iOS 5 to Bring Revamped Notification System and Widgets?

[MacRumors]

TechCrunch reports on some of the discussion surrounding Apple's apparent efforts to encourage members of the international press to attend its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) early next month, disagreeing with the assessment that such encouragements suggest that an iPhone launch may indeed occur and instead arguing that iOS 5 and Mac OS X Lion alone will be a big deal. To that end, the company is seeking to make sure that media members do not skip the event simply because it seems that the next-generation iPhone will not make its debut there.

In addition, the report shares several tidbits that have been surfacing about iOS 5, most notably brief word that Apple is indeed planning to roll out a "completely revamped" notifications system and "widgets" that would presumably provide quick access to information without the need for launching dedicated apps, much the same as Dashboard widgets in Mac OS X.

The other big news for iOS5 - and yes, I've completely buried the lede here, thanks for reading! - two things: completely revamped notifications and widgets.

The iOS notification system has been one of the more highly criticized aspects of the platform, although optimism regarding a potential revamp rose earlier this year amid claims that Apple had acquired an unnamed development firm specifically to assist with the revamp.

As an example of how widgets might be employed, designer Jan-Michael Cart earlier this month released a concept video demonstrating his vision of widgets on iOS.

One other item of interest included in TechCrunch's report today is the claim that the Nuance technology rumored to be deeply integrated into iOS 5 will surprisingly not make its way into the Voice Control component of the platform, although things could change between now and the final release of iOS 5 later this year.

Article Link: iOS 5 to Bring Revamped Notification System and Widgets?

 

[miles01110]

It'd be nice to have more than a clock on the lock screen.

 

[Moyank24]

If this is true good news about the notification system. Though, I'm not sure what the big deal about widgets is.

 

[RebeccaL]

I don't use widgets on the desktop and don't plan on using them on the iPhone either. The updated notification system would be great.

 

[aindik]

If this is true good news about the notification system. Though, I'm not sure what the big deal about widgets is.

One thing I miss from my Blackberry is the ability to know at the top of the screen how many different unread things I had. This included unread:

• e-mail
• text messages
• google voice text messages
• BBM messages, and
• calendar reminders

These were all at the top of the screen with icons, in the location where iOS puts the clock, the battery meter and the network connectivity information.

 

[twoodcc]

yeah the notification system has got to be improved

 

[fabian9]

I'm not sure of the value of such widgets... it's easy enough to see what's new by launching an app with the little red circle on it. The thing that I would like to see, however, is a more informative lock screen that'll tell you which applications have got a notification for you.

 

[ChazUK]

Improved notifications would be great. Even on my iPod touch they can get annoying.

Any improvements should be universally welcomed!

 

[asdf542]

Dashboard for iOS would be kinda cool I guess. Although I'm not sure how much sense it would make on the iPhone(barring lock screen) where the weather and stocks app are essentially Mac widgets. I could see it being useful on the iPad where those stock apps that are available on the iPhone aren't present on the iPad.

 

[125037]

Interesting. I particularly won't use it because it's just too "cluttery" for me but I'm sure it would make a lot of people happy.

 

[dustinsc]

I'm sure both widgets and notifications will be better than expected. When Apple screws something up (or omits it entirely) they tend to really make up for it when the finally fix it/implement it.

 

[LoganT]

I could see myself using widgets on a phone more than I could on a computer.

 

[srxtr]

iOS is going from simple to more complicated...

Although I do agree we need a better notification system.

 

[Carlanga]

fugly demo from the designer; it can't have a whole page for each widget... for that is faster to just open the app.

 

[janmike34]

fugly demo from the designer; it can't have a whole page for each widget... for that is faster to just open the app.

You can have more than one widget per page, or have a widget that takes up the entire home screen. It just depends on what the developer of the widget comes up with.

 

[chrono1081]

Id rather have updatable App icons vs widgets, but thats just me.

 

[Sweetfeld28]

I really, really hope they integrate Nuance in to iOS 5, this is one of the biggest things I miss coming from Android.

 

[janmike34]

Id rather have updatable App icons vs widgets, but thats just me.

I'm actually about to render a video that demonstrates such.

 

[-Ryan-]

I wouldn't use widgets, but an improved notification system would be very welcome.

 

[eastercat]

LOL that apple felt compelled to entice reporters to come to this event.
If it's true about notifications and widgets, that'll mean the complainers will have to move onto something else.

 

[Peteman100]

I think a calendar events widget would be very useful

 

[baryon]

That video makes sense. Though I don't see why search would only work from the dashboard screen - why not just scroll down from any home screen and have a search box appear?

 

[dwd3885]

widgets and notification systems are two of the best features of android. So if Apple can put that on the iPhone, it'll come a long way towards matching Google there.

 

[0815]

Better notification sounds good to me - widgets not so much.

Widgets will only suck memory, processing time and battery time. I have no need for them. I don't use them on my Mac and I don't want them on my iPhone.

Oh well, as long as I have the option to not enable them its fine - as long as no one whines about reduced battery time and other related issues. But then - Apple did a really smart thing for the multitasking avoiding most problems, maybe they have some genius idea for widgets (still - I have no use from them, but maybe others do)

 

[dberezin]

Besides there not being an iPhone on Verizon when I got my first Android phone, one of the reasons I like the Android platform is because of the widgets. It's nice looking at the main screen and seeing the weather, date and time in a nice widget and also have my (scrollable) calendar list displaying so I can see what's coming up.

Another page can have your Twitter feed or Facebook feed.

I hope this option does become available in iOS as an option. Let's you customize your phone to how you want it - not how Apple wants it. If that happens, I might have to look twice at the iPhone when I renew.