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iOS 4.2: What Do YOU Prefer the Hardware Switch to be, Rotation Lock or Mute?

What Would You Want the Hardware Lock on the iPad to be for?

  • Total voters
    442
W

whocaresit

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jul 18, 2010
618
10
In case you didn't know, iOS 4.2 changes the hardware switch to mute button.

Let's look at what the users actually prefer.. Take part in the Poll (IT'S UP, SPEAK UP!)
 
One of the options should have been: user selectable. I actually prefer it as a mute switch because while I can flip the iPhone switch with a fingertip, that's not the case with the iPad switch which is therefore murder on nail polish.

So I'd rather devote the physical switch to something I never use - mute!
 
Reluctant Adept said:
One of the options should have been: user selectable. I actually prefer it as a mute switch because while I can flip the iPhone switch with a fingertip, that's not the case with the iPad switch which is therefore murder on nail polish.

So I'd rather devote the physical switch to something I never use - mute!
Click to expand...

Man, that's cool.. Nail polish! :eek:
 
It should be user-selectable in the settings. I prefer rotation lock: I can easily mute the device with a 1-second hold of the volume down button.
 
iNtaCt said:
Why should i need mute when i had it already. Hold the volume key in any direction and you got it.
Click to expand...

This.

I guess if you want to nitpick technically the mute button functions a little different. It only mutes certain sounds. Like notifications and whatnot.... but still! Same damn concept!

You hold the volume key for literally one full second and the thing mutes. Seems pointless to have two physical buttons with the same function.

I want to be able to choose too!
 
You forgot this: Apple don't care what you think. They are happy to ignore you to get the consistency they are after.
 
stix said:
Changing the function of the switch is completely INconsistent though!
Click to expand...

It is, I totally agree, and I'd personally prefer rotation lock. However, I'd guess it was Apple's plan to change it right from the outset - the nature of the iPad makes the ability to rotation lock essential, but as the iPad was only running 3.X at launch, in which there's no software function to lock, they had to dedicate the switch to it temporarily until 4.X came along.

I must admit though, as much as I'd prefer the switch as a lock, having spent considerable time with the beta now, it doesn't bother me nearly as much as I though it would. Plus, at least it's consistent with my iPhone 4.
 
I think we should be given the choice - let us be able to select what we use the switch for. Some prefer the mute, some, like myself, prefer the rotation lock, and some would like to use it for god knows what. Apple, if you are reading this, give us the freedom to choose the fate of our little switch.
 
If it wasn't for all the new features coming in 4.2 as the same time as this happening it would be a sad sad day! Really not looking forward to it been a mute switch.
Maybe I'm been dramatic though.....
 
Personally, I prefer it to be a mute switch. Too many times I have instinctually held down the volume button to decrease the volume, forgetting that holding it down will mute the sound. Then I have to up the volume to bring it back to where I intended it to be. By this point I am usually a little annoyed.

I rarely use rotation lock so it isn't a necessity for me, though I can understand why it is so important to some people.
 
User-configurable option? Don't you realize who made your device?

I understand why they made it into a mute switch. It annoys me a bit as I loved being able to hit that switch when needed. But whatever, I'll adapt.

So really, in the end, I'm a user and I have to adapt to the changes the manufacturer does.
 
Once 4.2 is released I'm sure everyone will adapt to the change pretty quickly.

Personally, a wifi toggle would have been nice.

Is there no way to lock the screen orientation in 4.2 then? Or is it somewhere in the settings?
Click to expand...

Is there a way to select rotation lock in the settings of iOS 4.2?
Click to expand...

Just have to hit the Home button twice to bring up your multitask bar and swipe to the left which brings up the rotation lock amongst other quick settings:
 

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prot0type said:
Just have to hit the Home button twice
Click to expand...

See, that's a move I've never managed to master -- when I try to do it, half the time I end up hitting the Home button too slowly, making it react as if I pressed the Home button once. They really need to make that timing user configurable, the way we can with double clicks on a mouse.
 
Night Spring said:
See, that's a move I've never managed to master -- when I try to do it, half the time I end up hitting the Home button too slowly, making it react as if I pressed the Home button once. They really need to make that timing user configurable, the way we can with double clicks on a mouse.
Click to expand...

I've managed to adapt to double and even triple clicking the home button, but I am not thrilled with soon having to double click, swipe and tap (4 steps) versus a swipe of a switch (1 step). Considering that I don't use much audio on my iPad, but often for reading whilst horizontal, so I engage the rotation lock more often than mute.
 
I think it should stay as rotation lock, or at the very least make it an option, I almost never mute my iPad, I use it at home or with headphones. I however need to lock the orientation quite a lot. On the flip side, I mute my iPhone every day, and almost never lock the orientation. Keep it the way it is!
 
Funnily enough,the original Apple Ipad Store site shows the orientation lock as a mute button, then the changed it by software before release and its been the orientation lock ever since. Looks like 4.2 will change it back to it's original function design. I think the user should have the option to decide so I will be putting forward a suggestion on the apple bug reporter page to add this functionality.
 
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