I've never understood this mentality with iOS. Why are people turning these features on and off all the time? I just turn them on and leave them on. iOS handles wifi and GPS on it's own; there's no need for the user to get involved. As for sound, there's a switch on the side of the phone.
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How widgets can make your life easier, not harder
- Thread starter matttye
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I've never understood this mentality with iOS. Why are people turning these features on and off all the time? I just turn them on and leave them on. iOS handles wifi and GPS on it's own; there's no need for the user to get involved. As for sound, there's a switch on the side of the phone.
I was seriously considering buying a Galaxy Nexus to the point where I had been to the shop twice and almost put my money done on the table right then and there. The screenshots in the OP have made me realise how ugly the Android UI is and put me of the whole thing. I love my iPhone. And no I don't want widgets, all the information I need on the lock screen is for the phone to tell me when I get a new notification. And most of the information widgets display I just ask Siri to tell me, that's wayyyyy easier then browsing through 6 pages of widgets trying to find the one your looking for.
Anyway, each to their own.
Anyway, each to their own.
Apple has always designed around an intuitive, streamlined user experience. Having to customize things kind of takes away from their "one size fits all" type of experience.
This is no different from Macintosh computers running Mac OS X compared to someone running, say, Windows 7.
Windows Operating Systems, in my experience, sure do let the end-user make more changes and be more customizable; but right out of the box, I've found the Macs I've used to be very streamlined and intuitive. There really wasn't a whole lot I needed to "customize" on the computer aside from changing the Desktop Wallpaper.
Automator is fun, but I will admit it took me about 6 long years to figure out how to use it properly!
This is no different from Macintosh computers running Mac OS X compared to someone running, say, Windows 7.
Windows Operating Systems, in my experience, sure do let the end-user make more changes and be more customizable; but right out of the box, I've found the Macs I've used to be very streamlined and intuitive. There really wasn't a whole lot I needed to "customize" on the computer aside from changing the Desktop Wallpaper.
Automator is fun, but I will admit it took me about 6 long years to figure out how to use it properly!
Or it's obviously you who is not reading what i'm saying.
Because i never said that iOS5 have any widgets, now did I?
Some widgets offer functionality though. Being able to just click play on a music widget is great. being able to toggle bluetooth without going to settings>general>bluetooth is also a godsend. Those are just two simple examples that I came up with.
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No... I read what you said. The OP clearly wants it in widget form. What we have is not in widget form. The widget brings the information to you much faster than the other options IMO.
Perhaps I shouldn't have quoted you directly though. TO EVERYONE saying iOS5 has widgets, it really doesn't. Furthermore, Apple only allows for the "widgets" that they have stock, currently. Anything outside of that is jailbreak only.
Sorry for stepping on toes. It wasn't my intention.
Most Android launchers allow you to set a custom grid size, I have mine set to 5x5, but you can go higher to allow more widgets and icons. Some launchers also allow you to resize widgets as well so you can fit them to available space.
Battery life. Wifi especially is essentially constantly searching for a signal if it's always on. To a power user, that extra few % of battery life could be crucial, especially if they know they will have no wifi around. Some people also don't like hardware buttons/toggles. I have also read many a post where it has failed/broken. I had one "on its way out" on my 3GS myself.
The point here is that options are NEVER a bad thing.
My intention was that the function in iOS5 brings the exact same features, and gives you exactly as much in real time information as any widgets will do. i get my notifications showing up pretty much simultaneously on all my 3 devices, one runs OSX Lion and the other two iOS5.0.1.
I don't really see any difference between what he asks for and what iOS5 has to offer, can you tell me what the difference is? What does the widgets have that iOS5 notifications doesn't have? Except they are named differently..
Maybe i'm missing something obvious, hence my question!
Well, he has his music widget always there, for one thing. That, to me, is different enough. I am also not personally a fan of how iOS5 does texts and emails. Reason being is I get a LOT of them. It is useless to me to have a giant list of emails/texts. Overnight I will wake up with a huge list, rather than just a number. The widget on the lock screen is just neater. Conversely, my fiance gets very few texts/emails, comparatively. Here screen always looks neat since it is not cluttered in list format like mine is. I would love to be able to simply see I have X number of emails without a huge obnoxious list, however that is not an option for me. It's either obnoxious list, or nothing at all.
Like I said, the good thing about widgets is options. Those that don't see a need for widgets need not use them. Those that do, would certainly like the option. An example I use is the stocks app. It has been with iOS since day one. I have no need for it, never have, but it would be ignorant for me to call it useless, right? SO many people on these forums state widgets are useless and cast them aside. Something useless for one person could be critical for another. That's the beauty of choice.
That's a pretty intriguing bit of information.
I personally like widgets, and it amazes me how it seems the core of the iDevices fan base is militantly against it. What's wrong with choice folks? Include it as part of the OS feature set, but you choose whether or not to use it?
I know that's not how aple typically does business, but giving users choice in these matters would be nice.
I don't think anything is wrong with choice, but Apple only have a finite amount of resources. You've got to draw the line somewhere else every device everywhere would have every possible function included, which is clearly ludicrous and impossible. Personally, I'd rather Apple focus on things that will benefit me. If it had been a toss up between iCloud or widgets, I would have picked iCloud as I benefit far more from that. In much the same way, Google picked widgets over something else, and that's just the way it is.
I dont understand it either. Always thought Apple tried to position themselves as a "creative" think outside the box company with a high focus on the arts etc. Yet they dont seem to want to foster that same notion by allowing users of their product to customize the interface so that it works well for the individuals own needs/desires. That's the "Apple Way"...and you either love it or hate it
It is in ios5 too, so i don't see the difference...
Well, if you can see all recent messages that you have not yet viewed, how is that bad? What are you gonna use the screen for? Just curious not being a smartass. Trying to figure things out here.
So you're saying android for example only shows the most recent happening? And nothing before that? I don't see the advantage of that. Seems like your problem is that you got too many calling/texting you at inappropriate times though. However, you can change that if you wish, just go to the notifications and then go to the item you want to change and make it show 1 recent or 5 recent or 10 or whatever you may like, so no options you say?
You can also change the appearance on alerts when there is any incoming.
The widget in android may look better, i can agree on that though, but that's not really what we're discussing as i see it!
And i can certainly agree with you on the last part that just because you have it doesn't make it useless.. More options are always nicer to have, but not always easier for the most basic users..
It's much the same as Google claiming they 'do no evil' yet do things that completely contradict that. A company's vision will be broadly focussed in one direction, but that's not to say that anything and everything they do will follow that.
Hey, and I wish Google would tighten the reins a little and stop letting manufacturers and networks messing with Android, and give me an iTunes equivalent for Android!
No. I am saying it has the information grouped more properly (for me) rather than just a giant list. Again, you don't see a point. It's wonderful that you are happy with it. Others are not, and would like other options.
I wish android had a standard hardware set. I got tired of my piece of garbage android phone and it's scratch-loving case.
I don;t remember the name of the program, but there is actually one in existance produce by a third party to get things synced much like iTunes does. I agree about tightening the reins, and with ICS (actually Honeycomb and onward) I do believe they are working on it.
No. I am saying it has the information grouped more properly (for me) rather than just a giant list. Again, you don't see a point. It's wonderful that you are happy with it. Others are not, and would like other options.
See, now you're talking about appearance and not function
As you say, it is more properly shown "for you" I'm talking purely about function and what we have in iOS5, i never said i'm happy with it, i'm just telling the OP there is options for what he wants. If he doesn't want that, then don't use that. As you say, others would like options, i'm giving him some, no?
I'll buy your resource argument, but we don't really have any idea what it would take to implement it. And I think that we can both agree that apple has the resources to get the brainpower to fix any issue/problem set they choose to (just look at what they are doing with patents, spending billions to acquire them and then go after the competition).
Mrochester, I would submit that as an end user any choice they offer you does benefit you. You may not see why you would possibly want with a widget now, but once that developer door opens who knows how they would implement that feature.
Lastly, I would also submit that I often come across threads lamenting the GUI, this choice can give folks the choice they been looking for to somewhat spice up the ui.
See, now you're talking about appearance and not function
I'm talking purely about function and what we have in iOS5, i never said i'm happy with it, i'm just telling the OP there is options for what he wants. If he doesn't want that, then don't use that. As you say, others would like options, i'm giving him some, no?
I also have issues with how much a PITA it is to toggle bluetooth on and off. By this logic, the function is there, so why does it need to be easier? I would disagree that this is a matter of appearance versus function. To me, the way mail is presented on the lockscreen it is non-functional. The only reason I have it appear is because it is the only option I have to see if I have mail/texts at a glance.
The thing with widgets is it doesn't even have to be Apple that makes them. Open widgets (even what apple calls widgets) to developers and allow them to do what they will with them. It will take literally zero additional resources from Apple at all. You don't want them. We get that. THat doesn't mean it shouldn't happen, because it's certainly not useless to everyone.
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This x100
no its not the same lol your square icons don't display information which updates automatically.
traffic widget displays green, amber or red. Right now traffic is clear to all 3 locations
news feed widget displays rss feeds on homescreen
Friendstream widget displays facebook/twitter updates direct to homescreen (scrollable)
I don't know how you're reading my posts, but you seem to translate them into something i don't even mean.
I have no problem if anyone would develop widget based apps or anything like that. I have never said i don't want them, i would be happy if you would actually read what i'm saying instead of translate them into something you think you are reading, which i also noted to you in the first response you did to me.
I want them, i am still just giving the OP options, if you read, you'd know.. Please don't start a time wasting discussion and turn the heat up when there is no need to do so.
In respect to others, i always try to read things the way one has written it, not how i want to read it. This is important if we want to keep a good level of discussion and evolve it.
And i agree that it is not simple to turn on or off bluetooth. But there is also a choice for that, that makes it much easier, installed shortcuts.. Still not the best integration but a choice we have as of now, doesn't mean that i want something much easier to choose from. Ok?
Anyways.
Happy new year