Thanks, Apple, for throwing us back to a beautiful 1999.

Today, web usability is largely a solved problem. We know what works, have experimented and conducted field tests, and routinely optimize websites to increase conversion metrics.

Then comes the iPad. Some apps remind me of the web in 1999, just more beautiful. Remember the web a little over 10 years ago? Some websites that wanted to be especially avant-garde toyed with Flash or large image maps. On those sites, your mouse became more of a discovery device than a point and click device.

Today it is the same with iPad apps: anything can be a user interface element. There are no standards, and it seems Apple is not doing a good job (yet) defining and enforcing guidelines. continue reading »