iPhone 6s

[Dave]

No I don't. As per your picture the button is at least half the size of the 'Cancel' and 'Send' buttons. Perhaps it will be better on bigger devices like the Plus and iPad.

It's the same height, measure if you like, and that's a regular 6s. It's certainly not 2 pixels high as you initially claimed...

 

[Cassady]

Well that is the process which I figured out worked. That is what happens when basic things are hidden with no clues for a new user. Try ask someone who hasn't used an iPhone extensively and I'm sure they will also struggle and wonder where t f is the attach button. How is anyone meant to know to hold down white space? It not like you are selecting something or inserting an in line photo. Even in your concise version above it is unintuitive. Its basic HCI.

I really don't see how this can be justified. Its no train smash but it leaves me wondering why not just save the user 2 clicks in the first place? Try to think about this objectively.

I agree it's nothing too massive, but also that it's not at all intuitive. No ways that would've occurred to the mother-in-law, for instance.

If memory serves(??), the option to add documents as attachments in the native mail.app was a fairly recent addition, which might explain why it appears a bit hidden away. I only knew to look there because I remember reading the feature was now enabled, and knew how to add photos that way, which had me go and look.

That being said, as 3D Touch gains more traction, that would probably see more people trying a tap in blank space to bring up further options...

 

[Way69]

I agree it's nothing too massive, but also that it's not at all intuitive. No ways that would've occurred to the mother-in-law, for instance.

If memory serves(??), the option to add documents as attachments in the native mail.app was a fairly recent addition, which might explain why it appears a bit hidden away. I only knew to look there because I remember reading the feature was now enabled, and knew how to add photos that way, which had me go and look.

That being said, as 3D Touch gains more traction, that would probably see more people trying a tap in blank space to bring up further options...

Every OS has its quirks...

Windows phone doesn't even let you attach files from the mail app.

I remember when we used to have an android device as a standby phone at the office. Every time the phone was handed to a new person, they'd spend about 20 minutes trying to figure out how to enable call forwarding.

 

[Cassady]

Every OS has its quirks...

Windows phone doesn't even let you attach files from the mail app.

I remember when we used to have an android device as a standby phone at the office. Every time the phone was handed to a new person, they'd spend about 20 minutes trying to figure out how to enable call forwarding.

Oh absolutely. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy iOS.

But yes, the way they deal with adding attachments (currently) in mail.app is 'quirky', and could probably be improved. On my 5S, it's 3 taps away. I would've added it before "add photo/video", or melded the latter 'into' adding an attachment, since surely one is as likely to want to add a file, as a photo/video.

Unless Apple reasons that the type of person likely to add documents is using Mail as a 'serious/business' tool, and so probably will be using a 3rd party app (Outlook; Spark; Dispatch etc) in any event - and so want to keep mail.app simple and essentially unchanged, for people like the mother-in-law that wants to send pics of the grandkids to others - and that's all...

 

[Brawler]

It's the same height, measure if you like, and that's a regular 6s. It's certainly not 2 pixels high as you initially claimed...

Jingos, how pedantic. I'm quite sure that anyone with half a brain would have realized I was exaggerating and that it wasn't two pixels exactly. End of the day it a lot smaller (not the same as you suggest) than the other buttons and the whole process is a convoluted mess.

Can't fanboys just admit when something isn't perfect?

 

[sand_man]

I used an app called any attach on my jail broken idevices. Works a treat but for some reason the developer hasn't updated it for anything beyond 8.1.

Edit: mail attachments are handled piss poorly in iOS. It's definitely an area that requires an over haul.

 

[Brawler]

In the States and Europe, anyone with an Apple device can walk into an Apple store and receive instant service.

In SA, anyone with an Apple device purchased through Core Group can walk into an iStore and get near-instant service.

People can also Google or use forums for free advice.

Stop nitpicking and enjoy your awesome iDevice.

(We know you love it. )

How can this be seen as OK? When the most basic of function is hidden I need to Google for the solution or even worse drive to iStore?!? That is ridiculous.

I am not nit picking. I am trying to be objective with this device. When I complemented the device for its merits a few posts back no one said anything but any criticism and I am nitpicking. Trust me there is a lot more I could moan about. Or are all iDevices perfect in your eyes?

 

[sand_man]

How can this be seen as OK? When the most basic of function is hidden I need to Google for the solution or even worse drive to iStore?!? That is ridiculous.

I am not nit picking. I am trying to be objective with this device. When I complemented the device for its merits a few posts back no one said anything but any criticism and I am nitpicking. Trust me there is a lot more I could moan about. Or are all iDevices perfect in your eyes?

Haven't been following this discussion all that closely.

Are you new to iOS? It's a learning curve mate, as would be the case of this were your first week with a new windows phone or android phone. Some stuff is intuitive, some less so but now you know...

 

[Dave]

Jingos, how pedantic. I'm quite sure that anyone with half a brain would have realized I was exaggerating and that it wasn't two pixels exactly. End of the day it a lot smaller (not the same as you suggest) than the other buttons

It's not a lot smaller, that's as false a statement as 2 pixels high, (which you used as a measurement, so not sure how referring you to you previous statement is pedantic, perhaps I have half a brain more than you?)

View attachment 318669
View attachment 318671

Haven't been following this discussion all that closely.

Are you new to iOS? It's a learning curve mate, as would be the case of this were your first week with a new windows phone or android phone. Some stuff is intuitive, some less so but now you know...

It seems he would rather just make stuff up to cover for his mistake...

 

[Brawler]

Haven't been following this discussion all that closely.

Are you new to iOS? It's a learning curve mate, as would be the case of this were your first week with a new windows phone or android phone. Some stuff is intuitive, some less so but now you know...

I have used a modern iPod(ie iphone minus GSM) and iPad before but this is my first daily driver iOS device. For sure I bought the device for the learning curve as I like to know the ins and outs each platform. There is much to like but don't dare mention what you don't like here...

 

[Brawler]

It's not a lot smaller, that's as false a statement as 2 pixels high, (which you used as a measurement, so not sure how referring you to you previous statement is pedantic, perhaps I have half a brain more than you?)

View attachment 318669
View attachment 318671






It seems he would rather just make stuff up to cover for his mistake...

Again you are harping on about the size of the arrow. From where I am sitting it is a lot smaller than the Cancel button. 50%? Since when is that not a lot? Still missing the point which now multiple others have acknowledged. It is simply not intuitive and its laughable that you want to argue the size of a button to the n'th degree (while still missing the point)

 

[Dave]

Again you are harping on about the size of the arrow. From where I am sitting it is a lot smaller than the Cancel button. 50%? Since when is that not a lot? Still missing the point which now multiple others have acknowledged. It is simply not intuitive and its laughable that you want to argue the size of a button to the n'th degree (while still missing the point)

No, you've missed the point, either you are some spastic Quasimodo with toes on your hands or you are talking ****e to cover up for your initial mistake of not realising where it was and engaging in hyperbole to cover it up?

Would it have been so hard to say "my bad, that's easy, but damn it's unintuitive" rather than going on and on about how impossible it is to use?

 

[PostmanPot]

How can this be seen as OK? When the most basic of function is hidden I need to Google for the solution or even worse drive to iStore?!? That is ridiculous.

I am not nit picking. I am trying to be objective with this device. When I complemented the device for its merits a few posts back no one said anything but any criticism and I am nitpicking. Trust me there is a lot more I could moan about. Or are all iDevices perfect in your eyes?

iOS is perfect in my eyes.

It's not a lot smaller, that's as false a statement as 2 pixels high, (which you used as a measurement, so not sure how referring you to you previous statement is pedantic, perhaps I have half a brain more than you?)

It seems he would rather just make stuff up to cover for his mistake...

It's smaller for me.

 

[PostmanPot]

 

[Dave]

iOS is perfect in my eyes.

It's smaller for me.

It's unintuitive and slightly smaller but hardly so small that you can't touch it with a finger to select.

 

[Brawler]

No, you've missed the point, either you are some spastic Quasimodo with toes on your hands or you are talking ****e to cover up for your initial mistake of not realising where it was and engaging in hyperbole to cover it up?

Would it have been so hard to say "my bad, that's easy, but damn it's unintuitive" rather than going on and on about how impossible it is to use?

What exactly am I covering up and what mistake did I make? I posted the process I used to eventually attach an item and when I was informed of a better way I acknowledged the correct way (which Hush9300 posted) but mentioned that it still was unintuitive and a mission. Something that fanboys will not admit.

 

[Brawler]

It's unintuitive and slightly smaller but hardly so small that you can't touch it with a finger to select.

Well at least we are getting somewhere in that you admit its not intuitive.
50% is not slightly smaller...

 

[Dave]

What exactly am I covering up and what mistake did I make? I posted the process I used to eventually attach an item and when I was informed of a better way I acknowledged the correct way (which PP posted) but mentioned that it still was unintuitive and a mission. Something that fanboys will not admit.

You mean this hysterical little bit hyperbole?

1. Holding down on nondescript white space
2. This first brings up a magnifying glass
3. A second later a tiny ribbon menu appears with Select, Select All, Paste and a tiny arrow in the right of the screen
4. As the arrow is about 2 pixels thick it takes a few attempts of step 1 -3 again until you scroll enough to see "add attachment"

Please, do you also scream and flap your hands and jump on a chair if you see a mouse?

 

[Dave]

Well at least we are getting somewhere in that you admit its not intuitive.
50% is not slightly smaller...

It's nowhere near 50% the height, without a ruler it's probably around 80%.

 

[Brawler]

You mean this hysterical little bit hyperbole?

Again I have admitted I was exaggerating (which I thought was quite clear). Did you really think I meant two pixels exactly?
In the following post I also acknowledged that #2 was not true.