Jolla should target Business Use [requirements added]
asked 2014-01-28 13:17:48 +0200
One of the main drawbacks of the otherwise great N9 (still unmatched in many aspects compared to Jolla TOH, but i'm sure this will change soon for better) was its lack of support for business use. While I acknowledge, that it may not be the primary target at this moment, let's discuss the main requirements needed for use in a business environment (many of those are already subjects in other questions here):
A) Sailfish OS
- WPA2 Enterprise: works already through command line configuration. Needs a menu in settings for setup.
- VPN: support for different protocols like OpenVPN (already supported unofficially), IPSec (IKEv2), Cisco SSL.
- Using Shares: support CIFS (smbclient) and NFS protocols, mount support through File Browser or 3rd party App
- Storage in general: general App integration of cloud storage, shares and external sd-card
- Lockscreen at a glance: very important to have a lockscreen with configurable informations (like N9 with a 3rd App): time, date, calendar meetings, weather and others
- Privacy: rethink and implement more optional security and privacy settings, for the OS and also per App. Display the access to fuctions and data of Apps and enforce to accept them before installation.
- Overall experience: auto screen rotation, refining some swipes/gestures, Folders (!)
- Multimedia: standard support for more codecs
- Keyboard: individual keyboard configuration
- Fonts: improve, change font size easily
- Copy/Cut/paste Functionality through the whole OS and Apps
- Display out: no idea how though...see other threads
- Support SIP protocol
- Security: optional device encryption from startup
- Support for 4G/LTE
B) Standard Jolla Apps
- E-Mail Client: improve E-Mail Client (see other posts)
- Calendar: improve (see other posts, regarding handling, connections, display and views (weekly view!) and so on)
- Contacts: improve
- Clock and Alarm: improve. Include sleep functionality for closing apps.
- "Here" Maps and Navigation: improve, add offline maps. Or maybe a 3rd party App for Openmaps.
- Security: Anti-Malware software (ClamAV?), Firewall settings (only with activated developer mode), Certificate Management
- File Browser: more functionality or better 3rd party App
- Office: improve view and handling of MS-Office, Openoffice and PDF documents (no editing needed here, but copy paste)
- Phone and Messages: improve (call and log management, MMS ...)
C) Native 3rd party Apps (Android Apps should be only a last resort)
- System utilities: WiFi analyzer, Network discovery,
- Office: PDF editor (marking, correcting, drawing), business calc, ...
- Kindle: any possibility to get a native Kindle App? But at least other eBook readers
- Security: Password managers (already in the store), Crypto containers
- Graphical Notebook (similar to Xournal): sketch/write quickly some notes with your finger (someone tried a pen already?)
- Social Media: native Linkedin and Xing Apps. Always implement a clean logout functionality for all Social media Apps!
- Storage and Sharing: better File Browser, support for other cloud storage, including ownCloud
- Multimedia: improve Mediaplayer (see other posts), support hardware button when locked for start/stop/skip
- Audio: audio note taker/recorder
- TV: some TV/News Channels App would be nice
- Stocks: some stocks App maybe, to follow Jollas success...? :-)
- Internet Browsers: Firefox, Opera...
- Multipurpose Database: some kind of database or spreadsheet with GUI and editing
- Skype and VoIP-SIP Apps
- Scanning: photo scan and OCR (for vCards and other uses)
- Remote connections: VNC, RDP, maybe VMWare/Citrix (well, not really useful with this size)
- Automatic profile switcher
- ... and for the stressed manager... some standard games like patiences, Angry Birds and others :-)
Well, I finish here, or it will get longer. Of course, this list is very subjective, some things may be already solved or are on the roadmap, and the list is not in any priority sort order. Up to you to comment, criticize, extend, ... Keeping in mind that the focus should be helping Jolla TOH (or its successor) to find its way into business and non-devels power users too.
One issue to think about is, that, while I personally prefer and support free and open source software, high quality 3rd party business-near Apps will usually not come for free. So, it will be crucial to implement some sort of commercial section inside the Jolla shop.
Cheers, manuel
This looks more like a wish-list to generally improve the phone, to business users as well as others. But on the other hand it's a list to be considered (with varying priorities obviously)
Cary Grant ( 2014-01-28 13:48:16 +0200 )edit@Cary: yes, I agree, it's about some hypothetical power business user with some technical flair :-) But I think basically the business case requires and assumes good and secure connectivity in every way - this means not only network connectivity and traditional applications like E-Mail, but also good "connections" to services, documents and between Apps. Hence many listed points deal with basic features that are useful to other user types of course.
melg01 ( 2014-01-28 14:03:16 +0200 )editSo, given a number of other posts related to this particular point, Jolla will hopefully be concentrating on getting the whole WLAN stack working properly and reliably ...
strongm ( 2014-01-28 17:01:40 +0200 )edit@myself -:) Going through the above list after having successfully updated to 1.0.3.8, there are no relevant improvements to those topics. I still think, that, imho, the following requests would greatly improve the usability and acceptance of Jolla for business use:
Jolla native apps have been slightly improved or stabilized, but many wishes and suggestions remain open (see many threads in this forum). Properly and powerful working of Calendar and E-Mail are surely at the top of this list. I'd also consider a navigation app based on downloadable "here" maps quite useful, but that's a matter of personal preference. More important - again - is the possibility of adding commercial apps to the Jolla store. I am willing to pay for good apps, the same way I did for the N9.
melg01 ( 2014-02-01 11:05:18 +0200 )editYes, I agree with all points of the list. I still have to use my old mobile phone (N9) because the jolla phone is not a finished product.
JulHer ( 2014-02-01 13:30:09 +0200 )edit