This shouldn't get a single positive response. Orientation lock is *WAY* more important than a volume switch, as you can just hold down the volume and it mutes.
Stupid.
Stupid.
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iPad's Orientation Lock Switch Becomes Mute Switch With iOS 4.2
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Say it ain't so. I use the switch to lock the orientation all the time, it's very convenient as it is. Ugh.
I've been using iOS4 on my iPhone for a couple of months now. Orientation lock via the dock is second nature at this point. To me it's odd to flip a switch to accomplish this on my iPad now.
Consistency.
Consistency.
Actually, yes, and as its placement will itself change as the orientation changes, this is a major PITA. I frequently pass my iPad between myself and my wife, often changing orientations while the device's back is to me. Flicking the lock without needing to check the screen, or even have the screen facing me, is sensible and useful. Now I have to have the screen facing me, and then check which orientation it is in anyway before I can lock/unlock.
This is going to be really annoying if they don't give us the choice.
I'm going to have to interrupt what I'm looking at now, double tap Home, swipe to the left, press the rotation lock icon.
All I had to do before was flip the switch!
I'm going to have to interrupt what I'm looking at now, double tap Home, swipe to the left, press the rotation lock icon.
All I had to do before was flip the switch!
That little plastic switch is just waiting to break a year and a day after purchase, so I use it as little as possible, personally.
I welcome the software lock!
And to forego all the new features to spite this little change? That's krazy with a k....
Still, doesn't this confirm that Apple had originally planned iOS 4 to ship with the iPad seeing how they changed it at the last minute? Whether that means they planned a release after the iPhone 4 or not is another question entirely.
I welcome the software lock!
And to forego all the new features to spite this little change? That's krazy with a k....
Still, doesn't this confirm that Apple had originally planned iOS 4 to ship with the iPad seeing how they changed it at the last minute? Whether that means they planned a release after the iPhone 4 or not is another question entirely.
Giving options to users is not Apple's style.
This is what I've come to dislike about Apple more than anything else. As a developer, I could easily provide the features that they take away if they don't want to spend the time on them. But they won't let me.
I know some people will complain but I think this is better. The main reason why it's better is because it brings the function of this button under consistent use in the iPhone and iPad. I always forget to mute my iPad because I have to press and hold the volume button down, whereas on the iPhone you only need to press the slider down. A silly but unimportant side affect is that sometimes I hear the sound for a new email three times (iMac, iPhone, and iPad). Plus, I have other calendar alarms with sound on my iPad that I'd rather not hear all the time, but always forget to mute the iPad. Besides that, with iOS 4 on the iPad it will be easier to mute looking at the position of the tab on the iPad (like the iPhone), than having to turn it on, unlock it and press/hold the volume buttons. Lastly, I've become accustomed to using the os locking feature in iOS 4 (iPhone).
Very, very poor decision. I thought it was a poor change the first time, until I got the iPad and discovered how much more useful the button was a screen lock.
Now its software based, so its still there, but making such a change is bad. Apple freaks out and disapproves apps that take temporary control over a hardware button, but here they go and make a blatant "permanent" change to an established piece of hardware.
To us, its a WTF, because of the change.
To most consumers, it will be a WTF, my iPad is broken.
Now its software based, so its still there, but making such a change is bad. Apple freaks out and disapproves apps that take temporary control over a hardware button, but here they go and make a blatant "permanent" change to an established piece of hardware.
To us, its a WTF, because of the change.
To most consumers, it will be a WTF, my iPad is broken.
I don't use mute switches to turn the volume down, as you said, you can effectively do that quite quickly with the volume switch. I use mute switches to turn the volume down without losing my desired volume settings.
To me, not having to turn the volume back up is the biggest advantage of a mute switch.
What's crazy is being locked out of using a capability of your $500 to $800 computer because someone in Cupertino decides that's how it should function now. And they won't let you put that feature back in to suit yourself and only yourself.
Apple shouldn't sell iPads. They should lease them. Because you really don't own it. Apple does.
You can't mute the sounds if it's asleep.
The iPad is laying on my nightstand and an email bong goes off as I'm drifting off to sleep. I have to wake it up, enter the passcode and then press the volume down button for 2 seconds. I would rather have the option in settings.
So happy about this, not because it will bring back the mute button, but because now I should be able to hold down the volume down button without mute clicking over.
I can't tell you how many times i've had the iPad sitting on its side when it bumps the volume key button. And before I could adjust it the iPad was muted.
Also consistency between iPad & iPhone is key to Apple's game right now. It would be countercultural to have the same button do different things.
I can't tell you how many times i've had the iPad sitting on its side when it bumps the volume key button. And before I could adjust it the iPad was muted.
Also consistency between iPad & iPhone is key to Apple's game right now. It would be countercultural to have the same button do different things.
I think you nailed the importance here. If you realize your iPhone/iPad is making noise in exactly the wrong place, you want to mute it immediately, and in many cases without pulling it out if it's in a bag/pocket. Orientation lock just isn't time-sensitive in the same way (and holding the volume button is a poor mute substitute, as you then have to readjust the volume to exactly where you want it every time you want to "unmute").
I like that they are creative with the use of buttons and switches, however I wish they would add new purposes as "options" as opposed to enfoucing it's use. Apple understands how to make a menu for operations, why not put in an option for the user to select?
Past Examples.
Past Examples.
- Center Button on iPod 5th generation, you used to be able to Push and Hold to shut off the Backlighting. Before they Took this away, I would set all my iPods to keep backlight on always, and i would disable it when I wanted to (personal prefrence). They simply took this feature away, and replaced it with NOTHING!
- iOS Software 4.x , Double click home button to get music controls. Now you need to do that, and swipe left to access controls. A HUGE disadvantage when you are driving and want to change songs (granted the old style works on the lock screen).
Me too. I vote for a software option to use the button for different things, orientation lock, mute, colour reverse, wi-fi off, whatever.
Exactly. They won't permit us to modify our own computers, but they can do it on a whim. This new attitude has turned me off Apple after 15+ years on the platform, since I was a kid.
To those who think it's petty to complain about the function of a little switch, it's not about the switch. It's the principle. I own the machine. I should control what it does, and how and why.
That is how I feel about it as well. A lot of people who don't visit these forums will think that their iPad is broken and be bringing it to the apple store or calling customer service. They should leave it defaulted as an orientation lock and give users who choose the option to make it a mute button in the settings.