X-Ten Interface is Terrible

June 18, 2004 - 9:38am — bmann

Vonage is likely to release the final version of its softphone for OS-X next week. I have been using a beta version of the X-Ten Pro software which apparently has been customized for Vonage by X-Ten Networks. If the customized version is anything like the one I have been using, Mac users are going to love it.
Om Malik's VoIP Daily: Vonage OS-X client next week?

Somehow, I doubt Mac users are going to love it. Maybe on Windows users are accustomed to this type of interface, but…

X-Ten is a great company -- leading VoIP softphone, commitment to open standards, and they're even a good, local Vancouver company. But their interface is terrible. The interface isn't native on any platform that I've seen it on, the preference screens are hidden in the same terrible "we're trying to make it look like a phone" graphics, and it's gigantic!

Please, hire some interface designers and re-do the entire interface. Think clean, minimalist, and platform native. Heck, it's a voice application -- all I really need is a taskbar icon.

Comments

September 13, 2004 - 10:25am — Fabian Rodriguez

Another rant about the X-Lite interface

...here. A quote:

Trying to edit your settings is equally miserable. For boolean items,
instead of checkboxes, it takes you to an entirely new screen where you
have to select either Yes or No from a two item list, press Enter to
move the tick, and then click Back. This turns a one-click operation
into a four-click, two-screen one. There's no way of cancelling a
settings change once you've made it; if you click BACK, your settings
are saved anyway. Even closing the window using the X saves the
settings.

July 22, 2004 - 6:35pm — Anonymous

Fear X-TEN

The management team will screw you over faster than a Sears 24V Deluxe Drill!

September 7, 2004 - 11:52am — Anonymous

They can't be too bad, their

They can't be too bad, their stock is soaring and their product is best in the industry according to my contacts at Cisco.

June 18, 2004 - 8:24pm — Fabian Rodriguez

A word must be invented...

...to express the frustration and anti-intuitive powers of X-Ten. When I explain VoIP to friends and newcomers, at some point there is a segment about softphones and hardware.

It's always hilarious when I say "the hardware is easier to configure than the software". When they stop laughing I add "Seriously.".

SJPhone barely does it, picking up just before the first versions of Netmeeting or IPPhone, with the sexy beta-version-only-geeks-run look.

Maybe I have too much hardware :)

September 7, 2004 - 11:59am — Anonymous

Not sure what the beef is all

Not sure what the beef is all about here, it IS a phone why not have it look like one. I did ask Xten about this and they said, "they are not in business to supply softphones directly to the end users, they cater to the Carriers who decide for themselves how to deploy and what the softphone will look like." They also told me that their X-lite softphone is seeing almost the same action in terms of the numbers of actual users as Skype even thought their interface is much like a telephone.

July 1, 2004 - 4:08pm — Anonymous

Escúchanos...

I have been using the X-Ten interface for quite a while and love it! It functions perfectly for me and has met all of my expectations, but I’m sure if you ask, the nice people at X-Ten will be more than happy to provide an interface in a language more comfortable for you :)

December 30, 2004 - 4:12pm — timbook2 (not verified)

X-ten adding required numbers after connecting

I also make extensive use of x-ten on OSX and have to agree: the interface is terrible. If I didnt have an experienced user online who went through the settings with me, it would have been harder.
One thing I did notice : when I call numbers, where after being connected I am asked to enter numbers , x-ten doesnt work AT ALL !! Does anybody know more ?