App Icons!

Productivity and efficiency. These two words have always been synonymous with the BlackBerry experience, and the ability to get things done FAST was the primary reason I became a BlackBerry fan so many years ago. Thinking back to the my first BlackBerry, the 7290, I remember being so impressed at how efficiently I could navigate my way through the operating system. BlackBerry had mapped everything out and figured out the path to getting things done in the least number of clicks possible, and when it came to suggesting things like menu options, it always read my mind and knew what I wanted to do be pre-selecting the option. 

With BlackBerry 10 being an all-new operating system, BlackBerry started from scratch and has been steadily improving the user experience, adding back in more efficiency and productivity in areas where it was lacking from the initial launch. We highlighted much of that in our 2014 BlackBerry 10 Review

One little anti-efficiency feature that's bugging me, especially on the BlackBerry Z30 with it's 5" display, is folders. Specifically, I hate that the application shortcuts default to top alignment, even when you only have a few apps in the folder. As a person who likes to use their phone one-handed as often as possible (it's more efficient - I have other things to be doing with that second hand!), and as a person who likes to organize their apps into folders, it's extremely annoying to have to reach up to the top of the screen to tap a shortcut.

At the minimum, it would be more efficient to switch to middle alignment. And even better would be to provide the option for me to choose my alignment. Personally, I'd rather put my folder shortcuts at the bottom of the folder so that they're closer to reach with my thumb. To professionals and power users — which is who BlackBerry is targeting as their primary customer — these are the little details and features that can go along way.

Be sure to watch my Instagram Video to see what I'm talking about in action. And be sure to listen to CrackBerry Podcast 113, where we talk about this in detail among other things. 

Agree with my logic here? Disagree? Let me know in the comments what you think!

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