I like how it summarizes all you notifications in one instead of digging through app pages or folders to find them. And instead of clicking on the notification number (which can be pretty challenging for big fingers), you can simply drag down with your finger in the home page and the notification menu would come down. Flick up to make it go away. That way, notifications will be intrusive only if you want them to.
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Possible iOS Notifications System
- Thread starter Bendy Walker
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Yeah - trying to press the icon in the status bar would be difficult. That's why I decided not to have that feature in my design.
The slide down notification pane you mention is an Android feature, however. What I am proposing here is to slide to the right (where Spotlight Search is currently located). Whilst the Android implementation of a notification system is good, it also requires a big, unwieldy status bar so that users with fat fingers can actually drag it down. I don't think Apple will implement something like for two reasons: first, they don't want to be seen as copycats, and second, they like their UI to be as clean, simple and clutterfree as possible.
Don't mess with Spotlight
I'm guessing you don't use Spotlight that much. That 'waste of space' holds valuable search query results which can be revisited multiple times. It's a much quicker shortcut that digging into the various apps to search for contacts, email messages, etc. I regularly use it for launching apps ;-) So much quicker than swiping screens and/or diving into folders... and in response to those who think Spotlight is redundant because they don't use it, fair enough, but I love it, so leave it alone
That said, your proposed notification system is neat. A separate homescreen (maybe combined with Spotlight?) is definitely between that pulling down a pane from the status bar. Eek.
The current notification system is seriously flawed. It may have worked in 2007 (for the odd alarm alert or SMS message) but it's completely inadequate for usage patterns of 2011. Given the popularity of the iphone (who isn't developing an app for it?) and the late introduction of the push notification system (Jun 2009), I'm surprised Apple was still blindsided and didn't overhaul the notification system earlier. Let's hope, no pray, a correction is coming soon.
I'm guessing you don't use Spotlight that much. That 'waste of space' holds valuable search query results which can be revisited multiple times. It's a much quicker shortcut that digging into the various apps to search for contacts, email messages, etc. I regularly use it for launching apps ;-) So much quicker than swiping screens and/or diving into folders... and in response to those who think Spotlight is redundant because they don't use it, fair enough, but I love it, so leave it alone
That said, your proposed notification system is neat. A separate homescreen (maybe combined with Spotlight?) is definitely between that pulling down a pane from the status bar. Eek.
The current notification system is seriously flawed. It may have worked in 2007 (for the odd alarm alert or SMS message) but it's completely inadequate for usage patterns of 2011. Given the popularity of the iphone (who isn't developing an app for it?) and the late introduction of the push notification system (Jun 2009), I'm surprised Apple was still blindsided and didn't overhaul the notification system earlier. Let's hope, no pray, a correction is coming soon.
I could see your implementation working. I made my own iOS Notification Concept because I'm pretty fed up with the obtrusive nature of the current system.
The problem I have with adding more to the status bar is that it's already full...adding another icon is going to cause everything to run together and I really don't want to lose any of the icons already there (except maybe the carrier name)
So, good thought, but needs more depth
So, good thought, but needs more depth
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hugo7 said:I'm guessing you don't use Spotlight that much. That 'waste of space' holds valuable search query results which can be revisited multiple times. It's a much quicker shortcut that digging into the various apps to search for contacts, email messages, etc. I regularly use it for launching apps ;-) So much quicker than swiping screens and/or diving into folders... and in response to those who think Spotlight is redundant because they don't use it, fair enough, but I love it, so leave it alone
I use Spotlight quite a lot actually. When I said it was a waste of space, I meant the amount of space it takes up on the screen. If you look at my proposed design, the full Spotlight search feature is available by swiping to the right and then tapping the search bar. When not in use, the notifications are displayed where the search results would be. My design doesn't really cause any loss in functionality in iOS, unless you count an extra tap on the search bar as loss of functionality.
seajay96 said:
Well you've answered your own question there. The carrier name could be shortened, or simply not displayed. It doesn't really serve a purpose (that I'm aware of) other than the obvious: to show you which carrier you're connected to. Other than that, I guess the status bar is a little crowded, but I'm sure Apple could always resize/redesign certain icons to fit another one on there.
I'm kind of thinking like the thread starter. Maybe a drop down bar right under the status bar telling you what notification you got, upon swiping, a drop down box will appear with teh message in it. Sounds Appley to me.
that's very nice. but you missed one thing; I think it'll be better if each of the notifications has the icon of the App to the right, just like you put the facebook and the twitter icons, for the email it should be the Mail icon (or even if you want to choose your own email app), for the missed calls the Phone icon, text messages the Messages icon, etc... you got the drill....
but, I really do hope that Apple does revamp their notification system.
While good, your concept now requires the user to click on the search bar to bring up the keyboard. In the current state, there is no clicking necessary and you can just start typing. However, I see what you all mean about this feature not even being used by many.
I believe the android system is the best notification system, but Apple can't be a copy cat. So, here's my concept using MS-Paint. If someone has a good vision for the notification area, feel free to add to my image (or create a new one from scratch).
Excellent
Flippin amazing Apple ignores something as useful as this. But then again they do love to control things. By leaving this out it's typical Apple. Incomplete.
Just like ignoring their laptops & leaving out 3G when it's been part of Windows laptops for years.
Actually, that's a really good idea. It's very Apple like and makes good use of the screen real estate when pulling up the multitasking bar. Love it! In fact, I may submit that to Apple's iPhone feedback page.While good, your concept now requires the user to click on the search bar to bring up the keyboard. In the current state, there is no clicking necessary and you can just start typing. However, I see what you all mean about this feature not even being used by many.
I believe the android system is the best notification system, but Apple can't be a copy cat. So, here's my concept using MS-Paint. If someone has a good vision for the notification area, feel free to add to my image (or create a new one from scratch).
[EDIT] Submitted given you credit and pointing to the thread.
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Thanks a lot. I'm sure Apple has something already planned, but you never know I guess.
what if you're in an app? do you have to exit to access notifications?
also, how do you propose the popups be replaced to be more unobtrusive?
these aren't criticisms, just constructive questions that hopefully help you flesh out this concept. Its a good idea but, obviously since you just came up with it today, still has room for improvement
love the ideas being thrown around here guys! All of them are very good. With the WebOS guy coming to Apple, I kinda envisioned them doing it like WebOS only it would pop in from the top instead of the bottom. Yes, this would be extremely similar to WebOS but Jobs would sell it by saying it was "done right" this time. I'm sure they would add some tweaks to how it would work or look but the basic concept would be the same.
All of them are very good. With the WebOS guy coming to Apple, I kinda envisioned them doing it like WebOS only it would pop in from the top instead of the bottom. Yes, this would be extremely similar to WebOS but Jobs would sell it by saying it was "done right" this time. I'm sure they would add some tweaks to how it would work or look but the basic concept would be the same.
I see some merits in combining Spotlight and Notifications into one home screen, but I don't think Apple will go for it. For one thing - it alters the behavior of Spotlight screen significantly. For instance, right now when I do a Spotlight search - my search results are persistent. So I can go back to that screen later and reference the results of my last search. Presumably, with Notifications now taking up that screen - the persistence of my searches will disappear.
Why not just add a swipe-down or swipe-up gesture, which would bring up a Notification screen independent of the Spotlight?
Why not just add a swipe-down or swipe-up gesture, which would bring up a Notification screen independent of the Spotlight?
I have the same problem with your example as I do with the OP's...the status bar is already full. Regardless of what side you put the notification on, it looks cluttered.
And for the OP, considering that the status bar is the ONLY place that carriers are allowed to do any branding, the odds of the name going away are slim to none.
I'm not trying to be a negative nelly, I'm just saying that Apple needs to redesign the status bar from the ground up, not just add another icon. That may mean limiting the size of the Carrier name to 4 characters, or a vertical signal strength meter like for wifi, or ????. Regardless, simply adding another icon is unsupportable.
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