Re: MacUpdatePromo

In article <C437ED6C.B5957%usenet@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
Snit <usenet@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

"nospamatall" <nospamatall@xxxxxx> stated in post futkjh$pk8$2@xxxxxxxx on
4/25/08 3:05 PM:

Snit wrote:

In most cases, applications that are not document-based
should quit when the main window is closed. For Example,
System Preferences quits if the user closes the window. If an
application continues to perform some function when the main
window is closed, however, it may be appropriate to leave it
running when the main window is closed. For example, iTunes
continues to play when the user closes the main window.

OK so your original gripe is vindicated, if not in the way you
suggested. Developers should follow guidelines. guidelines are not
rules, but that doesn't mean you are free to ignore them, any more than
the guidelines you see on the road.

My original gripe is not vindicated: there is no easy way for a user to know
which app will work which way (other than trial and error, of course)


False.

and
there is no good way even suggested for the developer to tell the user -

False.

Apple offers no visual language to inform the user.

Again, false. As has been pointed out to you already, Apple provides the
developer a "good" method of visual indication to let the user decide to
keep the app running or not in the form of an alert. Visual language
can't get much stronger than a popup asking if you'd really like to
quit. Apple references situations with data and without... shown here:

--begin quote from Apple's site--
When a user closes a document window, your application should:

Decide what to do with unsaved data (see "Dialogs for Saving, Closing,
and Quitting")

Store the window's onscreen position and size (so they can be used when
the window is reopened)

In most cases, applications that are not document-based should quit when
the main window is closed. For Example, System Preferences quits if the
user closes the window. If an application continues to perform some
function when the main window is closed, however, it may be appropriate
to leave it running when the main window is closed. For example, iTunes
continues to play when the user closes the main window.
--end quote--

The line that reads "Decide what to do with unsaved data" is followed by
a link that reads "(see "Dialogs for Saving, Closing, and Quitting").

When the link is clicked you're taken to a page that talks about using
an "alert" for a situation that is "notable" (I'd say quitting an app
easily falls under the "notable" category).

--begin quote from Apple's site--
"Alerts

Alerts display messages to inform users of situations that are notable
or potentially dangerous".
--end quote--


It even mentions what constitutes a "Good Alert Message"

--begin quote from Apple's site--
Writing Good Alert Messages

A good alert message states clearly what caused the alert to appear and
what the user can do about it.
--end quote--

Programming is, as it should be, flexible... with that flexibility comes
the requirements of responsibility and common sense.

As anyone who comprehends what they read can see, your charge that:

"there is no easy way for a user to know which app will work which way"

.... is clearly false.

As is your charge:
"there is no good way even suggested for the developer to tell the user"

Clearly false.

And of this charge:
"Apple offers no visual language to inform the user".

It's the responsibility of the developer to provide the user what Apple
has made available in the way of "visual language" to deal with this
problem. Andy is correct... avoiding GUI clutter is a good thing.

--
"Apple is pushing how green this is - but it [Macbook Air] is
clearly disposable... when the battery dies you can pretty much
just throw it away". - Snit
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: MacUpdatePromo
    ... System Preferences quits if the user closes the window. ... Developers should follow guidelines. ...
    (comp.sys.mac.advocacy)
  • Re: MacUpdatePromo
    ... System Preferences quits if the user closes the window. ... Developers should follow guidelines. ...
    (comp.sys.mac.advocacy)
  • Re: MacUpdatePromo
    ... Snit wrote: ... System Preferences quits if the user closes the window. ... Developers should follow guidelines. ...
    (comp.sys.mac.advocacy)
  • Re: MacUpdatePromo
    ... System Preferences quits if the user closes the window. ... Developers should follow guidelines. ...
    (comp.sys.mac.advocacy)
  • Re: SetMapMode
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    (microsoft.public.vb.general.discussion)
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