iPad OS 4.2 'Orientation Lock' to 'Mute Switch' Change Permanent

[GRuizMD]

I sincerely respect the opinion on both sides of the aisle.

/Sarcasm on

For those who start their posts with something like:

"I have been an Apple user for the last (Insert years in decades here) and I have owned (insert names of multiple devices -and color -by year of production here ) and I will go back to (Insert name of non-Apple company, device or OS here) if Steve Jobs (insert any change in function, color, size here)"

I can gladly help you get rid of that burden. Please PM me and I will give you my address so you can overnight FedEx your unworthy Apple devices to me.

/Sarcasm off

Again, I respect the fact that you like or dislike the change, but in all honestly if any change is done, I doubt you are going back to windows, zune or the Windows slate. But if you really are, PM me.

 

[ctdonath]

My $0.02 if anyone from Apple is listening...

Isn't the screen lock just turning to a virtual switch?

Yes - one which only works when the device is turned on, when you adjust for the rotation which just happened when you turned it on which is exactly why you wanted to lock the rotation before turning it on. So now instead of "it's gonna rotate, so lock it by feel then turn on", it's "turn on, it rotates, you adapt to the rotation, you make it rotate back to where you wanted it, look for the rotation lock icon, then tap it, then move the device to where you really wanted it in the first place."

 

[sudo rm -rf /]

Ohe Noooooooez!

Unwelcome change. I agree with many previous posters; just hold down on the decrease volume button for 2 clicks and it mutes.

The need for a hardware switch to lock screen rotation is greater than the need for a hardware mute switch, especially since there kinda already is one... just hold the volume rocker for a second.

Bad form, Apple. Bad form.

 

[marksman]

At least we should have the option to leave it as is..

Multipurpose single motion hardware toggles is not really their style though.

Can become too confusing and different and people change settings and then things don't work as expected because they don't remember etc.

I don't care either way, as I yet to have an iPod, but it is not like they took away the ability to lock the screen orientation. I use my task switcher all the time on my iphone, so it would not be unwieldy for me to use the rotation key if I needed it.

I am not sure why people think hitting the volume button down 4 times is easier than having essentially 4 gestures/touches to change orientation.

 

[fleggy]

Unwelcome change. I agree with many previous posters; just hold down on the decrease volume button for 2 clicks and it mutes.

The need for a hardware switch to lock screen rotation is greater than the need for a hardware mute switch, especially since there kinda already is one... just hold the volume rocker for a second.

Bad form, Apple. Bad form.

What am I missing?

I have not got an iPad (yet - waiting for the next one), but I am confused by people saying "turn down the volume" as a means to "mute". If this is to be consistent with the iPhone...mute surely means cancel [mute] a microphone?

That is a very different prospect - right?

I can understand peoples frustrations, you do get used to things, but are those opinions based on what the iPad does today...What it will do tomorrow?

Sure - it's no phone, but Facetime (which will be coming next), Skype and Google voice etc. Does SJ think these will be used more? Perhaps that will be a more convenient use of the switch in the future (if mute mean cancel a mic). Would that change opinion?

Just wondering...

 

[DTphonehome]

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Are there any situations where the iPad would unexpectedly start making sounds? Unless you use it as an alarm clock, no (and alarms are hardly unexpected, you set them yourself).

FaceTime. Which will be a major selling point of the next iPad.

You go into a meeting, you just want to hit mute. Not take it out of the case, turn it on, rocker down, turn off, put it back in case.

If you want to o lock, you are ALREADY using the device so what's the big deal with software locking? I get that it's more steps, but a hard mute is critical if FaceTime is going to be a big feature.

 

[HLdan]

Ugh... now I must choose.

Multi-tasking or Screen lock rotation...

Damn you, apple.

And people say Apple doesn't offer choice.

 

[NinjaHERO]

Because just letting us make the choice would be too much huh Steve? Sucks.

 

[blueraja]

That sucks, i use the screen lock frequently, have no use for a physical mute button, heck I've had my ipad for months and havent even bothered to put music on it, but the screen lock is very handy when im using ibook or wifi tools running around with it in my hands troubleshooting office coverage issues. Would a choice have been that hard? Oh well after years of iphones and ipods I guess I need to look into jailbreaking after all.

 

[manu chao]

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Phones ring, hence the need for a button to quickly mute it.
iPads don't ring, but the do get turned on it's side and straight up more than a phone, hence the orientation lock on hardware.

Steve just made his beloved iPad a little less useful...

To expand on this simple meme, iPhones vibrate when on mute, iPads do not. And a lot of iPhone apps do not have a landscape mode whereas all iPad apps do, making a rotation lock much more important on an iPad.

But in the end, consistency (particularly in software) seems to trump everything at Apple.
And naturally iPads might actually ring in the future with Skype multitasking in the background and front-facing cameras and FaceTime coming to the iPad.

 

[catmistake]

Boo mute!

Ugh... now I must choose.

Multi-tasking or Screen lock rotation...

I'm not really sure I understand Apple's 'Multi-tasking' on iPad and iOS devices. iOS is already truly multitasking, as an OS... Apple's version is more like, 'Springboard multitasking' (ala ancient MultiFinder 'multitasking'), as it allows one to skip the return to Springboard step... that is the true essence of what iOS 4.2 Multi-tasking is: skip Springboard and load this other app. Yes, I suppose it keeps more of the background apps in volatile memory... which is a lil faster than loading the app from the Flash memory... but the only kind of multitasking I wish the interface had was similar to those picture-in-picture television sets, so I could watch a video in a frame while using another app, such as Mobile Safari, or even load a webpage in a visible frame while reading another webpage that took the lion's share of screen real estate.

But to stay on topic... a static mute button on iPad is redundant, extraneous, superfluous... seems quite un-Apple of Apple to duplicate functionality using physical buttons. The decision must have something to do with either future phone functionality or the desire to keep the iOS versions in strict parity. Negative scrutiny is easily avoided in a preference pane (why does Apple allow the setting of the home button doublepress, but no other preference like it? This pref should be in a pref category with all other hw buttons' prefs).

 

[AaronTheYoung]

I'm guessing mute switch goes away...

I'm betting we lose the switch ALL TOGETHER when iPad rev2 comes out. This is just a way to get people use to having to go to the software for orientation lock. I'm betting they give us that second side power/data interface that's rumored and take this switch away to save costs.

I'm may be wrong, but Apple might subscribe to this design logic going forward. Apple doesn't like switches (or buttons). I can imagine them moving volume to the display at some point too. Few moving parts.

I sure hope not. I like buttons.

 

[AaronTheYoung]

No switch - no option.

Steve seriously you need to make this one an option. Stop pi**ing off the public with the I'm an expert about your life attitude.

I don't think they are giving us an option, which clearly wouldn't be hard because I'm betting the button is going to go away. I bet the new iPad won't have it and the iPhone 5 next year won't have it either. The less moving parts on the phones, the less break down they have.

That's only a guess of course....

 

[manu chao]

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I'm not really sure I understand Apple's 'Multi-tasking' on iPad and iOS devices. iOS is already truly multitasking, as an OS... Apple's version is more like, 'Springboard multitasking' (ala ancient MultiFinder 'multitasking'), as it allows one to skip the return to Springboard step... that is the true essence of what iOS 4.2 Multi-tasking is: skip Springboard and load this other app. Yes, but the only kind of multitasking I wish the interface had was similar to those picture-in-picture television sets, so I could watch a video in a frame while using another app, such as Mobile Safari, or even load a webpage in a visible frame while reading another webpage that took the lion's share of screen real estate.

The decision must have something to do with either future phone functionality or the desire to keep the iOS versions in strict parity.

Apart from easy access to recent apps, there are four more things:
1) background audio
2) background VoIP
3) background location tracking
4) background uploading and the like

 

[redscull]

Yay mute button! Probably the best feature in the 4.2 update. I'll finally be able to use sound on my iPad.

 

[muu]

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You go into a meeting, you just want to hit mute. Not take it out of the case, turn it on, rocker down, turn off, put it back in case.

If you want to o lock, you are ALREADY using the device so what's the big deal with software locking? I get that it's more steps, but a hard mute is critical if FaceTime is going to be a big feature.

If the case requires you to take it out to press the top lock switch, chances are more than likely they'll make you do the same for a mute. In essence, one extra button push for something that should have been done pre-meeting.

 

[aaronsullivan]

I found it a bit annoying at first, and I prefer the hardware button for that particular function, but I think having a hardware mute switch that can be flipped when the iPad is sleeping is a more important use. I don't want a ton of hardware buttons, in other words, and the iPad NEEDS and will have a greater need for an external mute switch.

I do agree that it is an inconvenience once you are used to the previous functionality. It just turns out you are wanting to lock and unlock orientation quite frequently on an iPad.

 

[DTphonehome]

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I'm betting we lose the switch ALL TOGETHER when iPad rev2 comes out. This is just a way to get people use to having to go to the software for orientation lock. I'm betting they give us that second side power/data interface that's rumored and take this switch away to save costs.

I'm may be wrong, but Apple might subscribe to this design logic going forward. Apple doesn't like switches (or buttons). I can imagine them moving volume to the display at some point too. Few moving parts.

I sure hope not. I like buttons.

They did add volume buttons to the touch (2nd or 3rd gen, I don't remember). So they will utilize buttons when there us a compelling need for them. Volume buttons (and mute by extension) are critical. You must be able to very quickly (and reliably) lower the volume or silence the device without going through software.

 

[bobob]

The positive/negative vote on this thread is currently 52/361 or almost 7-1 against this change - - even discounting the resident trolls that's still 2-1 against changing the switch function to mute.

 

[hsotnicam8002]

Adolf Jobs has spoken so you vill do as he says! Lack of customisation and independent user configuration seems to be creeping into the Mac just as it is in the iOS. Apple know best, their few hundred engineers know better than the millions of brainless customers out there. Of course, everything Apple is perfect, so why would you want to change anything? Just pay your money, and take the medicine like the rest of us!

 

[Icey]

Has it been announced or decided or leaked as to whether the iOS 4.2 for iPad will be free or not? I seem to remember some iOS updates for the iPhone/Touch in the past having a price tag of around $10. I searched the forum and this thread and didn't see any discussion on it so maybe someone will know or have some good guesses.

 

[cmaier]

Has it been announced or decided or leaked as to whether the iOS 4.2 for iPad will be free or not? I seem to remember some iOS updates for the iPhone/Touch in the past having a price tag of around $10. I searched the forum and this thread and didn't see any discussion on it so maybe someone will know or have some good guesses.

It will be free.

 

[DTphonehome]

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Adolf Jobs has spoken so you vill do as he says! Lack of customisation and independent user configuration seems to be creeping into the Mac just as it is in the iOS. Apple know best, their few hundred engineers know better than the millions of brainless customers out there. Of course, everything Apple is perfect, so why would you want to change anything? Just pay your money, and take the medicine like the rest of us!

Or just don't pay and take your business elsewhere. That's how you vote in capitalism.

 

[bouncer1]

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FaceTime. Which will be a major selling point of the next iPad.

You go into a meeting, you just want to hit mute. Not take it out of the case, turn it on, rocker down, turn off, put it back in case.

If you want to o lock, you are ALREADY using the device so what's the big deal with software locking? I get that it's more steps, but a hard mute is critical if FaceTime is going to be a big feature.

Put it on mute before than damn meeting then...for crying out loud...

btw, what you are saying about facetime is illogical, you are most probably going to have an iphone to facetime, AND a mac, it's not the killer feature of the ipad, nor one many would use over others. You carry your phone on all the time, so facetime from there, what's the use of the ipad? If you only have an ipad for facetime and no iphone or mac, then, well you are not exactly the person who goes in and out of meetings.

Or are you going to have facetime enabled on the ipad, and normal call on the iphone so you have two devices to mute. What a brilliant idea...

There's one side of the argument here with some consistent and compelling arguments against this, and another that makes no sense whatsoever with people going in an out of meetings all the time, yet who don't have iphones or macs, and will facetime via their ipads, the very same ipads they constantly forgetting to mute in these meetings, and who cant be bothered to mute them via the volume button, and who need to take away much needed important functionality from a switch and turn it over to something else because they keep forgetting the mute the ipads in meetings and they keep using them to facetime instead of using their damn phones to facetime...unbelievable...

Honestly, no offense to anyone, but one side here is making sense and other is talking absolutely rubbish about supposed meetings and facetime. Let me tell you something, I don't know what kind of "meetings" you guys are in but with this type of illogical thinking I know for sure I wouldn't want you to be in any meetings I might be in...

 

[Torrijos]

Somehow I find this logic...

What kind of operation seems more urgent :
- Turning the speaker off, in order not to bother the people around (like student in a class )
- Blocking the rotation, where the additional time spent will only "bother" you.

Anyway if you want to block the screen it's because you intend intend to use the screen whereas you could be listening to music and need to mute it (to answer a phone call or talk to somebody) for a second then turning the screen on seems a waste.