Claims they're inconsistent and cause frequent user errors.
Usability guru Jakob Nielsen hasn't pulled any punches in his assessment of the first wave of iPad apps.
Here's the summary of his 93-page report analysing the interaction design of more than 30 iPad apps and iPad-friendly websites:
"iPad apps are inconsistent and have low feature discoverability, with frequent user errors due to accidental gestures. An overly strong print metaphor and weird interaction styles cause further usability problems."
Ouch.
The report is based on observing seven people using the various apps and sites. Nielsen writes that the apps remind him of the first websites in 1993, when "graphic designers went wild: anything they could draw could be a UI, whether it made sense or not".
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He criticises the inconsistent interaction design that sees apps working differently even for the same user inputs.
For example, tapping on a picture can mean nothing happens; the picture gets bigger; it hyperlinks to a more detailed page; flips to reveal more pictures; or pops up a new set of navigation choices.
Nielsen also slams the 'crushing print metaphor' adopted by many content apps for iPad, and calls for developers to use more consistent interaction techniques and standard navigation - "including a Back feature, search, clickable headlines, and a homepage for most apps".
It's early days for iPad apps: developers are feeling their way with Apple's new device, and many of the apps covered in the study were made before their developers actually had an iPad to test on.
Nielsen has been a controversial figure in the web design world, as not all designers and developers agree with all his views on the structure and design of their content.
However, the new report should be required reading for iPad developers, whether you agree or disagree with Nielsen's suggestions.
