooPad and Transmit are four of the top applications according to my unofficial measurement of polished applications. Let’s just analyze VoodooPad and look at some of the nifty little features that I think make it a polished application. I pick VoodooPad because the other three get far more love in my eyes, so I want to spread it around. :-)
When you first launch the application it starts you out with some sample data to work with. The sample data is an explanation of what the application is and how to get started using it. Having sample data is more inviting than presenting them with a blank screen. The sample data includes a lot of the features that make the application unique: links to other pages in the wiki, embedded images and external links. The user can click around and see what the application is all about.
One other thing I like on the interface front is the small Buy Now link that Gus includes in the bottom right-hand corner. Rather than nag the user everytime the application starts (or every fifteen minutes like some applications), there is a constant, non-intrusive reminder at the bottom to support the shareware. Nice touch.
Looking at the menu structure of the application you will see the normal ones: the application name, file, edit, window, applescript and help. Along with that are format, page and plugin. Each menu is structured with relevant commands and the more frequently used ones are given keyboard shortcuts. One thing that bugged me about FrameVault is that every single function had a keyboard shortcut. If I mistyped a command, I was going to cause something else to happen.
One thing that all applications need to do is have a descriptive, but not too long application name window.
Good examples: VoodooPad, NetNewsWire, Safari, iCal.
Bad Examples: The Missing Sync For Windows Mobile, FmPro Migrator 1.91, Virex 7.6
The menu name should be short and descriptive. How could we correct the offenders?
- The Missing Sync
- FmPro Migrator
- Virex
They are short, don’t take up too much space and describe what the application is. I assuming Mark/Space has such a long descriptive name because they have three products called The Missing Sync (PocketPC, PalmOS, HipTop), but the icon for the application adds enough description for the person to know which device is syncing. As for FmPro Migrator and Virex, there is no need to put the version number on your application name. Save that for the about window.
