In Touch With iPhone's Touchscreen

Unique touchscreen

In the television commercials and print ads for the iPhone, the most noticeable feature is the touchscreen. Apple has the right idea in highlighting its touch screen in advertisements because it has the biggest 'Wow!' factor. The touchscreen is what distinguishes the iPhone from its competitors. To be fair, other hand held products have utilized touchscreen technology. Unlike the iPhone they have also included a stylus, mechanical keyboard or buttons. The iPhone for all intents and purposes relies on touch technology exclusively and this makes the iPhone very unique.

How unique is the iPhone's touchsreen?

So, how can they get rid of traditional input devices? Apple, for the most part, has made the iPhone menus intuitive and easy to use. iPhone users can then go to where they need to by simply touching the screen. There is a Home button on the iPhone. The main menu is accessible at any time, whether to switch functions or if you feel lost.

At 3.5 inches the iPhone's screen is large in comparison to its competitors. While fairly large it can take a while to master the touchscreen. With practice it does get easier. Typing feels a bit tight on the touch keyboard. People with thicker fingers may have a more difficult time with it due to the constrained, though larger than most, size. Perhaps this is where an optional stylus would have been helpful. The iPhone does have a built in auto-correct feature for the inevitable mistakes. Auto-correct picks up mistyped words, but iPhone's suggestions are not always what you want to really type. Again, Apple has thought ahead by including a customizable dictionary where you can add words of your own.

Getting the hang of things

There are a few basic techniques you will have to master, apart from simply tapping or touching the screen. But don't worry, these are part of the fun of the iPhone. First is scrolling. This done by simply dragging your finger across the touchscreen in the direction you wish to scroll. This can be used to adjust volume, move through lists or scroll through web pages. The other main trick to learn is pinching. To pinch, place one finger on both sides of something you wish to resize. If you want to make it smaller, draw your fingers together. To enlarge pull your fingers apart.

Glass is the material used for the iPhone screen. It is durable and scratch resistant. However, it is not immune to getting smudged. Make sure to wash your hands before using your iPhone to minimize smudging. You can get a special cover or non-adhesive film to place over the screen too. When these get smudge you simply discard them and replace. Keep in mind that the iPhone touch screen is designed to work by direct contact. If your unit does get smudged, clean it with a lint-free cloth.

Touchscreen dead spots

There have been some reports of dead spots on the iPhone touchscreen. Apple has claimed it is working on the problem and replacing defective iPhones. As this is a new product some issues like this are sure to come up.

Overall the iPhone touch screen works well and is not over-responsive. It is one of the favorite features among users and one that definitely deserves all of the attention it gets.