'Upside-down' Interfaces for Handhelds: Good. Reins on a Car: Bad
I just saw Samsung/Bang & Olufsen's 'Serene' phone (found via a Signal Versus Noise post). These are my first impressions of the device:
I would like to see more devices where the controls are at the top as this is where the fingertips naturally fall (try holding an iPod upside -doesn't it seem more comfortable?).
What I don't like about this device is the dial - how does emulating an old fashioned mechanical dial help users? It would be like early car designers adding a set of reins to control the direction of car on the basis that this is how people have been used to controlling vehicles.