2011-12-22 16:18:19 -08:00
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<!DOCTYPE html>
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<html lang="en">
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<head>
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<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
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<title>
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Android Design - Writing Style
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</title>
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<link rel="shortcut icon" type="image/x-icon" href="/favicon.ico">
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<link rel="stylesheet" href="http://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Roboto:regular,medium,thin,italic,mediumitalic">
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<link rel="stylesheet" href="../static/yui-3.3.0-reset-min.css">
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<link rel="stylesheet" href="../static/default.css">
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<style>
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/* UI tables */
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.ui_table {
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width: 100%;
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background: #282828;
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color: #fff;
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border-radius: 2px;
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box-shadow: 0 2px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.25);
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border-collapse: separate;
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}
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.ui_table th,
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.ui_table td {
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padding: 5px 10px;
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}
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.ui_table thead th {
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font-weight: 600;
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}
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.ui_table tfoot td {
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border-top: 1px solid #494949;
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border-right: 1px solid #494949;
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text-align: center;
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}
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.ui_table tfoot td:last-child {
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border-right: 0;
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}
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.list_item_margins {
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margin-left: 30px !important;
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}
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.example_label {
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margin-bottom: 10px;
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padding-left: 20px;
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background: transparent none no-repeat scroll 0px 3px;
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}
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.example_label.bad {
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background-image: url(../static/ico_wrong.png);
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}
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.example_label.good {
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background-image: url(../static/ico_good.png);
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}
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</style>
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</head>
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<body>
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<div id="page-container">
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<div id="page-header"><a href="../index.html">Android Design</a></div>
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<div id="main-row">
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<ul id="nav">
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<li class="nav-section">
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<div class="nav-section-header"><a href="../index.html">Get Started</a></div>
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<ul>
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<li><a href="../get-started/creative-vision.html">Creative Vision</a></li>
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<li><a href="../get-started/principles.html">Design Principles</a></li>
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<li><a href="../get-started/ui-overview.html">UI Overview</a></li>
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</ul>
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<li class="nav-section">
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<div class="nav-section-header"><a href="../style/index.html">Style</a></div>
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<ul>
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<li><a href="../style/devices-displays.html">Devices and Displays</a></li>
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<li><a href="../style/themes.html">Themes</a></li>
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<li><a href="../style/touch-feedback.html">Touch Feedback</a></li>
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<li><a href="../style/metrics-grids.html">Metrics and Grids</a></li>
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<li><a href="../style/typography.html">Typography</a></li>
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<li><a href="../style/color.html">Color</a></li>
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<li><a href="../style/iconography.html">Iconography</a></li>
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<li><a href="../style/writing.html">Writing Style</a></li>
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</ul>
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</li>
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<li class="nav-section">
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<div class="nav-section-header"><a href="../patterns/index.html">Patterns</a></div>
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<ul>
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<li><a href="../patterns/new-4-0.html">New in Android 4.0</a></li>
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<li><a href="../patterns/gestures.html">Gestures</a></li>
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<li><a href="../patterns/app-structure.html">App Structure</a></li>
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<li><a href="../patterns/navigation.html">Navigation</a></li>
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<li><a href="../patterns/actionbar.html">Action Bar</a></li>
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<li><a href="../patterns/multi-pane-layouts.html">Multi-pane Layouts</a></li>
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<li><a href="../patterns/swipe-views.html">Swipe Views</a></li>
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<li><a href="../patterns/selection.html">Selection</a></li>
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<li><a href="../patterns/notifications.html">Notifications</a></li>
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<li><a href="../patterns/compatibility.html">Compatibility</a></li>
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<li><a href="../patterns/pure-android.html">Pure Android</a></li>
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</ul>
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</li>
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<li class="nav-section">
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<div class="nav-section-header"><a href="../building-blocks/index.html">Building Blocks</a></div>
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<ul>
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<li><a href="../building-blocks/tabs.html">Tabs</a></li>
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<li><a href="../building-blocks/lists.html">Lists</a></li>
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<li><a href="../building-blocks/grid-lists.html">Grid Lists</a></li>
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<li><a href="../building-blocks/scrolling.html">Scrolling</a></li>
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<li><a href="../building-blocks/spinners.html">Spinners</a></li>
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<li><a href="../building-blocks/buttons.html">Buttons</a></li>
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<li><a href="../building-blocks/text-fields.html">Text Fields</a></li>
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<li><a href="../building-blocks/seek-bars.html">Seek Bars</a></li>
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<li><a href="../building-blocks/progress.html">Progress & Activity</a></li>
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<li><a href="../building-blocks/switches.html">Switches</a></li>
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<li><a href="../building-blocks/dialogs.html">Dialogs</a></li>
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<li><a href="../building-blocks/pickers.html">Pickers</a></li>
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</ul>
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</li>
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2012-02-29 11:59:32 -08:00
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<li class="nav-section">
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<div class="nav-section-header empty"><a href="../downloads/index.html">Downloads</a></div>
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</li>
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2011-12-22 16:18:19 -08:00
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<li>
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2012-01-10 23:59:20 -08:00
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<div id="back-dac-section"><a href="../../index.html">Developers</a></div>
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2011-12-22 16:18:19 -08:00
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</li>
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</ul>
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<div id="content">
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<div class="layout-content-row content-header">
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<div class="layout-content-col span-9">
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<h2>Writing Style</h2>
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</div>
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<div class="paging-links layout-content-col span-4">
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<a href="#" class="prev-page-link">Previous</a>
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<a href="#" class="next-page-link">Next</a>
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</div>
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</div>
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<p>When choosing words for your app:</p>
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<ol>
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<li>
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<p><strong>Keep it brief.</strong> Be concise, simple and precise. Start with a 30 character limit (including
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spaces), and don't use more unless absolutely necessary.</p>
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</li>
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<li>
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<p><strong>Keep it simple.</strong> Pretend you're speaking to someone who's smart and competent, but doesn't
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know technical jargon and may not speak English very well. Use short words, active verbs, and
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common nouns.</p>
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</li>
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<li>
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<p><strong>Be friendly.</strong> Use contractions. Talk directly to the reader using second person ("you"). If
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your text doesn't read the way you'd say it in casual conversation, it's probably not the way
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you should write it. Don't be abrupt or annoying and make the user feel safe, happy and
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energized.</p>
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</li>
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<li>
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<p><strong>Put the most important thing first.</strong> The first two words (around 11 characters, including
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spaces) should include at least a taste of the most important information in the string. If they
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don't, start over.</p>
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</li>
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<li>
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<p><strong>Describe only what's necessary, and no more.</strong> Don't try to explain subtle differences. They
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will be lost on most users.</p>
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</li>
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<li>
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<p><strong>Avoid repetition.</strong> If a significant term gets repeated within a screen or block of text, find
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a way to use it just once.</p>
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</li>
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</ol>
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2012-02-29 11:59:32 -08:00
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<h2 id="examples">Examples</h2>
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2011-12-22 16:18:19 -08:00
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<ol><li class="value-1"><strong>Keep it brief.</strong> From the setup wizard:</ol>
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<div class="layout-content-row">
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<div class="layout-content-col span-6 list_item_margins">
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<div class="example_label bad">Too formal</div>
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<table class="ui_table good"><tbody><tr><td>
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Consult the documentation that came with your phone for further instructions.
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</td></tr></tbody></table>
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</div>
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<div class="layout-content-col span-6">
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<div class="example_label good">Better</div>
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<table class="ui_table good"><tbody><tr><td>
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Read the instructions that came with your phone.
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</td></tr></tbody></table>
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</div>
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</div>
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<div class="vspace size-1"> </div>
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<ol><li class="value-2"><strong>Keep it simple.</strong> From the Location settings screen:</ol>
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<div class="layout-content-row">
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<div class="layout-content-col span-6 list_item_margins">
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<div class="example_label bad">Confusing</div>
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<table class="ui_table bad">
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<thead>
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<tr>
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<th>
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Use GPS satellites
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</th>
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</tr>
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</thead>
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<tbody>
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<tr>
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<td>
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When locating, accurate to street level.
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</td>
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</tr>
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</tbody>
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</table>
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</div>
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<div class="layout-content-col span-6">
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<div class="example_label good">Better</div>
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<table class="ui_table good">
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<thead>
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<tr>
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<th>
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GPS
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</th>
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</tr>
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</thead>
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<tbody>
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<tr>
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<td>
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Let apps use satellites to pinpoint your location.
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</td>
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</tr>
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</tbody>
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</table>
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</div>
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</div>
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<div class="vspace size-1"> </div>
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<ol><li class="value-3"><strong>Be friendly.</strong> Dialog that appears when an application
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crashes:</ol>
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<div class="layout-content-row">
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<div class="layout-content-col span-6 list_item_margins">
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<div class="example_label bad">Confusing and annoying—"Sorry" just rubs salt in the
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wound.</div>
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<table class="ui_table bad">
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<thead>
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<tr>
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<th colspan="3">
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Sorry!
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</th>
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</tr>
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</thead>
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<tbody>
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<tr>
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<td colspan="3">
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Activity MyAppActivity (in application MyApp)
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is not responding.
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</td>
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</tr>
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</tbody>
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<tfoot>
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<tr>
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<td width="33%">Force close</td>
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<td width="33%">Wait</td>
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<td width="33%">Report</td>
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</tr>
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</tbody>
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</table>
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</div>
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<div class="layout-content-col span-6">
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<div class="example_label good">Shorter, more direct, no faux-apologetic title:<br><br></div>
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<table class="ui_table good">
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<thead>
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<tr>
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<th colspan="3">
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MyApp isn't responding.
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</th>
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</tr>
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</thead>
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<tbody>
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<tr>
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<td colspan="3">
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Do you want to close it?
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</td>
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</tr>
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</tbody>
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<tfoot>
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<tr>
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<td width="33%">Wait</td>
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<td width="33%">Report</td>
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<td width="33%">Close</td>
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</tr>
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</tbody>
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</table>
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</div>
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</div>
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<div class="vspace size-1"> </div>
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<ol><li class="value-4"><strong>Put the most important thing first.</strong></ol>
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<div class="layout-content-row">
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<div class="layout-content-col span-6 list_item_margins">
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<div class="example_label bad">Top news last</div>
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<table class="ui_table bad"><tbody><tr><td>
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77 other people +1'd this, including Larry Page.
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</td></tr></tbody></table>
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</div>
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<div class="layout-content-col span-6">
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<div class="example_label good">Top news first</div>
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<table class="ui_table good"><tbody><tr><td>
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Larry Page and 77 others +1'd this.
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</td></tr></tbody></table>
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</div>
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</div>
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<div class="layout-content-row">
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<div class="layout-content-col span-6 list_item_margins">
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<div class="example_label bad">Task last</div>
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<table class="ui_table bad"><tbody><tr><td>
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Touch Next to complete setup using a Wi-Fi connection.
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</td></tr></tbody></table>
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</div>
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<div class="layout-content-col span-6">
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<div class="example_label good">Task first</div>
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<table class="ui_table good"><tbody><tr><td>
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To finish setup using Wi-Fi, touch Next.
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</td></tr></tbody></table>
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</div>
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</div>
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<div class="vspace size-1"> </div>
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<ol><li class="value-5"><strong>Describe only what's necessary, and no more.</strong></ol>
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<div class="layout-content-row">
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<div class="layout-content-col span-6 list_item_margins">
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<div class="example_label bad">From a Setup Wizard screen</div>
|
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<table class="ui_table bad">
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<thead>
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<tr>
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<th>
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|
Signing in...
|
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</th>
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</tr>
|
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</thead>
|
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<tbody>
|
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<tr>
|
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|
<td>
|
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|
|
Your phone needs to communicate with<br>
|
|
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|
|
Google servers to sign in to your account.<br>
|
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|
|
This may take up to five minutes.
|
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|
</td>
|
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</tr>
|
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|
</tbody>
|
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|
</table>
|
|
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|
</div>
|
|
|
|
|
<div class="layout-content-col span-6">
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<div class="example_label good">From a Setup Wizard screen</div>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<table class="ui_table good">
|
|
|
|
|
<thead>
|
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
|
|
|
<th>
|
|
|
|
|
Signing in...
|
|
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|
|
</th>
|
|
|
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|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
|
</thead>
|
|
|
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|
<tbody>
|
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
|
|
|
<td>
|
|
|
|
|
Your phone is contacting Google.<br>
|
|
|
|
|
This can take up to 5 minutes.
|
|
|
|
|
</td>
|
|
|
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
|
</tbody>
|
|
|
|
|
</table>
|
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|
</div>
|
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</div>
|
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|
<div class="layout-content-row content-footer">
|
|
|
|
|
<div class="paging-links layout-content-col span-9"> </div>
|
|
|
|
|
<div class="paging-links layout-content-col span-4">
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|
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|
<a href="#" class="prev-page-link">Previous</a>
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<a href="#" class="next-page-link">Next</a>
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</div>
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</div>
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</div>
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</div>
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<div id="page-footer">
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<p id="copyright">
|
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|
|
Except as noted, this content is licensed under
|
2012-01-10 23:59:20 -08:00
|
|
|
<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/">
|
2011-12-22 16:18:19 -08:00
|
|
|
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5</a>.<br>
|
|
|
|
|
For details and restrictions, see the
|
2012-01-10 23:59:20 -08:00
|
|
|
<a href="http://developer.android.com/license.html">Content License</a>.
|
2011-12-22 16:18:19 -08:00
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
2012-01-10 23:59:20 -08:00
|
|
|
<a href="http://www.android.com/terms.html">Site Terms of Service</a> –
|
|
|
|
|
<a href="http://www.android.com/privacy.html">Privacy Policy</a> –
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|
|
|
<a href="http://www.android.com/branding.html">Brand Guidelines</a>
|
2011-12-22 16:18:19 -08:00
|
|
|
</p>
|
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|
|
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|
|
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</div>
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</div>
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<script src="../static/jquery-1.6.2.min.js"></script>
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<script>
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</script>
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