iPhone with LED Indicator?

[DrJames]

What do you think??

 

[maxjohnson2]

It would be nice, but not likely at this age. Since they don't have that, they need to include always on display because both LG and Samsung have that for awhile now. (And no, battery life is not a problem.)

 

[Shadowbech]

It would be nice, but not likely at this age. Since they don't have that, they need to include always on display because both LG and Samsung have that for awhile now. (And no, battery life is not a problem.)

I'm sure they will if the iPhone 8 will have the Always On feature if it's OLED.

 

[eyoungren]

No they won't.

But I think they should.

What will likely happen is that there will be an active lit notification area on the new phones with AMOLED screens. AMOLED screens allow you to light individual pixels instead of the whole display.

BTW. Talked to death. And MacRumors is divided.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/notification-led.2039922/
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...om-schedule-for-missed-text-messages.2034042/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/who-thinks-apple-will-add-notification-light.2028503/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/iphone-7-notification-light.1991693/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/how-would-iphone-be-impacted-by-adding-led-light.1975911/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/iphone-6-flashing-home-button-mod.1952457/
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...ront-facing-multicolor-led-indicator.1401519/
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...use-for-notification-of-urgent-items.1454507/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/no-front-facing-led-notification-light.1789896/

Note that I only posted thread titles that seemed to center around the topic and within the first 10 pages of a search.

 

[Newtons Apple]

This has been brought up many times.

I do not understand why Apple is stubborn on an notification LED but they are.

I see no chance they ever will.

Some do NOT want the LED because it will interfere with them sleeping! I am sure Apple would have settings to turn it off and I tend to sleep with my eyes shut!

Anyway, it is not going to happen.

 

[eyoungren]

This has been brought up many times.

Oh God, many, MANY, MANY times!

 

[44267547]

What do you think??

Sadly no. But Those were my Blackberry days. Although, I have adjusted fine without it.

 

[theshoehorn]

No thank you. I don't need yet another device with a constant light annoying me.

 

[Conutz]

No thank you. I don't need yet another device with a constant light annoying me.

Agreed. My Blackberry became too invasive, the nagging LED constantly begging for attention. In my view, emails, texts or any other type of written communication do not need immediate action, i.e. they're not real-time. If someone needs an urgent response/chat, then can ring me. That's why my email accounts on all devices are pull only - I'll check them when I'm good & ready.

Also, there's no way to differentiate between notifications: what's urgent or just spam? Irrespective, you've just gotta "silence" that LED. I like to live my life on my terms...

 

[Newtons Apple]

Agreed. My Blackberry became too invasive, the nagging LED constantly begging for attention. In my view, emails, texts or any other type of written communication do not need immediate action, i.e. they're not real-time. If someone needs an urgent response/chat, then can ring me. That's why my email accounts on all devices are pull only - I'll check them when I'm good & ready.

Also, there's no way to differentiate between notifications: what's urgent or just spam? Irrespective, you've just gotta "silence" that LED. I like to live my life on my terms...

You always have the option of turning it off. Some of us found it handy but then this has been argued over and over again. Like I said, no worries as it will not happen.

 

[44267547]

Agreed. My Blackberry became too invasive, the nagging LED constantly begging for attention.

You do realize Blackberry's LED notification light could be disabled.

1. Go to your RingTone Profile setting (the one where you change what kind of ring/vibrate that you want)
2. Scroll down and click on Advanced.
3. Click into your Ringtone Profile.
4. Click on "Level 1 Messages"
5. Click on "Repeat Notification" and change it from "LED Flashing" to "none"

 

[darksithpro]

Maybe they can illuminate the Apple logo in the back. Flashing white Apple logo=You've got mail/text.

 

[Gathomblipoob]

Maybe they can illuminate the Apple logo in the back. Flashing white Apple logo=You've got mail/text.

And a dead battery. That's a pretty big LED indicator.

 

[eyoungren]

Also, there's no way to differentiate between notifications: what's urgent or just spam?

I will lay out a scenario for you that I have mentioned many times as well as the usual counterpoints.

First off, I work in a two story building at the back of the top floor. The nature of my job requires that I get up from my desk briefly but frequently to deliver ad proofs to the reps at the front of the building or to go downstairs to speak with circulation.

Each trip puts me out of visual range and auditory range of my device - in particular if I use the restroom.

So, if a notification comes in I have no way of telling because I neither hear my device nor see the screen light up.

An LED would be useful in these situations. I would know if a notifcation had arrived - or not.

The counterpoints are usually "Get an Apple watch," "Take your phone with you," "Turning the screen on to check only takes a moment," "Sounds like the iPhone is not for you" and your point about notifications not necessarily needing immediate action.

Since I get up so much I don't want to stop and grab my phone (which is sitting in a business card holder right under my primary display) EVERY time. I don't want to sit with it in my pocket because I have a designated place for it.

I am not interested in the Apple watch.

And yes, checking the screen only takes a small amount of time. But why should I have to? By the time I an done paying for this phone I will have spent around ~$900. But it can't tell me if I got a notification unless I turn the screen on?

I own an iPhone because, despite the lack of LED, there are a few other things that attract me to it.

Lastly, as far as knowing whether the notification is spam or doesn't need immediate action…well I have to say that's individual.

If I get a text message from my son or wife that something bad has happened I wouldn't necessarily deem that as something that can wait until later to be responded to. Ah, but they'll call you would say, because it's urgent. And if I miss that while I'm away?

But more to my point, there are specific instances where I am expecting something from someone. Whatever that thing is both the sender and I know what the subject is and the sender knows I am waiting to be notified. In this case, I only need to know that I got a notication - because the only notification I am expecting is that one.

Now that's individual to me. But I don't get so many notifications that this scenario I just gave you has been lost is a sea of garbage notifications. It's happened plenty of times in the past.

Finally…ALL calls, ALL text messages and ALL emails from my wife are considered urgent and demand immediate attention. Unless I have a good excuse - like being away from my desk when they happened. It'd be nice to know just by looking if a notification had happened while I wasn't there.

 

[theshoehorn]

I will lay out a scenario for you that I have mentioned many times as well as the usual counterpoints.

First off, I work in a two story building at the back of the top floor. The nature of my job requires that I get up from my desk briefly but frequently to deliver ad proofs to the reps at the front of the building or to go downstairs to speak with circulation.

Each trip puts me out of visual range and auditory range of my device - in particular if I use the restroom.

So, if a notification comes in I have no way of telling because I neither hear my device nor see the screen light up.

An LED would be useful in these situations. I would know if a notifcation had arrived - or not.

The counterpoints are usually "Get an Apple watch," "Take your phone with you," "Turning the screen on to check only takes a moment," "Sounds like the iPhone is not for you" and your point about notifications not necessarily needing immediate action.

Since I get up so much I don't want to stop and grab my phone (which is sitting in a business card holder right under my primary display) EVERY time. I don't want to sit with it in my pocket because I have a designated place for it.

I am not interested in the Apple watch.

And yes, checking the screen only takes a small amount of time. But why should I have to? By the time I an done paying for this phone I will have spent around ~$900. But it can't tell me if I got a notification unless I turn the screen on?

I own an iPhone because, despite the lack of LED, there are a few other things that attract me to it.

Lastly, as far as knowing whether the notification is spam or doesn't need immediate action…well I have to say that's individual.

If I get a text message from my son or wife that something bad has happened I wouldn't necessarily deem that as something that can wait until later to be responded to. Ah, but they'll call you would say, because it's urgent. And if I miss that while I'm away?

But more to my point, there are specific instances where I am expecting something from someone. Whatever that thing is both the sender and I know what the subject is and the sender knows I am waiting to be notified. In this case, I only need to know that I got a notication - because the only notification I am expecting is that one.

Now that's individual to me. But I don't get so many notifications that this scenario I just gave you has been lost is a sea of garbage notifications. It's happened plenty of times in the past.

Finally…ALL calls, ALL text messages and ALL emails from my wife are considered urgent and demand immediate attention. Unless I have a good excuse - like being away from my desk when they happened. It'd be nice to know just by looking if a notification had happened while I wasn't there.

When you sit back down you could press the home button to light the display? That's what I do even though I have a Watch... Not that hard...

 

[Newtons Apple]

When you sit back down you could press the home button to light the display? That's what I do even though I have a Watch... Not that hard...

You do not get it. With a multicolored LED notification system you never have to push your home button to see if you missed something. Not that hard.

 

[eyoungren]

When you sit back down you could press the home button to light the display? That's what I do even though I have a Watch... Not that hard...

Of course it isn't.

But again I ask. Why should I have to? Just because it's 'not that hard' doesn't mean I should have to.

For the record though, I do press the power button to check, because right now the people who don't want an LED have already won. My arguments for an LED don't mean anything at all because Apple disagrees with me.
[doublepost=1493759562][/doublepost]

You do not get it. With a multicolored LED notification system you never have to push your home button to see if you missed something. Not that hard.

Exactly!

You can see it from across the room.

 

[Le Big Mac]

There's no doubt some sort of always on visual alert could be useful to at least some people sometimes.

But a blackberry-style LED seems much less likely than an on-screen display of some sort that's always on (or configurable as desired).

 

[dontwalkhand]

Nope. You do have the camera flash though. You can set that to go off like an LED.

A notifications indicator? Why that's what the Apple Watch is for. It has a red dot at the top of the watch face which is like an LED

 

[eyoungren]

Nope. You do have the camera flash though. You can set that to go off like an LED.

A notifications indicator? Why that's what the Apple Watch is for. It has a red dot at the top of the watch face which is like an LED

LOL!!!!

Hitting most of the regular talking points, eh!

Yes, the LED on the back. Except some people are not normal (such as myself) and consider that placing their phone face down can risk scratching the glass. I'd rather scratch the back of the housing if anything is going to scratch. So, my phone always gets laid down on the back.

Guess how effective that camera flash LED is when the phone is lying on it's back?

And, yes, the old saw. Get an Apple watch. Some people (such as myself) don't want an Apple watch. Why do I need to buy a second expensive device to tell me that my first expensive device just got a notifcation?!

How very Apple that is!

 

[DUIduckSAUCE]

They probably won't. But it would be great if they did.

 

[AZhappyjack]

Of course it isn't.

But again I ask. Why should I have to? Just because it's 'not that hard' doesn't mean I should have to.

For the record though, I do press the power button to check, because right now the people who don't want an LED have already won. My arguments for an LED don't mean anything at all because Apple disagrees with me.
[doublepost=1493759562][/doublepost]
Exactly!

You can see it from across the room.

I think BlackBerry still makes a device for that...

 

[eyoungren]

I think BlackBerry still makes a device for that...

Yeah, but I like other things about the iPhone.

Think I mentioned that already.

So far no one's got a new counterpoint I haven't mentioned.

 

[AZhappyjack]

Yeah, but I like other things about the iPhone.

Think I mentioned that already.

So far no one's got a new counterpoint I haven't mentioned.

... and no one has any new and compelling reasons to add it... walking away from this land mine of a thread...

 

[Conutz]

You always have the option of turning it off. Some of us found it handy but then this has been argued over and over again. Like I said, no worries as it will not happen.

Not arguing, just my perspective. I see how it can work for you guys.

You do realize Blackberry's LED notification light could be disabled.

1. Go to your RingTone Profile setting (the one where you change what kind of ring/vibrate that you want)
2. Scroll down and click on Advanced.
3. Click into your Ringtone Profile.
4. Click on "Level 1 Messages"
5. Click on "Repeat Notification" and change it from "LED Flashing" to "none"

Thanks, I think I did eventually disable it...I've actually got two sitting in my drawer, but not going to check them!

I will lay out a scenario for you that I have mentioned many times as well as the usual counterpoints.

First off, I work in a two story building at the back of the top floor. The nature of my job requires that I get up from my desk briefly but frequently to deliver ad proofs to the reps at the front of the building or to go downstairs to speak with circulation.

Each trip puts me out of visual range and auditory range of my device - in particular if I use the restroom.

So, if a notification comes in I have no way of telling because I neither hear my device nor see the screen light up.

An LED would be useful in these situations. I would know if a notifcation had arrived - or not.

I understand your use case and need.

The counterpoints are usually "Get an Apple watch," "Take your phone with you," "Turning the screen on to check only takes a moment," "Sounds like the iPhone is not for you" and your point about notifications not necessarily needing immediate action.

Since I get up so much I don't want to stop and grab my phone (which is sitting in a business card holder right under my primary display) EVERY time. I don't want to sit with it in my pocket because I have a designated place for it.

I am not interested in the Apple watch.

And yes, checking the screen only takes a small amount of time. But why should I have to? By the time I an done paying for this phone I will have spent around ~$900. But it can't tell me if I got a notification unless I turn the screen on?

I own an iPhone because, despite the lack of LED, there are a few other things that attract me to it.

I wouldn't argue that the Watch is an alternative, it also has range limitations, etc. Besides which, it would be an expensive solution to the problem.

Lastly, as far as knowing whether the notification is spam or doesn't need immediate action…well I have to say that's individual.

If I get a text message from my son or wife that something bad has happened I wouldn't necessarily deem that as something that can wait until later to be responded to. Ah, but they'll call you would say, because it's urgent. And if I miss that while I'm away?

But more to my point, there are specific instances where I am expecting something from someone. Whatever that thing is both the sender and I know what the subject is and the sender knows I am waiting to be notified. In this case, I only need to know that I got a notication - because the only notification I am expecting is that one.

Now that's individual to me. But I don't get so many notifications that this scenario I just gave you has been lost is a sea of garbage notifications. It's happened plenty of times in the past.

For sure, agreed, we all have our ways. I suppose that's what makes it so difficult to come up with a popular device...which says a quite a bit about iPhone, the Blackberry in its day, etc.

Finally…ALL calls, ALL text messages and ALL emails from my wife are considered urgent and demand immediate attention. Unless I have a good excuse - like being away from my desk when they happened. It'd be nice to know just by looking if a notification had happened while I wasn't there.

A final couple of points. From what I've read, the whole rationale behind the iPhone was that the display was the canvas and that software could be modified to produce a virtually infinite number of displays and user interfaces, including buttons. A fixed button (or LED) is permanent and thus inflexible in comparison. So, possibly the upcoming OLED display which will have "always on" capability may just come to your rescue: no need to raise or press home, your LED-like notification will be there to see. It would likely be something small like the unread bubble on Messages though...