Apple Reverses Course on iOS 8 Notification Center Calculators

[wizard]

Disappointing reversal by Apple. People want Notification Center to be a crutch for iOS's bad multitasking interface, instead of pressuring Apple to improve multitasking.

Do you even have a clue here?

First; off Apple has improved multitasking with every single IOS release. Spend some time with the SDK and then come back and tell us what you have learned.

Second; the whole point of simple functionality like this in Notification Center, is to avoid switching tasks to make basic computations. Sometimes it just doesn't make sense to start up a big app when a widget will do.

 

[C DM]

Do you even have a clue here?

First; off Apple has improved multitasking with every single IOS release. Spend some time with the SDK and then come back and tell us what you have learned.

Second; the whole point of simple functionality like this in Notification Center, is to avoid switching tasks to make basic computations. Sometimes it just doesn't make sense to start up a big app when a widget will do.

While I agree that it can be useful, the idea there is that that's not really what the Notification Center was created for (although, again, it's good that Apple is allowing some of this type of things in it for those who might benefit from it).

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No one mentioned that the free version of the app also comes with the calculator widget.

Some certainly have earlier in the thread:

There is also a free version of the app which also includes the widget.

Some also even mentioned some other apps/widgets that provide similar features for free:

dont understand why you would want to spend 10$ on a calculator widget.
you can get WDGTS app for free that has more functions and also a calculator.

 

[petsounds]

Do you even have a clue here?

First; off Apple has improved multitasking with every single IOS release. Spend some time with the SDK and then come back and tell us what you have learned.

Second; the whole point of simple functionality like this in Notification Center, is to avoid switching tasks to make basic computations. Sometimes it just doesn't make sense to start up a big app when a widget will do.

Hey homeslice, I'm a developer and I'm very aware of the multitasking underpinnings in iOS. That's not what I'm talking about. Apple engineering did a great job on that. As I stated prior, I'm referring to the interface. Double-tapping the home button to switch tasks is painfully slow. Bringing up a horizontal series of app screenshots you have to swipe through? It's a bad experience and always has been. Multitasking should be gesture-based, and probably show a grid of app icons which are far more recognizable on a glance than a screenshot.

To address your second point, the Notification Center is for notifications and quick glances at information. Not replicating app functionality just because the notification center gesture makes it easier to access.

 

[haruhiko]

Hey homeslice, I'm a developer and I'm very aware of the multitasking underpinnings in iOS. That's not what I'm talking about. Apple engineering did a great job on that. As I stated prior, I'm referring to the interface. Double-tapping the home button to switch tasks is painfully slow. It's a bad experience and always has been. Multitasking should be gesture-based, probably based on bringing up a grid of app icons.

To address your second point, the Notification Center is for notifications and quick glances at information. Not replicating app functionality just because the notification center gesture makes it easier to access.

iPad has multitasking gestures but they always don't work under iOS 8 and 8.1 I wish iPhone had this feature too, but clearly Apple is not adding it despite the increased screen sizes.

 

[petsounds]

iPad has multitasking gestures but they always don't work under iOS 8 and 8.1 I wish iPhone had this feature too, but clearly Apple is not adding it despite the increased screen sizes.

Yeah, I think it's just a matter of spending the hard time thinking about the best interface. The iPad gesture wouldn't work so well on the phones, but something like a downward two-finger swipe that reveals a PassBook type of interface might work.

 

[TimelessOne]

They also reversed a guideline

If your App is rejected, we have a Review Board that you can appeal to. If you run to the press and trash us, it never helps.

https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/

Sadly going to the press is the only way to really make app change. Apple review process is a running joke where I work. It will be what stupid thing will they reject us for this time. Even better is when we conflicting responses on what we need to change. Or things that 4 times before were fine but now we get rejected for it.

Do not forget the joys undocumented changes in requirements. Days of Sr dev time wasted figuring out what apple is rejecting us for automatically. Mix this with the insane length of time it takes a simple update to get approved big time if it has a major bug we want to fix.

 

[amorya]

Wow, Apple isn't a control-freak tyrant after all.

Now, BRING BACK LAUNCHER!

 

[haruhiko]

Yeah, I think it's just a matter of spending the hard time thinking about the best interface. The iPad gesture wouldn't work so well on the phones, but something like a downward two-finger swipe that reveals a PassBook type of interface might work.

If too few fingers are used in system wide gestures it may interfere with in app gestures.

 

[petsounds]

If too few fingers are used in system wide gestures it may interfere with in app gestures.

As opposed to the one-finger Notification Center gesture or the one-finger Control Center gesture?

 

[Apple_Robert]

How the hell is PC calc a $10.00 app?

Because it is hip to be squared.

 

[Gasu E.]

I doubt this was "media coverage" that spawned this, but rather, other details that needed to be taken care of and worked out before Apple took an official stance on it.

Having worked in companies nearly the size of Apple, I am confident this would have sat on someone's desk for weeks or more without the media coverage.

 

[haruhiko]

Having worked in companies nearly the size of Apple, I am confident this would have sat on someone's desk for weeks or more without the media coverage.

c.f. Launcher
too bad nobody in the tech press cared about the developer.

 

[furi0usbee]

There is no stock calculator widget in iOS. They only included one in Yosemite.

When I said "stock" I meant as standard, not the securities type. Probably shouldn't have used stock, as they do have a stock widget for iOS.

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Says your anecdotal experience. I get notifications from iTunes, Twitter, Facebook, Calendar, Mail, Safari (Twitch, MacRumours), iCloud Photos (I like seeing when new pictures are shared), Transmission... etc.

You get notifications from iTunes? What, to tell you which song you are now playing? I guess if you are deaf that is a good accessibility feature, but can't you just hear the song you are playing rather than reading it?

To each his own. I DO NOT want to be bothered with notifications. I have too many distractions as it is.

But yeah, says my anecdotal experience.

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After reading your post I realised that everyone is like you and should immediately disable any notification centre features they may or may not want.

It's my opinion. Keep your socks on. It's not for me. If you like it, use it to your heart's content.

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No it's not. You don't like it, others love it. You're not #1 haha.

Again, if you like it, more power to you. I hate it. Can't have an opinion any longer? Geesh.

 

[C DM]

Having worked in companies nearly the size of Apple, I am confident this would have sat on someone's desk for weeks or more without the media coverage.

Or the developer might have questioned the decision which got reviewed and changed as happens here and there without any media attention.

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When I said "stock" I meant as standard, not the securities type. Probably shouldn't have used stock, as they do have a stock widget for iOS.

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You get notifications from iTunes? What, to tell you which song you are now playing? I guess if you are deaf that is a good accessibility feature, but can't you just hear the song you are playing rather than reading it?

To each his own. I DO NOT want to be bothered with notifications. I have too many distractions as it is.

But yeah, says my anecdotal experience.

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It's my opinion. Keep your socks on. It's not for me. If you like it, use it to your heart's content.

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Again, if you like it, more power to you. I hate it. Can't have an opinion any longer? Geesh.

I guess the underlying point of you not caring for Notification Center in general doesn't have much to do with this particular topic and its discussion.

 

[APlotdevice]

When I said "stock" I meant as standard, not the securities type. Probably shouldn't have used stock, as they do have a stock widget for iOS.

I know what you meant. There is no calculator widget in iOS by default. There is only a calculator app.

 

[tys]

How the hell is PC calc a $10.00 app?

It emulates calculators that can cost well over $100 so it's a bargain! You can get the free app and only add the features you want via in-app purchases. I think it was $3 to get the ones I wanted.

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The guidelines that keep evolving, especially those relating to new features/functionalities. None of this is new or surprising as this sort of thing has been going on since the early days of iOS.

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Are you new to iOS and/or have some sort of misconceptions about it? This is how it's pretty much always been, and if anything it's more open now than before (although, sure, not completely open, but no one was really expecting that).

Been using iOS since 2007. Just surprised that a USER actually seemed to prefer having restrictions.

 

[pdaholic]

Image

That's so wrong...

 

[BMcCoy]

So Apple do listen sometimes..

:::Apple, please change the iPad folder display setting to make it bigger, so you see more than 9 apps per 'page'.

 

[Jessica Lares]

How the hell is PC calc a $10.00 app?

Because it's the price that the developer set, and it's the price that most people have no problem paying. Considering that the app debuted in 2008, people who bought it then have enjoyed six years worth of updates without having to cough up more money.

 

[sparky08]

But if you own your device shouldn't you able to set it up the way you want?

But of course! It's just that Apple needs to tell us how we want it set up.

 

[MonkeySee....]

Image

See what we've done here is magical. we've taken our decisions and made them flexible. In fact, our new decisions are the most flexible that we've ever had. We're now able to take one decision - and immediately respond to the customer and developer by reversing that very decision for a seamless experience.

Why are people rating these **** jokes up?

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also, what sort of idiot needs a calculator in the notification centre when its in the quick launch!?

 

[samcraig]

Why are people rating these **** jokes up?

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also, what sort of idiot needs a calculator in the notification centre when its in the quick launch!?

What sort of person is so hostile towards people enjoying some fun or those that have a need that you don't?

 

[sparkso]

and i saw this from a the apple developer site, so funny yet so unfortunate.

 

[bluespark]

So do we get the app for free considering we helped it stay on the store?

We didn't. In all likelihood, this would have happened whether or not this became a story.

 

[inajeep]

I'll be honest. It doesn't look good in the notification area. I totally understood why apple would want control over what is in there.

Even if it's a choice. It hurts apples branding and messaging when someone goes out and loads their notification widgets to the brim. To the unexpecting they may think that's apples design.

This is one area I hope apple does retain control.

It doesn't look good? It looks fine IMO but perhaps a tweak or two would make it more acceptable. It adds convenience more so than many of Apple's own inventions. I would be more upset at Apple's own iTunes & the wreck that is their music app. Those hurt Apple branding and message more than any innovative idea outside of Apple.