iPhone Push Notification Settings and Screenshots

[w00master]

So let me get this straight. It's better to complain after 3.0 has been finalized and nothing can be changed than to complain so it can fixed before 3.0 is released?



You're missing the point. People who have a lot of friends on IM are going to either:
-be getting constant pop-ups through the day even when you're trying to do something
-get beeps everytime you're listening to a song
-sift through eleven screens of apps to find a badge above the icon

This is just one app. The truth is that none of these are the best answer. The best solution is to have one place to check all these things with some minor indication to let you know. Maybe an app icon with a badge that can live on your home screen to alert you you of messages or a pull down. It's not a coincidence that Palm and Google have taken a similar approach to solving this problem.

VERY well said. I'll even bring up something that happens RIGHT now on the current iPhone OS. This scenario (I'm sure you've all experienced this):

1. You get a phone call (or you give someone a call).
2. During the conversation, you receive a SMS text msg.
3. You say goodbye, removing your ear from the handset to hit "End Call"
4. Guess what, you can't b/c the d*mn popup is there. You have to hit "Close" first, THEN hit "End Call."

It's these little tiny things that drive me up the wall.

Again, I want to know what "brilliant" person thought it was a great idea to use the pop-up metaphor on the phone.

w00master

 

[ruinfx]

I am pretty sure that it will use apple's server. At least that's how the original presentation (for the september release) seemed to be showing it.

You are correct. No extra cost for developers.

my understanding is the push notifications get generated and sent to apples push notification server by web servers run by the developer. apple left that part out of its little diagram in the original presentation.

this article from tuaw seems to back that up.

 

[Axl Rose]

When your in an app and you get a notification, they should have that bar at the top of the screen come down,the one that is green when your on a phone call.

 

[str1f3]

VERY well said. I'll even bring up something that happens RIGHT now on the current iPhone OS. This scenario (I'm sure you've all experienced this):

1. You get a phone call (or you give someone a call).
2. During the conversation, you receive a SMS text msg.
3. You say goodbye, removing your ear from the handset to hit "End Call"
4. Guess what, you can't b/c the d*mn popup is there. You have to hit "Close" first, THEN hit "End Call."

It's these little tiny things that drive me up the wall.

Again, I want to know what "brilliant" person thought it was a great idea to use the pop-up metaphor on the phone.

w00master

LOL! I've had the same thing happen. It seems like Apple chose to plop something into the OS rather than redesigning it. It wreaks of sloppiness. I still can't believe that they couldn't see from last year that the PNS would be heavily used considering there is no multi-tasking.

 

[Unspoken Demise]

1. You get a phone call (or you give someone a call).
2. During the conversation, you receive a SMS text msg.
3. You say goodbye, removing your ear from the handset to hit "End Call"
4. Guess what, you can't b/c the d*mn popup is there. You have to hit "Close" first, THEN hit "End Call."

OH. MY. GOODNESS! That is sooo annoying. You are so right. I did that so often, and then the person would be like, "are you still there" right before I finally press 'end' only for them to think I hung up on them.

 

[w00master]

LOL! I've had the same thing happen. It seems like Apple chose to plop something into the OS rather than redesigning it. It wreaks of sloppiness. I still can't believe that they couldn't see from last year that the PNS would be heavily used considering there is no multi-tasking.

OH. MY. GOODNESS! That is sooo annoying. You are so right. I did that so often, and then the person would be like, "are you still there" right before I finally press 'end' only for them to think I hung up on them.

It's beyond sloppy. I'm still amazed that this is Apple we're talking about. These pop-up notifications are absolutely atrocious. This is only going to get worse. I truly hope they fix this and revamp the notification system soon.

w00master

 

[Eso]

This is only going to get worse. I truly hope they fix this and revamp the notification system soon.

w00master

Sorry, but PNS just reinforces this type of notification system. Earliest you are going to see it is 14 months when 4.0 is released.

P.S. Is anyone who is using this please post what the badge icon on the app indicates? And don't say a new alert or a new story because there are going to be new stories everytime you open the app up, Push alerts or not.

 

[anjinha]

I thought Push notifications had a special sound and did not use the SMS sound. Can someone clarify this?

It does have a different sound.

Also, we don't know if the sound will be the same for all apps that use Push, maybe developers can put their own sounds.

 

[QCassidy352]

This has happened to me multiple times and is extremely embarrassing. I can't believe this feature has been overlooked for so long.

Make it happen Apple!

WOW...this should be a whole new thread with stories from this one issue.

I've got about 5 borderline horrifying tales of this problem

One includes my boss hovering over my desk with my phone innocently sitting in my dock, when I get a "come over tonight?" text from my GF.

If you really get that many problematic texts, then first off, good for you.

Second, there's a way around this, albeit an imperfect one:
Settings/general/passcode lock/Show SMS Preview (set to "off").

If you do this, all you'll see is the name of the sender and "text message."

This is imperfect for two reasons. First, you have to turn on the passcode feature to enable this. Why one should be tied to the other I don't know, but that's the way it is (set "auto lock" to "never" and "require passcode" to "After 4 hours" and it won't be too much of an issue...) Second, it will only hide the text of the SMS if your screen is locked, so if you gave your iphone to someone to play with and the SMS shows up while the screen is unlocked, you're SOL.

Could be better, but it's a start.

 

[///M5]

Thank goodness for your worth while contribution. How is this an "epic fail" as you internet hipsters like to call it.

One just can't argue with Apple fanboys!

So your saying that this Push Notification crap is better than background processing?

Dude, enough with this "epic fail" douchebag lingo.. it's not 2005 anymore.

Background processing has its place, and Apple will support it in due time.. But centralized push notification is highly innovative and generally welcomed step forward for the platform.

Highly innovative? How so? It's just a workaround for the limited ram installed in the iPhone, Apple could've put more ram in the 3G, but oh wait, that would raise the cost and reduce profit. Typical Apple.

I'm not against apple or anything, I actually paid more than $15K+ on Apple products. It's just all the defending going on here is really irritating.

Well, at least we agree that the BG processing has its place.

 

[Unspoken Demise]

One just can't argue with Apple fanboys!

So your saying that this Push Notification crap is better than background processing?

No, I'm not saying that. And i'm not an Apple fan boy. I have an iPod that is 3years old and thats about it. So don't make assumptions. Its not an 'epic fail' as you say for making a step forward.

But obviously, there is no arguing with someone has 1337 as yourself, you big internet hot shot you.

 

[Locoboof]

To be honest I can't complain....I've been buying cell phones since 1995 and there has never been a phone that I've owned that said "ok here is a firmware upgrade to give you more features" usualy it's u buy a phone that's it.....and when it sucks you buy another......so for that I thank you apple and whatever they do I'm gratefull and just say thanks cause I remember the old days

 

[w00master]

Sorry, but PNS just reinforces this type of notification system. Earliest you are going to see it is 14 months when 4.0 is released.

P.S. Is anyone who is using this please post what the badge icon on the app indicates? And don't say a new alert or a new story because there are going to be new stories everytime you open the app up, Push alerts or not.

Oh, I definitely do not believe that Apple would revamp this until iPhone OS 4.0, and that's the soonest. 3.0 is pretty much a done deal, and nothing in the screenshots, reports, etc. have indicated that Apple is changing anything with the notification system.

Shame, b/c I still contend that this is the weakest UI area for the iPhone.

w00master

 

[themoonisdown09]

I just have to sit back and laugh at all the complaints. The whole point of push notifications is to alert the user, right?

If you don't want a popup on every single application, don't enable it for all. Only enable popups for the most important applications. For the rest, enable badges and/or sounds. If you're concerned about hearing a sound every 5 seconds, turn those off.

I'm sure that as time goes by, Apple will tweak the push notification interface and maybe add more options (such as a physical notification light on the phone somewhere). Until everyone can actually use this feature, there's no need for complaining yet.

 

[Donz0r]

Just an idea, but if you wanted us to believe this, you probably shouldn't have then posted an image of the Pre with the alerts covering up buttons on the screen.

The alerts aren't 'covering up' anything. The application that the user is currently using has shrunk but IT IS STILL USABLE! Also, what is shown is the list of current pending notifications that need to be addressed - which can be called up/hidden by the user.

This isn't about you 'believing' anything. If I get an SMS or (soon) a calendar appointment, upcoming task, incoming AP news story, etc. while I'm on a call, I'll have to close out of all those notifications before I can switch lines to answer the incoming call, or end the current call, or put the phone on speaker phone.
"I can't hear you, let me put you on speaker - oh wait I have a whole bunch of pop ups to close first!", and once I close them I won't be able to be reminded of what they say!! This is insane. So I have an upcoming appointment - I'd like to be reminded about that! but if I'm in the middle of something (like... a PHONE CALL or an e-mail or whatever) I need to stop what I'm doing and read the pop up that comes up and covers up what I'm doing before I can continue. I can 'close' the pop up (which is a pain in the ass) but then afaik there's no way to get it back or 'snooze' it so that I can read it later! The Pre and G1 have a 'list of notifications' that I can look at when I feel like it. The iPhone uses pop-ups!! Pop-ups are an abosolutely horrible UI element, especially when the pop-up requires your full attention and you can't do anything else while its there!!!

Whereas on the Pre the phone still behaves normally, the apps are still usable, while the notifications are being displayed.

Take off your fanboy blindfold and open up your eyes, the iPhone notification system is incredibly inferior to the Pre and G1 and is the biggest UI downfall of the device. I love apple just as much as the next guy on here and plan on upgrading my 3G to a new iPhone as will as my macbook to a unibody this summer, but I cannot believe that this notification system was designed by Apple. It's an integral part of the iPhone UI and it's absolutely horrible.

Here's a great picture:
The user can see a recent e-mail he received. Also, he can control the music that's playing. All while switching between simultaneously running applications (but that's a whole separate thread)

Apple's solution? How about a pop up that covers your screen and stops you from doing whatever you want to do when you get an e-mail or want to pause the music.


When you first receive a notification, it pops up from the bottom like this. But the APP IS STILL USABLE!

 

[Unspoken Demise]

I just have to sit back and laugh at all the complaints. The whole point of push notifications is to alert the user, right?

If you don't want a popup on every single application, don't enable it for all. Only enable popups for the most important applications. For the rest, enable badges and/or sounds. If you're concerned about hearing a sound every 5 seconds, turn those off.

I'm sure that as time goes by, Apple will tweak the push notification interface and maybe add more options. Until everyone can actually use this feature, no one will really know.

Too logical. This is MacRumors. There is always something to complain about.

 

[dizzy13]

View attachment 171807

Can someone please explain what the significance of the badge icon for this app is?

There are going to be new articles every time you open the app; the badge icon will not distinguish between articles you have read or not. What action clears the badge icon, just opening the app? Pop-up alerts aren't saved so once you unlock the screen it's gone, even in the event there were multiple alerts on the lock screen (meaning the content of none of them are displayed, just that they were received). It seems like all it does is show you there is new content - but seeing as this is a news app, isn't that a given?

It just shows the on the icon 1 after a push alert to the phone. Once you open the app it goes away. I assume (hope) that each app lets you setup what you want pushed. Like for the AP it might be top breaking news alerts only.

 

[hitekalex]

Highly innovative? How so? It's just a workaround for the limited ram installed in the iPhone, Apple could've put more ram in the 3G, but oh wait, that would raise the cost and reduce profit. Typical Apple.

I don't think you understand the basic difference between 'Push Notifications' and 'background tasking'. The two aren't mutually exclusive, and both have benefits for different scenarios.

The way Apple has implemented notifications is innovative and highly efficient because of its centralized architecture. Instead of every single app keeping open sockets with their individual servers, iPhone only needs a single open socket with an Apple notification server. This is much smarter way of using both battery life and the processing/memory resources. And that's what sets apart Apple's implementation from the rest.

Obviously, Push Notifications don't help apps that need to be constantly running in background, for example Pandora player or AOL radio. So that's still a missing piece that I believe will be coming eventually.

But for majority of apps, Push Notifications are perfectly fine. For example, if I want real time weather alerts from say WeatherBug - there is no reason for the whole app to be running in the background 24x7 burning resources! That's WinMo implementation for you, but Apple took more intelligent approach.

Hope it's clear enough for you.

 

[AiralynRose]

Confirmed. You can hit the lock button and the next time you slide it will unlock the phone and not open the app.

(Someone might have already said this, but i'm not going to go and read 3 pages of posts to find out.)

 

[str1f3]

I just have to sit back and laugh at all the complaints. The whole point of push notifications is to alert the user, right?

If you don't want a popup on every single application, don't enable it for all. Only enable popups for the most important applications. For the rest, enable badges and/or sounds. If you're concerned about hearing a sound every 5 seconds, turn those off.

I'm sure that as time goes by, Apple will tweak the push notification interface and maybe add more options (such as a physical notification light on the phone somewhere). Until everyone can actually use this feature, there's no need for complaining yet.

Because there is a right way to do something and a wrong way. There's a difference between an alert and something taking over your screen. One necessary push app alone can be a pain in the ass the way it is currently constructed.

 

[w00master]

I just have to sit back and laugh at all the complaints. The whole point of push notifications is to alert the user, right?

If you don't want a popup on every single application, don't enable it for all. Only enable popups for the most important applications. For the rest, enable badges and/or sounds. If you're concerned about hearing a sound every 5 seconds, turn those off.

I'm sure that as time goes by, Apple will tweak the push notification interface and maybe add more options (such as a physical notification light on the phone somewhere). Until everyone can actually use this feature, there's no need for complaining yet.

I guess you didn't see what I wrote previously:

I'll even bring up something that happens RIGHT now on the current iPhone OS. This scenario (I'm sure you've all experienced this):

1. You get a phone call (or you give someone a call).
2. During the conversation, you receive a SMS text msg.
3. You say goodbye, removing your ear from the handset to hit "End Call"
4. Guess what, you can't b/c the d*mn popup is there. You have to hit "Close" first, THEN hit "End Call."

It's these little tiny things that drive me up the wall.

Again, I want to know what "brilliant" person thought it was a great idea to use the pop-up metaphor on the phone.

I do want to be clear though... I'm looking forward (overall) to Push Notifications, which should solve 99% of my needs. It's the UI notification implementation that needs to be fixed. It's absolutely horrid.

So, I ask you... honestly, do you REALLY think pop-ups are a good idea as notifications? Seriously? Look above again and read through my scenario. Honestly, do you want to go through that, even w/o Push Notifications?

w00master

 

[vvebsta]

What's wrong with the badges, then? Why can't you use those?

Enabling just the badge notifications is only useful if your looking at the home screen. So you have to check the home screen constantly. This doesn't help at all if your in the middle of surfing the web, writing and email, checking your calendar...or pretty much anything else except staring at the home screen.

Even basic generic cell phones have badges usually in the top right corner of the screen that tells you of missed calls, new emails, text messages ect to alert you no matter what app your in.

Badges with sounds is nice if every app has a custom sound notification, but it still doesn't tell you specifics. Like if your IM app beeps, you don't know who is IMing you.

 

[tejaykay]

I beg to differ. Text messaging costs are the most ridiculous thing in the industry. A markup of over 4000% (not kidding) is ludicrous.

Sending SMS costs four times more than receiving data from Hubble

 

[///M5]

No, I'm not saying that. And i'm not an Apple fan boy. I have an iPod that is 3years old and thats about it. So don't make assumptions. Its not an 'epic fail' as you say for making a step forward.

But obviously, there is no arguing with someone has 1337 as yourself, you big internet hot shot you.

Huh? What's with you and the internet thingy?

I'm too lazy to look up 1337 or whatever that is. Also, fwiw, I dunno what epic means either, read here on MR and used it.

 

[///M5]

I don't think you understand the basic difference between 'Push Notifications' and 'background tasking'. The two aren't mutually exclusive, and both have benefits for different scenarios.

The way Apple has implemented notifications is innovative and highly efficient because of its centralized architecture. Instead of every single app keeping open sockets with their individual servers, iPhone only needs a single open socket with an Apple notification server. This is much smarter way of using both battery life and the processing/memory resources. And that's what sets apart Apple's implementation from the rest.

Obviously, Push Notifications don't help apps that need to be constantly running in background, for example Pandora player or AOL radio. So that's still a missing piece that I believe will be coming eventually.

But for majority of apps, Push Notifications are perfectly fine. For example, if I want real time weather alerts from say WeatherBug - there is no reason for the whole app to be running in the background 24x7 burning resources! That's WinMo implementation for you, but Apple took more intelligent approach.

Hope it's clear enough for you.

Thank you for the comprehensive explanation. I'm absolutely aware of the push notification service.

One question, had the iPhone had 256MB of RAM, would Apple still develop this service instead of background tasking?