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iPad's Orientation Lock Switch Becomes Mute Switch With iOS 4.2

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Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
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150826-screen_orientation_lock_ipad.jpg


System controls on multitasking tray in iOS 4.2 beta for iPad showing screen orientation lock
One of the text notes accompanying AppAdvice's video walkthrough of the new iOS 4.2 for iPad suggests that the physical switch on the iPad's side for locking the screen orientation has been repurposed as a mute switch. The change has been confirmed by posters in our forums.

With the change, screen orientation locking is now accomplished within the multitasking tray as on the iPhone under iOS 4. Interestingly, the switch had been originally planned to be a mute switch but was repurposed as an orientation lock as revealed in publicity materials published just weeks before the device's launch.


150928-ipad_screen_rotation_lock.jpg


iPad external buttons and controls: originally-announced (left) and as-released (right)
It is unknown whether Apple had originally planned for iOS 4 to be available for the iPad in time to its initial launch so as to support multitasking tray-based screen orientation locking, or if the changes over time have simply been adjustments to fluctuating priorities and development of new software solutions for certain tasks.

Article Link: iPad's Orientation Lock Switch Becomes Mute Switch With iOS 4.2
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2010/09/15/ipads-orientation-lock-switch-becomes-mute-switch-with-ios-4-2/
Totally dislike. I've definitely needed to lock orientation more often than setting the thing to mute. It makes it so handy if you hand over the iPad to someone to take a look and can flick that switch at the same time.
 
I hope they make this an option, I like the orientation switch. When do I ever need to mute my iPad? Plus, hold down volume for 1/2 a second and it mutes it anyway.
 
Consistency is king.

That being said, it'd be nice if there was an option. Now, if there was an option, it'd also be nice to see that come over to the iPhone. :)
 
What's the point in changing it... sold millions of iPads... everyones used to it being a lock...why change it? Not much effort holding the volume down for 1.5 seconds.
 
This makes very little sense. Given the way an iPad is generally used and held, locking and unlocking the orientation with the switch is logical and easy. Absolutely everybody who uses an iPad will lock and unlock the orientation probably several times a day.

To devote an entire hardware switch to mute is ridiculous - mute can be achieved by just lowering the volume to zero with the rocker, and for myself I have my iPad on mute for days at a time and never need to adjust any volume. I don't imagine I'm the only one who uses an iPad this way.
 
ziggyonice said:
Consistency is king.

That being said, it'd be nice if there was an option. Now, if there was an option, it'd also be nice to see that come over to the iPhone. :)
Click to expand...

Consistency is indeed king. But going with the iTunes buttons, this is no surprise, really...

I also think the switch is stupid.
 
GeekLawyer said:
I have no issue with the change. I would expect the buttons and switches on the iPad to perform as they do on the iPhone.
Click to expand...

Let me guess.. you don't own an iPad !
Do you share things on it with other people ? Guess not..

Physical mute switch.. come on.. this thing ain't a phone
 
Rather see it stay as an orientation lock. Or an option in settings, that would be cool too... but as someone said earlier, options aren't Apple's style.
 
Not a fan of this. Since it is a software fix, perhaps they will give us the option to switch back and fourth. That would be nice. Best of both worlds.
 
Darkashnet said:
What's the point in changing it... sold millions of iPads... everyones used to it being a lock...why change it? Not much effort holding the volume down for 1.5 seconds.
Click to expand...

I agree with the sentiment, but I understand why Apple might want to change it now despite the millions sold:

They have not yet sold the hundreds of millions they will be selling in the future. The time will come with only a tiny percentages of iPad users will ever remember the old way of doing things.

If this was Apple's desire from the beginning, and they had to make a sudden switch at the last minute, I guess the sooner you switch it back the better.
 
audioteknika said:
Yes, holding the volume down button requires too much time.. /sarcasm off
Click to expand...

And the new on-screen orientation control takes too much time? ;) I think you’ll get used to this minor change eventually, though.

Both are common functions, but I for one use Mute more, and I suspect I’m not alone since it’s an ages-old expected function, while orientation is something new. Mute is something you need to trigger more rapidly, too, if you realize your alerts are disturbing other people (meeting, library, movie, whatever), which can happen even when your iPad is not actually in use.

And it’s nice that it can restore your volume right where you left it, which manually hitting volume-down will not achieve.

audioteknika said:
Let me guess.. you don't own an iPad !
Do you share things on it with other people ? Guess not..

Physical mute switch.. come on.. this thing ain't a phone
Click to expand...

But it makes a lot of sounds and goes a lot of places.
 
i don't like this change, but im sure i'll adapt easy enough. it will be slightly frustrating at first.
 
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