Samsung Galaxy S2 Iconography in Google applications (Web Browser, GMail)

A consistent iconography ensures a user doesn't have to re-learn a frequently repeated activity.  Consistency allows users to map already-learned information into new situations.  

Sample 1: Android Web Browser icons.
"OK", "Select All", "Cut", "Copy", and "Clipboard/Share..."

This is an example of the OK/Select-All/Cut/Paste icon inconsistencies insde of the Android OS.

When editing a URL inside of the web browser on the phone, the Sample 1: Icons pop up.  There is an OK, a Select-All, a Cut, a Copy, and the Clipboard/Share... callout.

I find the Select-All to be a little difficult to understand, but the OK, Cut and Copy are similar-enough to existing icons I have seen in other operating systems that I know pretty quickly what they are.  

Sample 2: Android GMail app icons.
"OK", "Select All", "Cut", "Copy"

Sample 2: is an example of the same sorts of icons inside the GMail application.  In this case only the OK, Select-All, Cut and Copy buttons are available.

Oddly, these icons indicating the same functionality available in the Browser are represented in a different way.  

Again, there is another Select-All button which is, again, a little difficult to understand.  

It's not so surprising (it's poor style, but it's not surprising) that the icons for doing typical tasks differ between applications, but in this case, both of these applications were produced by Google, so it seems especially odd.

Unexpectedly locked doors in NYC

One of these doors is locked
New York Sports Club
125th Street, New York City, NY

One poor user experience I have observed personally since moving to New York City is unexpectedly locked doors.  Many businesses have two doors but leave one of them locked.  

It's the job of the patron to guess which one is open--and there is no particular pattern.  I asked a guy who had the same problem and after living here for years he said, "You never know--you just have to try gently in case it's locked".

Sometimes the right door is locked, and sometimes the left door is locked.  Sometimes I've walked into a business on the right side, and then had a problem leaving when I try to leave on the right side (as per the custom in the United States).  That was the case on this day at New York Sports Club.

Having one locked door isn't a horrible thing, but in the case where 50ish percent of the time, someone is going to be making an error, it makes perfect sense to guide the user.  

Put a big "Use other door" sign on it.  

Samsung Galaxy S2 Missing Dictionary Scroll Bar

Inside the Personal Dictionary, the user is faced with a usage pattern and iconography unlike anything on the rest of the phone.

If one wanted to modify a Personal Dictionary entry that started with the letter "V", one would normally place a finger close to the indicator-slider which would yield a drag-able handle to move the list up or down.  This is not the case inside the Personal Dictionary.

An alternative method to go directly to the "V" entries is usually  by holding the Menu button until a keyboard appears, then choosing the letter "V".  But again, this option is not available.

So, it looks like to change a Personal Dictionary entry that starts with the letter "V", you'll need to get your index finger ready to do some flicking, because there is no way to get to the "V" entries except to flick, flick, flick.