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If iOS.5 doesn't get a home screen overhaul, I'm switching to Android
- Thread starter coldwarx
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But I don't want it. So the lack of an option is a non point for me.
No, you double tap and swipe to the right and there's the music controls. If the iPod is running then there isn't a 'wait for it load' either. If it's in your pocket double click the home button to wake it up and overlay the music controls over the lock screen.
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Fair enough, I just don't see wanting to customize your home screen to better manage information as "PC thinking", I just disagree with that. No problem, we just disagree, it just seems like a generalization (yeah I know) when even within those who customize there must be tons of different categories. Some may want a PC on their tablet as you say, but if you really look at most widgets they are designed to give you information at a quick glance instead of having to open an app to get that information, this is not how a desktop PC behaves for the most part. In the spirit of what the OP is specifically asking for at a glance info on things like calendar, email, etc. Sure maybe his specific example of an android home screen wasn't the best, I don't think I would use it, I believe the spirit of his post is actually asking iOS to be more smartphone/tablet like and less PC like. These are not things that are necessarily defined and I'll admit maybe I'm defining them for myself (same as you are) but it just seems that at a glance information like widgets give is much more of a smartphone/tablet feature than a PC feature.
My take is this:
I love apple's current setup BUT.. and this is a big BUT
sliding to the left (where the search menus is) it would be cool to have a 'widget' page, similar to hitting the f4 key on your mac. Could show currently playing, weather, time, calculator ect.
would like a widget screen that's basically it.
I love apple's current setup BUT.. and this is a big BUT
sliding to the left (where the search menus is) it would be cool to have a 'widget' page, similar to hitting the f4 key on your mac. Could show currently playing, weather, time, calculator ect.
would like a widget screen that's basically it.
I contributed other things in that post you decided to cherry pick.
I'd love the lock screen to get an overhaul to actually do something, but I'm fine with the home screen as it is.
For the love of God yes! I wouldn't put FaceBook or Twitter in their as I prefer the full power of a client but for simple things like weather it'd be ideal. I never use Spotlight so giving that area some value is most welcome.
Fair enough, and a good discussion. I agree with you that there are indeed different categories of customizers, and some of them will be satisifed with updates coming from Apple in the future and some of them will never be satisfied with iOS no matter what. To each his own.
Not a horrible idea (especially because I'm in agreement that the spotlight page is worthless). But is it that much faster than using an app?
Currently if I want to get weather, I:
1) Unlock my iPad
2) click the AccuWeather app I have placed on the first home page (if I'm not on the first home page, I swipe over)
3) Check weather.
A widget screen would allow me to:
1) Unlock my iPad
2) Swipe left (or if I was on another home page, swipe several times left)
3) check weather.
Now, I realize that there would be other widgets on this page, but, in all honesty, how many people pull up widgets to do more than one task at a time. In my personal experience, I only go to the dashboard on my mac for one thing (use the calculator, check international time, etc.) then I leave.
Speaking of this subject, look what was just posted: 
https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=12641047#post12641047
https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=12641047#post12641047
speaking of this subject, look what was just posted:
https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=12641047#post12641047
victory!!!!!!:d
Speaking of this subject, look what was just posted:
https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=12641047#post12641047
That's awesome. I'm curious how this affects the diehards that don't want anything to do with "widgets"!! After reading this I have HIGH hopes for ios5, can't wait.
Yeah I saw that story and had to laugh. Well, if it's true, you guys get your wish. I'm fine without widgets, of course, but I have no objection to how you make your iPads look.
Apple listened.
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As I commented in the article--I still don't care about the widgets part of it other than the fact that it's one less thing for Android people to be obnoxious about.
But I am loving the idea of a new notification system. I hate the current one.
I must be the odd person out, lol, because I have never had a problem with the notification system. This was to the point where I didn't even understand what thing people were complaining about. When I found out they meant the blue pop-ups I couldn't believe it was such a problem. But maybe I will like a new system, we will see.
As for widgets, I never went looking for them; we'll see what the implementation is like. I check my weather once a day (my basement has a window behind the cheetos shelf anyway, so I'm all set) and RSS feeds plus a good workflow would make them superfluous.
As for widgets, I never went looking for them; we'll see what the implementation is like. I check my weather once a day (my basement has a window behind the cheetos shelf anyway, so I'm all set) and RSS feeds plus a good workflow would make them superfluous.
+1 The pics the OP posted look terrible. I just skimmed the post but eew...(to each his own I guess).
Also OP no need to be a drama queen. No one cares if you switch to Android, no offense...
In fact i can easily imagine iOS5 keeping the same basic "app grid" philosophy, but instead having the home "screen" being an empty space to put widgets. You open the iPad, you see your widgets with the information you like, you swipe your finger and it just move to the first "app grid" page.
Or even simpler, the actual "spotlight search" page that appear when you swipe left from home page is already empty. It's easy to imagine having widget there, and the search bar on top, and all the search result appearing and hiding the widget under them.
My point is, they really don't have to break their whole User Interface to insert something like widgets.
Your're not alone. I had no idea the notification system was disliked. When I first saw it commented on, I looked at my devices and wondered what the problem was. Then I read in detail what people hated about it, and then thought, oh, OK, I guess that bothers them.
For me it's been no big deal.
I'd definitely wait and see before declaring that!
Quite apart from it just being a rumour, I would be very surprised if Apple radically changed the iOS homescreen. I bet that there are a lot of people out there who are somewhat afraid of technology but who use and love iPhones and iPads. Having everything change around after an update is going to intensely annoy those folks. There is also the marketing view of the iPhone homescreen; that grid of icons is instantly recognisable to a lot of people.
If we do get widgets my prediction is that they will be done so that the feature is completely invisible to users who don't care about widgets. This was the way multitasking was introduced; using the multitasking bar is completely optional. Maybe people will have to swipe up or down on the homescreen to reach the widget screens.
I think that battery life would also be a major concern for Apple given that they seem almost paranoid about this. My guess is that widgets will be an extension of the existing notification system. Instead of a notification containing just text it could contain a snippet of HTML that would be used to update an Apps widget.
The fact that so many people keep coming here and asking "why can't iOS be more like android" while not jumping over to android seems to imply that android isn't all that it's cracked up to be.
your intepretation is not the only one possible, however.
"why can't iOS be more like android" can also be interpretated as an iOS user sees a feature in android they like that they can't do in iOS and wished that it was available in iOS. that doesn't mean that they're totally unhappy with iOS and to tell them, 'Well, then buy an android instead" is a pigeon-hole type answer.
i bought an ipad2 earlier this year, picking it over an android-based tablet for a number of reasons. i'm generally satisfied with what the ipad does but that doesn't mean that i wouldn't wish for more features or added functionality.
You're essentially asking iOS to be more open and Apple to actually give the end user an option to control whats on the iPad. I would put my money on Apple not allowing that. I too wish the iPad was more open like a Mac (i.e. actual computer). I'm not a fan Apple is using the same OS as their phone on the iPad. I sincerely hope that Apple begins differentiating the iPad and iPhone's OS and not leaving it up to the developers to change their applications.
you skimmed the post, but you're saying I'm being dramatic without even reading what was written. I know no one cares if I switch, but i posted to get people talking about the current UI and the android UI. I'm not trying to have people convince me to stay. Just an opinion of 1 iPad user.
As for the rumour about iOS possibly having widgets/dashboard. I think that could be a great idea. I'm sure the grid icon UI isn't going away, but having options would be good.
I was just googling images of tablet interfaces and I ran across this little number:
How can that be something that's not welcomed? You have your basic info, your grid layout is still there and certain widgets like recent mail, twitter, weather.
and if you look closely, you can see there's room for notifications at the top
How can that be something that's not welcomed? You have your basic info, your grid layout is still there and certain widgets like recent mail, twitter, weather.
and if you look closely, you can see there's room for notifications at the top
This would be great. I think the grid layout wastes so much screen space. Sure make the default look like the iPhone but give the iPad customization options! Apple needs to differentiate the two platforms. They aren't the same and I think many users want more out of their iPads than just better hardware and a bigger screen.