Latest iPhone 3.0 Beta Allows 11 Pages of Apps (180 Apps)

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/04/01/latest-iphone-3-0-beta-allows-11-pages-of-apps-180-apps/)

Apple's second iPhone 3.0 beta (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/03/31/apple-seeds-second-iphone-3-0-beta-to-developers/) that was seeded today offers the usual collection of bug fixes and improvements, but does introduce one new feature: users are now allowed 11 pages of apps (180 apps total) on your iPhone and iPod Touch.

The finding was posted with screenshot (http://www.theloopblog.com/archives/93) by TheLoopBlog and was subsequently verified (http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=7385942&postcount=187) by another user. The currently shipping version of the iPhone firmware only allows 9 pages of Apps (148 apps total). While the distinction may seem small, many users have already run into the 148 application limit in their day to day use.

While Apple has been rumored to offer more robust application support in future versions of the iPhone operating system, no announcements were made during the iPhone 3.0 media event.

Article Link: Latest iPhone 3.0 Beta Allows 11 Pages of Apps (180 Apps) (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/04/01/latest-iphone-3-0-beta-allows-11-pages-of-apps-180-apps/)

[rockinrocker]

Sweet! More's better, right?

[fuziwuzi]

While Apple has been rumored to offer more robust application support in future versions of the iPhone operating system, no announcements were made during the iPhone 3.0 media event.

i remember a comment that grouping of apps by type, would be available in version 3

[Eso]

Oh how lame. So instead of navigating 1-2 folders we get to navigate 11 sequential pages. 2 extra pages is the best they can come up with?

Although, on the other hand, there's not 11 pages worth of useful apps in the app store so I guess it's a wash.

P.S. - does anyone know what these icons below everyone's name are?

[lostfan916]

My spring board shall be famous! :D



I'd never need 11 pages for apps (:eek:) but good that it's there. Spotlight should make navigating them not be a pain.

[Sehnsucht]

Yay for bug fixes...off to Xcode I go! :D

[Simplicated]

Oh how lame. So instead of navigating 1-2 folders we get to navigate 11 sequential pages. 2 extra pages is the best they can come up with?

Although, on the other hand, there's not 11 pages worth of useful apps in the app store so I guess it's a wash.

P.S. - does anyone know what these icons below everyone's name are?

There's something new you forgot... It's called Spotlight.

[Flynntoo]

,bout time

[Randman]

Ugh, just introduce folders already.

[Royale w/cheese]

Why 11?

[mavis]

There's something new you forgot... It's called Spotlight.

So if I want to launch an app, I'm supposed to go to the Spotlight screen, start typing the name of the app, and then select it from the list? Sounds like a PITA. How about a collapsible stacks icon which allows you to drill down through your apps. One tap: the stack opens. Second tap: select the category (Games, Utilities, Productivity, etc). Third tap: launch the app. Faster, more intuitive, and easier.

[iamse7en]

Man you guys are so GULLIBLE.

I hate April Fool's day.

Worthless waste of my time and mental energy.

[chromos]

Why 11?

It goes to 11!! (sorry, couldn't resist)

[Royale w/cheese]

It goes to 11!! (sorry, couldn't resist)

:D

Man you guys are so GULLIBLE.

I hate April Fool's day.

Worthless waste of my time and mental energy.
Then do something else.

[iphones4evry1]

Any news on how many Apps we will be allowed to have running in the background?
Is it limited to a fixed number, like five, or could we have all 180 Apps running in the background?

180 Apps ... just makes me think about how many Apps are on my phone right now that I haven't used in over a month (half of them).

.

[dagamer34]

There's still a need for organization of the Springboard. I really feel just having categories for one of the pages would make organization much better. Having more pages only delays the problem.

And when you've got that many apps, all the pages look like a mess!

[MD5Hash]

Next seed: 11 and a half pages! The bottom of the last half is now taken up by smiling photo of our benevolent ruler, Tim Cook.

[luke-xx]

This is probably a stupid question but does installing lots of applications drain the battery?

[Omni Geno]

Why 11?

Just so Apple can say that this iPhone OS goes to 11!!

Edit: looks like I was beaten to the punch.

[tirerim]

Why 11?

Because now it goes to eleven.

[MrSmith]

:D


Then do something else.
I think you're missing the point. The implication was this is an April Fool's joke. And now you must feel silly. :p

[Cassie]

I think all of you missed Doctor Q's post.

To clarify:

* We never purposely pose stories that we know to be false, on April 1 or any other day.
* We do not make up news stories or rumors, on April 1 or any other day.
* In reporting the news on April 1, we work even harder than usual to avoid posting stories that are real-looking but are in fact pranks.
* We enjoy jokes around the Internet on April 1 as much as anyone, and members are welcome to discuss them and point them out in this thread.
* We've been known to add surprises to our own site, as long as they don't prevent people from getting the real news and rumors.

[richard.mac]

cool. not that i would even have 180 apps let alone even have an iPhone, but a large maximum is welcome.

It goes to 11!! (sorry, couldn't resist)

just in case anyone doesnt know the joke http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d54UU-fPIsY.

[nagromme]

Excellent!

12 pages would just be too unwieldy to navigate :p

[dejo]

More's better, right?
Not always. See "Paradox of Choice" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Paradox_of_Choice) for details.

[Royale w/cheese]

I think you're missing the point. The implication was this is an April Fool's joke. And now you must feel silly. :p

No, it was implied that it was, which I realized. My implication was to do something else then to participate in it by complaining and calling others gullible, when I believe we all take things said on this day with a grain of salt.

You did not tell me anything I didn't know. I don't feel silly at all, do you? :confused:


But it does go up to 11.
:D

[Zincous]

148apps.com will have to make a new site lol

QUICK someone go steal the 180apps.com domain name before they do!

[iphones4evry1]

I think all of you missed Doctor Q's post.

That is what the antivirus companies are going to say about the conflicker virus. April Fools*

*all sales final :D

[Apple iKid]

Cool! More pages to fill now! :D

[pimentoLoaf]

When are they going to have Final Cut Express Mobile available?

[MrSmith]

I don't feel silly at all, do you? :confused:

Now I do...

[locust76]

Any news on how many Apps we will be allowed to have running in the background?
Is it limited to a fixed number, like five, or could we have all 180 Apps running in the background?

180 Apps ... just makes me think about how many Apps are on my phone right now that I haven't used in over a month (half of them).

.

Apple is currently allowing half of your total apps to run in the background, so if you had the maximum of 180 apps installed, you could have 90 apps running in the background. The memory constraints have been alleviated because iPhone 3.0 is now capable of addressing the free space in flash as if it were RAM.

[Royale w/cheese]

When are they going to have Final Cut Express Mobile available?
It would have to be Pro. Express would not be able to run in the background.

[laughingperson5]

YAY!! finally...but they should put like "Stacks" on it or something:)

[Royale w/cheese]

Now I do...

Well today is a day that no one can hold feeling silly against you...

Unless you get caught with someone holding something silly against you.:D

[beg_ne]

Ugh, just introduce folders already.

I doubt they will, everything Apple has done in the last 4+ years has been to get people to stop thinking in terms of "folders". Most likely Apple will intend for those people with a lot of apps to forget about organizing them and just use spotlight to find/launch the apps.

[Tanj]

This is dumb.
Should have added some new category type springboard option.


The reason I don't simply want more space is because a full screen is ugly and crowded. This doesn't solve that problem, it only makes it worse.

Sure spotlight lets me find and run them quickly, but it doesn't help me organize my phone.

But I mean, sure it's still great for those people that have 9 pages full. It's not categories though. And categories would have solved the same problem more elegantly.

[Sehnsucht]

Found this in build #2. Anybody know what to make of it?

Notice plain old "Store" down in the menu. Doesn't specify what store, just "Store."

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr214/TheDavidFrom1988/SafeRedirect-1.jpg

Then when you tap "Store", you get:

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr214/TheDavidFrom1988/SafeRedirect-1-1.jpg

I'm assuming this is a placeholder for something coming up later, but it looks hella weird. :confused:

[Pooshka]

Found this in build #2. Anybody know what to make of it?

Notice plain old "Store" down in the menu. Doesn't specify what store, just "Store."

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr214/TheDavidFrom1988/SafeRedirect-1.jpg

Then when you tap "Store", you get:

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr214/TheDavidFrom1988/SafeRedirect-1-1.jpg

I'm assuming this is a placeholder for something coming up later, but it looks hella weird. :confused:
Store files? :rolleyes:

[Pooshka]

cool. not that i would even have 180 apps let alone even have an iPhone, but a large maximum is welcome.



just in case anyone doesnt know the joke http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d54UU-fPIsY.
LMFAO

Love the bloke!

[richard.mac]

LMFAO

Love the bloke!

[insert English accent] "Look see, it's still got the 'ol tagger on it see, never even played it, see…"

[insert American accent] "You just bought it, you…"

[insert English accent] "Don't touch it!" :D:D:D

no more quotes, i promise ;).

[hhaeschen]

While I'm all for choice and against restrictions by Apple, I wonder who the hell has more than 148 apps that are used on a regular basis.

Spring is here! Clean up your iPhone!

[talkingfuture]

I can't believe anybody would find use for that many Apps.

[phiberglass]

Man you guys are so GULLIBLE.

I hate April Fool's day.

Worthless waste of my time and mental energy.

It's confirmed....

http://www.iphoneinfoblog.com/2009/03/31/iphone-30-beta-2-supports-11-pages-of-apps/

[jdechko]

Just do folders or stacks or something. I dont need 11 pages. And I'd like the ability to hide or uninstall some default apps (like the stocks app).

[phiberglass]

Found this in build #2. Anybody know what to make of it?

Notice plain old "Store" down in the menu. Doesn't specify what store, just "Store."

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr214/TheDavidFrom1988/SafeRedirect-1.jpg

Then when you tap "Store", you get:

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr214/TheDavidFrom1988/SafeRedirect-1-1.jpg

I'm assuming this is a placeholder for something coming up later, but it looks hella weird. :confused:

http://www.iphoneinfoblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/store.jpg

Check this post out.

http://www.iphoneinfoblog.com/2009/03/31/iphone-30-beta-2-features-mysterious-store-setting/

[Mastidon]

I'm pulling BETA 2 now. Leave it to Apple to release a new build on fools day....

[gmcalpin]

I'm pulling BETA 2 now. Leave it to Apple to release a new build on fools day....
They released it yesterday.

[iMaggot]

So is this an April Fool's joke ? :p .

[andrew upstairs]

Great.

Stacks or folders, please. :)

[knightlie]

Sweet! More's better, right?

Not according to the people voting negative, no. :rolleyes:

[ipedro]

I think I've come up with a pretty good solution:

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/261/springboard.jpg

Each of the 4 lines would move independently of each other so you could assign each line to a category.

You could then flick a category line and stop it on the app you want. Better than multiple pages or even folders I think.

[Yuppi]

I've think I've come up with a pretty good solution:

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/261/springboard.jpg

Each of the 4 lines would move independently of each other so you could assign each liine to a category.

You could then flick a category line and stop it on the app you want. Better than multiple pages or even folders I think.

What a great idea! How about putting a lever on the right side of the phone and a 4 big stop stop buttons. So that when you pull the lever it starts spinning and you can just press the stop button to stop it.
Well you would not be able to know for sure when to stop it and the results would be very random, but hey no more need for slots machines..

[ipedro]

What a great idea! How about putting a lever on the right side of the phone and a 4 big stop stop buttons. So that when you pull the lever it starts spinning and you can just press the stop button to stop it.
Well you would not be able to know for sure when to stop it and the results would be very random, but hey no more need for slots machines..

Well, my visual interpretation suggests that you can flick a line very fast, but it wouldn't be any different than the already implemented "flick" that we're accustomed to in the Address Book. For example:

Flick slowly and you see the apps moving by slowly. Touch to stop. Flick quickly when you know you need to get to the back of the line.

I'm not sure how Apple could organize Apps any different without deviating from the now iconic App grid. But hey, they've virtually killed the wildly popular and instantly recognizable Click Wheel... They could do it again.

[InkMaster]

I think I've come up with a pretty good solution:

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/261/springboard.jpg

Each of the 4 lines would move independently of each other so you could assign each line to a category.

You could then flick a category line and stop it on the app you want. Better than multiple pages or even folders I think.

pfft, I have an even better idea!

http://h4xr.org/mh7b

BAM! Rubik's Cube right on your home screen! Arrange the apps by color!

[BongoBanger]

This is the one thing that bugs me about an otherwise great UI. It's stupid, clunky and unintuitive.

How difficult would it be to have an Apps icon with folders?

Gah! :mad:

[djalice]

It goes to 11!! (sorry, couldn't resist)

That's much loader than 10!

At least they can't make the iPhone 'Nunn more black'!

[locust76]

This is the one thing that bugs me about an otherwise great UI. It's stupid, clunky and unintuitive.

How difficult would it be to have an Apps icon with folders?

Gah! :mad:

And then what? Pages of apps in a folder?

[BongoBanger]

And then what? Pages of apps in a folder?


No, one page of folders with apps in them. Max three touches instead of up to 11 to get an app.

[arkitect]

I guess it is time for someone to do an "Index App"…

[mavis]

Wirelessly posted (iPhone 3G (white): Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 3_0 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/528.18 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/7A259g Safari/525.20)

I think I've come up with a pretty good solution:

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/261/springboard.jpg

Each of the 4 lines would move independently of each other so you could assign each line to a category.

You could then flick a category line and stop it on the app you want. Better than multiple pages or even folders I think.

pfft, I have an even better idea!

http://h4xr.org/mh7b

BAM! Rubik's Cube right on your home screen! Arrange the apps by color!

Made me laugh. Cheers.

[Tussen69]

Apple needs some sort of App Manager . The SpringBoard as is not a durable solution for what the App Store offers ...

The SpringBoard should be the same as the DOCK on OS X
And The App Manager Should be the same a the App folder in the user directory ...

IT would be a clean solution to make it like that and then let the user have only the most needed apps in SpringBoard and all outhers apps should be able to launch via iPhone Spotlight Quick Launch as you can do on OS X today. Just type iTu.. in iPhone Spotlight and "boom" you can launch the app... It is not a fast way to find and load a app but it works with iPhones that has many apps on them ..

The Spring board still works for the fast way to load app..

SpringBoard Groups would also be a nice feature...

[slackpacker]

I was hoping 3.0 was going to have a better way to organize your apps..
:mad:

[Mackan]

Oh how lame. So instead of navigating 1-2 folders we get to navigate 11 sequential pages. 2 extra pages is the best they can come up with?

Although, on the other hand, there's not 11 pages worth of useful apps in the app store so I guess it's a wash.

P.S. - does anyone know what these icons below everyone's name are?

I am sure there are people having 85 fart apps, 85 burp apps, and 10 ordinary apps.

[mactarkus]

Why 11? For that time when you need a little more.

Why 11?

[rockosmodurnlif]

While the distinction may seem small, many users have already run into the 148 application limit in their day to day use.
Many? Really? I only have 2, with 1 page for all the Apple installed apps I don't use.

[liptonlover]

I'm happy that I can put more on, I have my 9 pages maxed out all the time and have to constantly remove apps just to try out new ones that I may want, but adding more pages isn't the answer. It's a pain sliding through all the pages to the last one already, adding more pages just makes it worse. This is disappointing.

[andrew0122]

I was really hoping that they might make the iPhone screen just slightly longer to allow for 5 rows instead of 4 and the stationary row at the bottom instead of more pages. . .

I really like this concept though:

http://www.dotdosh.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/iphone4g.png

[WhySoSerious]

who on earth even fills up 9 to 11 pages of apps......and what apps do you have on your phone?

seriously, the app store doesn't even have enough quality apps to fill all pages.

[liptonlover]

who on earth even fills up 9 to 11 pages of apps......and what apps do you have on your phone?

seriously, the app store doesn't even have enough quality apps to fill all pages.

A lot of them are games that I won't delete because they're good games yet I'll never play them for some reason. Then there are some that are games that I play all the time, more that I play less frequently. Then there's a handful of useless entertainment apps, a lot of useful apps, and apple's stock apps. It adds up.

[kornyboy]

Wirelessly posted (iPhone: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5H11 Safari/525.20)

This should make many iPhone fanatics very happy.

[DELLsFan]

pfft, I have an even better idea!

http://h4xr.org/mh7b

BAM! Rubik's Cube right on your home screen! Arrange the apps by color!

ROFL! :D

[Baron58]

OK, nobody's brought this up yet, so...

There are 16 icon positions per page

16*11=176 (not 180)

180/16=11.25

Are you counting the 4 icon positions at the bottom as well? So, 176+4=180? I don't have an iPhone (yet), so I thought the 4 in the dock were duplicates of ones on the pages. When you add an icon to the dock does that remove it from it's original location on a page? If so, then it makes sense.

[fishkorp]

OK, nobody's brought this up yet, so...

There are 16 icon positions per page

16*11=176 (not 180)

180/16=11.25

Are you counting the 4 icon positions at the bottom as well? So, 176+4=180? I don't have an iPhone (yet), so I thought the 4 in the dock were duplicates of ones on the pages. When you add an icon to the dock does that remove it from it's original location on a page? If so, then it makes sense.

Yes, the dock is independent of the springboard. When you put an icon to the dock it removes it from the springboard.

[RonD69]

P.S. - does anyone know what these icons below everyone's name are?

If you hover over the icons, they spell A-P-R-I-L-1.

[krye]

"150 apps should be more than enough for everybody"

[cocky jeremy]

I doubt i'll ever use 9 pages, or 11.. but it doesn't matter because i use Categories.app from Cydia to clean up the clutter. :)

[RonD69]

I agree with a lot of you regarding the ability to group apps by categories. Right now, I have my apps in alphbetical order. Sure I could've organized them according to importance, but memorizing which page an app is on is a pain; so I settled on alphabetical order.

Someone mentioned stacking apps and combining that with categories...that's something I'd like to see added to version 3.

[bytethese]

Why 11?

Because 10 is normal, Apple wanted to "turn it up to 11" :)

[iSee]

...The currently shipping version of the iPhone firmware only allows 9 pages of Apps (148 apps total). While the distinction may seem small, many users have already run into the 148 application limit in their day to day use.
...
LOL. Sorry, but nobody uses 148 apps day-to-day.

[lftrghtparadigm]

-9 pages is more than 3 times what anyone can actually make use of. Otherwise its wasted space.

-Categories are are not coming to the official OS, as they are a quirky preference that is ultimately unnecessary.

-Any competent person can easily organize the applications they use into 2-3 or nice looking pages. Its very easy (and fun) to do. Once you've done that, Spotlight is the answer for app launching. Even if you are a nut ball with 9 pages of crap you don't use, there's no need to scroll...at all. From your main home screen, which is the only screen i use, one click of the home button brings up the keyboard, type the first two characters and your app is waiting for launch. Touch it and off you go.

-Anyone who thinks Spotlight is a pita compared to categories is just being an antagonist for not getting exactly what they want.

[kironin]

LOL. Sorry, but nobody uses 148 apps day-to-day.

Maybe you don't.

[smt1192]

Really isn't much of a change, was looking forward to something easier than scrolling through 11 pages.

[gibbz]

Maybe you don't.

Ok, so let's say the average person uses each app for only a minute. This is an underestimate I believe with such apps as Facebook, games, and others that users can spend a good deal of time on. So you mean to tell me that a good deal of people use every app totaling nearly 3 hours of use ... not to mention, actually needing to use every app?

[kjs862]

Spotlight should make finding stuff a lot easier, but I wish they would give you the option of folders.

[markfc]

How about bringing OSX's spaces over.

This way you could scroll pages up/down left/right...

[timmodugdale]

I would think Apple could find a way to define a coverflow view of apps, which would allow for quicker access to the many apps people are installing on their iPhones. I just have 5 pages of apps now, but I find it annoying to flip through them. Either that of have some way of sorting apps to pages based on frequency of use, or alphabetical.

[sukanas]

Why 11? For that time when you need a little more.


This is why it goes to 11
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d54UU-fPIsY

[BongoBanger]

Maybe you don't.


No. Just... no. Seriously, nobody uses 148 apps day to day. To be honest I suspect most people have a 'hot dozen' or so that they use regularly and the others are backfills pulled out from time to time.

In which case the first page access is probably fine and spotlight would find the rest.

However, it's still a bit clunky in comparison to the rest of the UI.

[Baron58]

Yes, the dock is independent of the springboard. When you put an icon to the dock it removes it from the springboard.

OK, makes sense now. Thanks.

[dlewis23]

Why 11?

Because when you have 11 pages, there is 12 "balls" at the bottom, it looks better because its even. Apple tends to make everything even.

[twoodcc]

great news! though i was hoping for a new interface though

[edddeduck]

Maybe you don't.

lol, I don't think it is possible to use 148 app's day to day unless you do things like play one game of solitaire on 30 solitaire apps then repeat with another game then browse sites using site specific apps.

Even then 148 should be plenty. I cannot even think of 148 app's that are worthy of keeping on my iPhone nevermind use day to day.

Oh and I agree with other people that spotlight is a good solution to having to many apps. Yes folders are nice but not *that* much better than pages in springboard.

I arrange my pages into categories just like I would with folders and the clicks/swipes going between pages is not that much lower it also opens a whole can of worms with nested folders etc. If you delete a folder does it delete the apps? How does it warn you? Unlike OS X when you delete an app you loose the data so this is more of an issue. That's just one issue I thought of and I can think of loads more that need thinking about before you "just "implement folders" just because it works on an computer with a mouse and keyboard does not mean it will work on an iPhone which needs to be simple and controllable with one hand and has a completely different set of goals due to the form factor and input system.

As you can see I think apple are waiting till

a) They have a very good solution (better than the 11 pages + spotlight which serves well for now)

b) The number of people with more than 6 pages of apps becomes the norm and a better solution is really needed. Although vocal MacRumors forum users might install every app on release this does not mean the average iPhone user does or even wants to.

Edwin

[RyanR.]

Why 11?

Because, it's prime.:D

[billchase2]

Ugh, just introduce folders already.

+1

[gmcalpin]

delete

[andrew0122]

I don't know about you guys, but I have a "page" on my iPhone that only has shortcuts to web pages I don't use them but once or twice a week, but I still use them a lot for quick jumps to the website. Like IMDB or even MacRumors even though I almost always have that page open in the mobile Safari.

[rdrr]

Because when you have 11 pages, there is 12 "balls" at the bottom, it looks better because its even. Apple tends to make everything even.

Actually the first "ball" for search, isn't a ball, its a little magnifying glass.

[dlewis23]

Actually the first "ball" for search, isn't a ball, its a little magnifying glass.

But there is still an icon there to make it even.

[slffl]

The easiest and most obvious way to fix this IMO is to be able to create 'folder' icons. You then drag apps into these folders. When you click the folder, those apps come up. Home button takes you to the top level first page.

This 11 pages of apps is ridiculous.

[OneMike]

My first thought was this is stupid but then again 11 pages can be good.

Right now I use 6 pages but many only have the 1st or 2nd row full at most.

You don't have to fill up every page. Technically you could just use to better sort apps. Especially now since you have spotlight.

[W1LLk]

I thought they mentioned a new method of organizing apps in the last event. Other than spotlight...:confused:

[W1LLk]

11 pages is alot. I use 4 pages, and I scroll through them somedays with a strange urge to just use an app and feel productive, yet I pass through the apps and just end up feeling, "bah". I know there are games, but sometimes you just don't feel like sitting through fieldrunners or landing an F-22. What apps are you using that you use every single day? and don't you dare say something like urbanspoon or woot watch.

[blilly]

What a joke ... who at Apple is not sick of scrolling through pages of apps all the time ... not just to find them, but organizing them is impossible once they start getting full ... it's like a puzzle to keep them in any sensible order.

Forget about this "who needs that many apps" business ... it's not about whether you use the apps often ... it's about having them there when you want them.

What is going to kill the Nintendo DS is this ancient notion of tethering an app to a physical cartridge. Apple solved that, but having to drone through a bunch of cluttered screens will deter people from buying more apps and that's bad.

[freddy1]

This is certainly a good news.

[mrr]

I have my iPhone filled to the max with apps. I don't see the point of artificially limiting how many apps one can install.

I do though see the limitation of swiping from one screen to another. It gets tiresome really fast.

A solution to populate screens according to category and to be able to switch from icon view, to small icon view, to list view was always a great feature of the Palm Pilot.

[chimerical]

When I first started using the iPhone OS, I wondered why there were only 9 pages when they could clearly fit in many more dots at the bottom. But then I figured that maybe they were leaving room for future items, and sure enough, out came the Spotlight icon to the left of those dots in the OS 3.0 Beta. So I'm concluding that they were taking it slowly to begin with.

[Randman]

Ugh. Not good design. Give us stacks or folders or whatever rather than more pages to fiddle through.

[network23]

To everyone who ranting and raving about how "no one needs" that many screens for apps and "no one runs 148 apps on a daily basis"...

Get off your high horse. Who are you to proclaim that apps have to be used on a daily, or even a regular basis? Just because you don't use or need that many apps doesn't mean others don't. They aren't you, so what gives you the right to judge them?

As for the number of quality apps in the App Store? Again, quality is relative and subjective. Making statements such as these implies that you are somehow "better" than those with 9 screens of apps. You're not, so just drop the attitude and concede that others are different than you are, and that's not a bad thing.

Unless you've done professional usability testing on the number of iPhone "pages" and how typical users use those screens and applications, you have no place making those statements.

[madmaxmedia]

I'm sure that within Apple they've developed 50 different UI's for organizing apps, but haven't completely finished it yet. Since this would be a major part of Springboard and the overall user experience, they are not going to settle for the first thing they come up with. The last thing they want to do is stick some pre-existing model on the iPhone screen, such as folders or something like that (hello Windows Mobile.)

Also, you only get 1 chance to do this right, so they are going to take their time. In the long run an extra few months won't matter, we are in the infancy of iPhone OS compared to desktop OS's.

I also suspect they are going to hold back on this until close to release, to prevent others from copying it.

[gmcalpin]

What a joke ...
Please, everybody, stop saying that. Every troll on here starts their cookie-cutter bitch-posts with "what a joke." (At least you didn't include an LOL in there.)

It's not "a joke." It's just not how you want it.

Your other points are perfectly valid, but saying "what a joke" makes me want to reach through the internet and punch you in the balls. With a glove on, so I don't have to touch your balls.

[jhsfosho]

This is good. But I wish there was an easier way to sort apps besides dragging and dropping. Maybe categories within iTunes. I'd have a page set up for games, internet apps, apple's apps, itunes/music, etc. That would be much more convenient. Maybe Apple could even put the name of each page/category at the top of that page.

[SpinThis!]

I've been using the beta for awhile... Spotlight is good edition but we really need a simple scrolling list of apps that you could sort various ways. I'm not a big fan of Windows Add/Remove programs but it has one feature that might be useful to copy for the iPhone—last used. You could sort your apps by last used (or downloaded, size, etc) and quickly prune the apps you rarely launch or be able to throw those into folders (like you can throw mail into imap folders).

[wildonrio]

Is everyone positive that this isn't just an april fools joke?

[SpinThis!]

Is everyone positive that this isn't just an april fools joke?

You should probably scroll down on the homepage: MacRumors does not participate in April Fools' Day prank news stories. All stories posted today are real.

[gmcalpin]

Spotlight is good edition but we really need a simple scrolling list of apps that you could sort various ways. I'm not a big fan of Windows Add/Remove programs but it has one feature that might be useful to copy for the iPhone—last used.
That sounds like a good idea for an app.

[starflyer]

sweet

[tbrinkma]

You should probably scroll down on the homepage: MacRumors does not participate in April Fools' Day prank news stories. All stories posted today are real.

That doesn't mean someone hasn't pulled a fast one over on MacRumors.

[edddeduck]

To everyone who ranting and raving about how "no one needs" that many screens for apps and "no one runs 148 apps on a daily basis"...

Get off your high horse. Who are you to proclaim that apps have to be used on a daily, or even a regular basis? Just because you don't use or need that many apps doesn't mean others don't. They aren't you, so what gives you the right to judge them?


I think someone pointed out quite easily that using 148 apps on a daily basis requires you to either do nothing but use an iPhone all day or have a very strange usage of applications.

Even if you used every app for one minute each (including loading) it would take 2 hours 28 minutes to use every app for a minute. If this person did not sleep at all for 24 hours you could only use every app for about 9 mins each now if you take into account sleeping eating and other activities needed by humans you get to about 15/16 hours max usage based on average sleep/eating figures of 8 to 9 hours a day.

So you now have 15 possible hours a day, this equates to 6 minutes a day per app including loading and quitting the app.

I think we can safely say in a day to day example unless you use only your iPhone for 15 hours a day using 148 apps is a very very rare occurrence. Someone like a reviewer might hit this limit but even then the reviews would be pretty poor if they are tested and written in 6 minutes!

As we have done the maths (see above) a daily usage of 148 apps is very unlikely due to the time constraints of how long a day is and how much sleep is needed.


As for the number of quality apps in the App Store? Again, quality is relative and subjective. Making statements such as these implies that you are somehow "better" than those with 9 screens of apps. You're not, so just drop the attitude and concede that others are different than you are, and that's not a bad thing.


I would never say I am better than someone or something, however I do stand by my comment that only a very very small % of iPhones have 9 pages of installed apps.

I would also bet an even smaller (statistically close to zero I would guess) use all these apps on a daily basis, weekly maybe a few might but daily I think it is a physical impossibility born out by doing the maths. Sure I could run them all one per day for fun but even doing that would take the most part of an hour.


Unless you've done professional usability testing on the number of iPhone "pages" and how typical users use those screens and applications, you have no place making those statements.

I am basing this off a few points

1.) The PinchMedia stats that although yes they are not perfect and 100% related but they are based on 30,000,000 installed applications. Granted the stats are more based on usage of the apps but they give an idea on how many apps are used on a daily basis compare to once in a blue moon.

2.) Most iPhone users have not even noticed or commented (based on a small sample of google and forum searches on all the iPhone based sites) that the limit exists. The only posts I have found are from people with jail broken iPhones who decide to install every app every to try them out. Not normal usage I am sure you agree.

3.) The limit has not been mentioned on any 3.0 wish lists I have seen or searched for.

These three points lead me to conclude a very large percentage of users don't have anywhere near the limit of apps. If this was more of an issue we would have had this in the list if things we must need along with "cut and paste" and "tethering" etc.

I am not saying the odd person might be physically able to use 148 apps in one day but I am saying that they are in a very small minority, based on the lack of discussion of this limit being an issue in the iPhone press and forums.

As such I think that you can safely say that nobody really needs to use 148 apps per day, per week at a push someone might but agin this would mean people use a lot more iPhones apps than people use OS X or Windows apps as I don't meet many people who use 148 different apps *on a daily basis* on their desktops never mind on their phone.

Edwin

[Max E Verde]

another thing they added to iPod touch 2nd gens, not sure if anyone said this before: the Voice Memos app was not in Beta 1 for iPod touch, it is in Beta 2.

[Goona]

What a joke ... who at Apple is not sick of scrolling through pages of apps all the time ... not just to find them, but organizing them is impossible once they start getting full ... it's like a puzzle to keep them in any sensible order.

Forget about this "who needs that many apps" business ... it's not about whether you use the apps often ... it's about having them there when you want them.

What is going to kill the Nintendo DS is this ancient notion of tethering an app to a physical cartridge. Apple solved that, but having to drone through a bunch of cluttered screens will deter people from buying more apps and that's bad.

You're assuming the average users owns 11 pages of apps.

[libertyforall]

I don't get it -- why is there ANY limitation?! How many apps is my Mac limited to? NONE, so why should iPhone be any different?!

[iSee]

Maybe you don't.

Are you suggesting that you do?

[Scooterman1]

cool. not that i would even have 180 apps let alone even have an iPhone, but a large maximum is welcome.

just in case anyone doesnt know the joke http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d54UU-fPIsY.

I'm going to ask an even more stupid question. Who on earth was that showing the Guitars? I've played for years..... and listening to him, he must be stoned. I sure know he can't work for Nasa.... I haven't seen anything so funny in a long time. Thanks for the link.

[jayducharme]

Arn, this is one of the best "rumors" you've ever published as evidenced by the volumes of serious discussion it's producing. Quite enjoyable. :)

[BuddyTronic]

,bout time


Yes, this helps!

I'm still amazed by the number of people who take the time to post "who would ever need this many apps". Hell yeah, I want way more than this.

I hope they get some hierarchy organization thing in there eventually. It's really hard to organize all the apps.

[macdude189]

I have so many friends whos ipod is filled with apps and they complain that there is not enough room for apps. Hmm does this new update mean speed improvements.

[Eso]

Any competent person can easily organize the applications they use into 2-3 or nice looking pages. Its very easy (and fun) to do. Once you've done that, Spotlight is the answer for app launching.

If spotlight is your answer to launching apps, why even bother with app icons? Just have a home screen and spotlight. Have you ever tried organizing apps on 3+ pages? Moving an app across several pages is just painful. Then of course, since you can't have any empty spaces, if you move an app to the front page it will bump icons for every subsequent page behind it, making organizing them an absolute nightmare.



Even then 148 should be plenty.

Well, as Jan of 2009, there have been 800 million app downloads (http://www.macworld.com/article/139435/2009/03/iphone_stats.html) and 14,720,100 iPhones sold (http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=910112). That comes to an average of 54 app downloads per iPhone. Including the 14 default apps, that is a grand total of 68 applications. At 16 apps per page, that is an average of 4 and a quarter pages per user.

So, for all of you using only 2 or 3 pages, there is someone using 5 or 6 pages.

[vvebsta]

sweet! what a chaotic mess this will be :D

[leandromp]

Excellent!

12 pages would just be too unwieldy to navigate :p

lol.. thats so funny!

[leandromp]

I'm really expecting another way to see your applications.
The current one is really annoying!

[kironin]

I don't think they had any idea how big third-party apps would become originally, they really need to think through some way of grouping apps.

Some way that switch from the current screen mode to a a groups mode.

Each group could have up to 6 pages and selecting a group a would put you on the first page of the group. As many groups as you want (or 11)

OR may be this,

11 pages each is the home page of a group, and a sweep up moves you into the group.

groups could be things like communication, business, travel, games, etc.

of course they need to upgrade the puny ram in the iphone, at least double it if not quadruple it :-)

[diemos]

who has so many apps? I only need 4 pages MAX.

[Slurpy2k8]

I'm happy that I can put more on, I have my 9 pages maxed out all the time and have to constantly remove apps just to try out new ones that I may want, but adding more pages isn't the answer. It's a pain sliding through all the pages to the last one already, adding more pages just makes it worse. This is disappointing.

I have a novel and brilliant idea. Why don't you *shock* DELETE some of those apps that you admitted are 'useless' and that you don't use? What a concept. Its not like you cant download them again in a few seconds on the rare chance that you may actually want to use them someday.

Anyone who has their iPhone maxed up would also have it maxed up with 20 or 30 pages. You're the type of people that just want to max it out for the hell of it, because you can, so it doesnt matter how many apps it can actually hold. 148 apps on a phone is already a ridiculously large number. I guarantee you dont use 90% of the apps on your phone.

[rdrr]

I'm going to ask an even more stupid question. Who on earth was that showing the Guitars? I've played for years..... and listening to him, he must be stoned. I sure know he can't work for Nasa.... I haven't seen anything so funny in a long time. Thanks for the link.

That is Nigel from Spinal Tap. The clip is from the movie "This is Spinal Tap". imdb link (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088258/)

[powers74]

P.S. - does anyone know what these icons below everyone's name are?


If you roll over them with your cursor it works out to A. P. R. I. L. 1.

[Slurpy2k8]

If spotlight is your answer to launching apps, why even bother with app icons? Just have a home screen and spotlight. Have you ever tried organizing apps on 3+ pages? Moving an app across several pages is just painful. Then of course, since you can't have any empty spaces, if you move an app to the front page it will bump icons for every subsequent page behind it, making organizing them an absolute nightmare.





Well, as Jan of 2009, there have been 800 million app downloads (http://www.macworld.com/article/139435/2009/03/iphone_stats.html) and 14,720,100 iPhones sold (http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=910112). That comes to an average of 54 app downloads per iPhone. Including the 14 default apps, that is a grand total of 68 applications. At 16 apps per page, that is an average of 4 and a quarter pages per user.

So, for all of you using only 2 or 3 pages, there is someone using 5 or 6 pages.

Hey there chief, you're forgetting one little detail in that nice formula of yours. You're assuming that... nobody has ever deleted a single app on their iPhone, and has lept every app they have ever downloaded. Alrighty then.

I'd have frikkin 50 pages of apps if I did that. The majority of apps I download last for a day or 2 before I delete them. I'd think this is the case with most people.

So yeah, your calculations are off.

[Goona]

If spotlight is your answer to launching apps, why even bother with app icons? Just have a home screen and spotlight. Have you ever tried organizing apps on 3+ pages? Moving an app across several pages is just painful. Then of course, since you can't have any empty spaces, if you move an app to the front page it will bump icons for every subsequent page behind it, making organizing them an absolute nightmare.





Well, as Jan of 2009, there have been 800 million app downloads (http://www.macworld.com/article/139435/2009/03/iphone_stats.html) and
14,720,100 iPhones sold (http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=910112). That comes to an average of 54 app downloads per iPhone. Including the 14 default apps, that is a grand total of 68 applications. At 16 apps per page, that is an average of 4 and a quarter pages per user.

So, for all of you using only 2 or 3 pages, there is someone using 5 or 6 pages.You do know Apple has sold a couple of iPod touches which also run apps.

[Xiph0s]

If spotlight is your answer to launching apps, why even bother with app icons? Just have a home screen and spotlight. Have you ever tried organizing apps on 3+ pages? Moving an app across several pages is just painful. Then of course, since you can't have any empty spaces, if you move an app to the front page it will bump icons for every subsequent page behind it, making organizing them an absolute nightmare.





Well, as Jan of 2009, there have been 800 million app downloads (http://www.macworld.com/article/139435/2009/03/iphone_stats.html) and 14,720,100 iPhones sold (http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=910112). That comes to an average of 54 app downloads per iPhone. Including the 14 default apps, that is a grand total of 68 applications. At 16 apps per page, that is an average of 4 and a quarter pages per user.

So, for all of you using only 2 or 3 pages, there is someone using 5 or 6 pages.


Almost good logic but its quite fallacious, I've downloaded personally over 200apps easily over the course of the 3G's lifespan but I've pretty much deleted most of them (I just wanted to try them out). So eh, bogus math.

[rockosmodurnlif]

Well, as Jan of 2009, there have been 800 million app downloads (http://www.macworld.com/article/139435/2009/03/iphone_stats.html) and 14,720,100 iPhones sold (http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=910112). That comes to an average of 54 app downloads per iPhone. Including the 14 default apps, that is a grand total of 68 applications. At 16 apps per page, that is an average of 4 and a quarter pages per user.

So, for all of you using only 2 or 3 pages, there is someone using 5 or 6 pages.
Good point. There are some flaws to your argument however. I don't know how many apps I have downloaded and how many of those I have then deleted from the phone and my iTunes library. I'm sure I'm not the only one. So a downloaded app does not mean that app stays forever on your phone (or touch). I have ~120 apps in the iTunes library and have 37 (including 18 Apple ones) on my phone.

Honestly, the home screen has space for 16 apps and the spring board another 4. That's 20 apps you can access with an easy click or two clicks. Who has more than 20 apps that are used weekly to the point where scrolling between more than 2 pages is an everyday occurrence? That's not a bad interface, that's bad organization. Folders aren't the solution to that because 4 pages of apps will become 4 pages of folders.

But the App Store knows what you've downloaded and if you ever need an app in an emergency and you've already purchased it, you can re-download it to your phone at no cost. That's what I do when I need to check an eBay auction and don't want to use Safari or want to use Photogene. Just re-download from the App Store.

[jingbugle]

How many apps I guess is a personal choice. Apple needs to do something about the springboard (folders, speech seem good ideas). Due to the limited integration between apps and limitation within apps themselves, consolidation is not yet possible.

[iPhoney:)]

I think I've come up with a pretty good solution:

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/261/springboard.jpg

Each of the 4 lines would move independently of each other so you could assign each line to a category.

You could then flick a category line and stop it on the app you want. Better than multiple pages or even folders I think.

[SIZE="5"]OMG, THIS IS IT, THIS IS HOW IT SHOULD BE DONE!!! :apple: /SIZE]

[Trajectory]

I was hoping for a better way to organize apps than just 2 more screens full of icons. Keep hope alive!

And what's with that annoying green lizard that keeps crawling across the page here - ack! Make it stop, please.

[rhett7660]

So if I want to launch an app, I'm supposed to go to the Spotlight screen, start typing the name of the app, and then select it from the list? Sounds like a PITA. How about a collapsible stacks icon which allows you to drill down through your apps. One tap: the stack opens. Second tap: select the category (Games, Utilities, Productivity, etc). Third tap: launch the app. Faster, more intuitive, and easier.

So let me get this straight, tap for stack = tap for spotlight, second tap select catagory = type first and or second letter, third tap launch app = tap on app in spotlight and launch? How is this faster? Don't you have to search through Games, Utilities, Productivity? So if you have say 15 games or so????

I don't know to each his own, but that doesn't sound faster.

What I would like is the ability to have both, folders and spotlight! Keep my screens nice and clean.

[rhett7660]

[SIZE="5"]OMG, THIS IS IT, THIS IS HOW IT SHOULD BE DONE!!! :apple: /SIZE]

That is actually a pretty slick idea....... each line could be a category maybe?!

[michael.lauden]

dude... i can't think of more than 20 applications that i'd actually want.

[FireFish]

FYI to developers: I got bad errors & almost bricked my phone when upgrading to Beta 2 via Restore within XCODE (the latest version of Xcode).

If you get errors too, try restoring in iTunes by pointing to the downloaded IPSW file. Activation is natural after the restore, so don't be stupid & try this if your iPhone isn't listed in the Developer's Program Portal. It won't work.

[sach2n]

I need this most as my pages were full sometime back in september 2008 and can anybody tell that if I register as a developer after spending 99$, will I get beta 3.0 iPhone OS which I can then just instal lon my iPhone..thanks


Sachin (http://qtp.blogspot.com)

[InkMaster]

I need this most as my pages were full sometime back in september 2008 and can anybody tell that if I register as a developer after spending 99$, will I get beta 3.0 iPhone OS which I can then just instal lon my iPhone..thanks


Sachin (http://qtp.blogspot.com)

Yes. You will get the beta. But after using the latest build since yesterday, I can tell you, its still nowhere near being ready to be used every day.

In your case, isn't it cheaper to say, uncheck a few of those apps in iTunes? I mean I don't know what you're doing, but I seriously seriously doubt you're using all 140some apps every single day. And unless you sync with iTunes once a year, I don't really see the problem with keeping everything you don't use on a daily basis, on the computer.

[FireFish]

If you roll over them with your cursor it works out to A. P. R. I. L. 1.

Very clever. This has been bothering me for 24 hours now :-)

[FireFish]

I need this most as my pages were full sometime back in september 2008 and can anybody tell that if I register as a developer after spending 99$, will I get beta 3.0 iPhone OS which I can then just instal lon my iPhone..thanks


Sachin (http://qtp.blogspot.com)Yes, you'll get the beta. However, they don't let you do it that easily. When you 'enroll', they end up with a page that says 'Thanks for your info. We'll contact you via email with a link soon to continue your enrollment & pay' and from what I hear, it can take months if even at all.

I was lucky & one of the first Development Team members.

[maria81]

it rocks http://www.thepinoyscandal.net/img/J/u.gif

[BuddyTronic]

I don't think they had any idea how big third-party apps would become originally, they really need to think through some way of grouping apps.

Some way that switch from the current screen mode to a a groups mode.

Each group could have up to 6 pages and selecting a group a would put you on the first page of the group. As many groups as you want (or 11)

OR may be this,

11 pages each is the home page of a group, and a sweep up moves you into the group.

groups could be things like communication, business, travel, games, etc.

of course they need to upgrade the puny ram in the iphone, at least double it if not quadruple it :-)


Yes, I think they should just put them in the same categories that you downloaded them in... Games in Games, Navigation apps in Navigation apps. That would be simple. Keep the multi screen icon thingy that we have now, but also add the category view somehow as an optional select, then everyone is happy.

[Arnenys]

As always, that depends on you. Do you need an iPhone right now? Then you should buy one - there's nothing wrong with the current iPhone. If you can wait until July-August, then wait. It's that simple.

[chimerical]

In your case, isn't it cheaper to say, uncheck a few of those apps in iTunes? I mean I don't know what you're doing, but I seriously seriously doubt you're using all 140some apps every single day. And unless you sync with iTunes once a year, I don't really see the problem with keeping everything you don't use on a daily basis, on the computer.

When you uncheck apps, you lose all the data associated with that app.

Sometimes, it's just nice to have even occasional-use-only apps available on the phone so that when the time comes to use them, you're not stuck saying, "I wish I had included this in the last sync.".

[Jayomat]

cool. not that i would even have 180 apps let alone even have an iPhone, but a large maximum is welcome.



just in case anyone doesnt know the joke http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d54UU-fPIsY.

thx :)

[iceman73]

Thank freakin' goodness! I filled up my iTouch within the first week...

[AforAndromeda]

Hi,

Just a quick clarification:

Is this version 3 of the OS going to work on a standard iPhone 16Gb 3G?

Will it bring advantages to the iPhone I and others have got - or are we just taking about what's on the next iPhone 3 due out later this year?

Anyone know anything?

[edddeduck]

Hi,

Just a quick clarification:

Is this version 3 of the OS going to work on a standard iPhone 16Gb 3G?

Will it bring advantages to the iPhone I and others have got - or are we just taking about what's on the next iPhone 3 due out later this year?

Anyone know anything?

iPhone 3.0 will work on ALL iPhones.

The 2G iPhone will not support some features as it has missing hardware. The 3G iPhones support all the publicly released features so far.

I am sure the "iPhone v3" will have new features but this is to be expected, Apple have not commented on any new iPhone or any new features it might have. I recommend rumor sites for "iPhone v3" news.

Edwin

[AforAndromeda]

iPhone 3.0 will work on ALL iPhones.

The 2G iPhone will not support some features as it has missing hardware. The 3G iPhones support all the publicly released features so far.

I am sure the "iPhone v3" will have new features but this is to be expected, Apple have not commented on any new iPhone or any new features it might have. I recommend rumor sites for "iPhone v3" news.

Edwin


Most cool.... I'm breathing again. :)


Thanks Edwin