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Please don't tease me with this. I had settled into a peaceful state of denial and had pushed the subject out of my mind. Bringing it back up just makes me angry....and you won't like me when I'm angry!

...fill in clever story of iPhone geek turned iPhone Hulk rampaging through Apple campus looking to hurt UI designers and ultimately Steve Jobs....
 
While good, your concept...
Um, it's not my concept. It's Bendy Walker's, the OP. All I did was translate their concept into rough screenshots.

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.
Actually, my status bar isn't full at all. ;)

Seriously though, I agree with you: That is a probable issue. I didn't set out to critique the concept with my screenshots; just to realize it a little better. In the end, it will be up to Apple to want to, design and implement a better notifications system. And if they do, it is sure to please some and annoy others.
 
great ideas ITT. While I think the OPs suggestion looks better I like the second guys mock up bcause you can then access notifications from any app. I think when Apple finally does this, which has to be for the next iPhone imo, its going to be perfect.
 
My problem with your idea is you would have to leave an app to view your notifications center. To me, nothing about your idea is "wow" it's just a simple way to implement the notifications into the current OS as is. I'm hoping Apple will be doing a revamp of the whole OS with notifications being more of a seamless implementation and not as much of an after though. Your idea is also less the notifications and more how you view your notifications.

I would be happy if apple added a second row to the fast app switching pane that collected all App icons with the red notification counter. That way you could double tap the home button while inside any app and see what apps have notifications for you. You would then click on the app icon and rather than opening the app it would list a summary of the notifications kind of like the OP's idea, there would then be an option to switch to that app. That way users have two levels of detail to get informatino about their notifications without ever leaving the app they are currently in. I still can't think of a good way to notify the user of a new text message for example while they're in an app. A big blue popup window that suspens the whole app certainly isn't that smooth. My guess however, is that it's already too late for this sort of implementation as I'm sure Apple is thinking bigger.
 
My problem with your idea is you would have to leave an app to view your notifications center. To me, nothing about your idea is "wow" it's just a simple way to implement the notifications into the current OS as is. I'm hoping Apple will be doing a revamp of the whole OS with notifications being more of a seamless implementation and not as much of an after though. Your idea is also less the notifications and more how you view your notifications.

I would be happy if apple added a second row to the fast app switching pane that collected all App icons with the red notification counter. That way you could double tap the home button while inside any app and see what apps have notifications for you. You would then click on the app icon and rather than opening the app it would list a summary of the notifications kind of like the OP's idea, there would then be an option to switch to that app. That way users have two levels of detail to get informatino about their notifications without ever leaving the app they are currently in. I still can't think of a good way to notify the user of a new text message for example while they're in an app. A big blue popup window that suspens the whole app certainly isn't that smooth. My guess however, is that it's already too late for this sort of implementation as I'm sure Apple is thinking bigger.

Locating the app notifications in the fast-app switching pane would allow quick accessibility from within any app. However, using a second row of app icons which don't actually launch the apps is confusing. Also, a 2-row pane begins to resemble any other home screen where clicking an icon always launches an app. This consistency should be preserved.

To preserve consistency, there could be one clickable notification app which would handle ALL notifications and provide the opportunity to jump to the related app. If implemented like the iAd mechanism, notifications could be accessed without leaving the current app. It would also be fixed in the fast-app switching pane, much like the ipod controls… but even with this idea, there are still issues of i) quickly discovering what type of notifications have arrived ii) executing "two clicks, swipe and click" would be acceptable for the light notification user but extremely tedious for the heavy user. Sigh.

You raised some good points about notifications being 'discoverable', 'accessible' and 'presentable'… all without breaking the current user-interface model. Apple definitely has its work cut out.
 
Um, it's not my concept. It's Bendy Walker's, the OP. All I did was translate their concept into rough screenshots.

Sorry about that. Well, I just used parts of your rough screenshot and applied it to my screenshot. Like yours, its rough. I should have put the icons for each app next to the notification.

multitasking-iphone-ios-4.jpg


I just don't know how to apply the notifications notifier to the OS. The menu bar seems to be the only legitimate place.

Also, multiple notifications may require scrolling or adjustment to the height of the multitask menu. The problem with adjusting the height is that it takes up more screen space, which makes it harder to close the multitask bar and return to the app that you were using. Simply hitting the home button would work, but it would close out of the app that you are in.
 
you could make a double tap to home bring up the notifications like shown in the post above me. Then make a single tap to home just close the notifications and not close the app. Seems like the most logical idea to me so far I like it!
 
I'm thinking multi-gesture swiping for notification management. It's coming...has to be. iPad is already working with 5 finger gestures. I don't think it's a stretch to get two or three finger gesturing commands to the iPhone. I'm also a fan of using swipe up and down to navigate for different things. I don't believe we just need side to side swiping.

Nice drawing...I know Apple is listening to our complaints concerning notifications. I think they are just trying to make it special from the get go without getting caught up in a patent war with other OS'es!

Cosmo
 
I'm thinking multi-gesture swiping for notification management. It's coming...has to be. iPad is already working with 5 finger gestures. I don't think it's a stretch to get two or three finger gesturing commands to the iPhone. I'm also a fan of using swipe up and down to navigate for different things. I don't believe we just need side to side swiping.

Nice drawing...I know Apple is listening to our complaints concerning notifications. I think they are just trying to make it special from the get go without getting caught up in a patent war with other OS'es!

Cosmo

My hands are quite small and three fingers barely fit on the screen comfortably.
 
I actually really like this concept! And it seems like it wouldn't be too difficult for Apple to implement.
 
Sorry about that. Well, I just used parts of your rough screenshot and applied it to my screenshot. Like yours, its rough. I should have put the icons for each app next to the notification.

multitasking-iphone-ios-4.jpg


I just don't know how to apply the notifications notifier to the OS. The menu bar seems to be the only legitimate place.

Also, multiple notifications may require scrolling or adjustment to the height of the multitask menu. The problem with adjusting the height is that it takes up more screen space, which makes it harder to close the multitask bar and return to the app that you were using. Simply hitting the home button would work, but it would close out of the app that you are in.

I like this idea the best so far. Also, need to think about how current incoming notifications would display without being intrusive or interrupting the app. Thats one thing thats just extremely well done on android. Makes you wonder how Apple will find a way to make it even better.
 
These are all GREAT ways to implement notifications into iOS! I hope all these ideas are making their way to apples suggestion box ;)

But instead of the multi tasking bar popping up to show us notifications, how about a thin blue bubble at the bottom of the screen, while in an app, kind of like what you get when you receive a text message. It would be at the bottom of the screen so it is out of the way, bubble & text fade into view and out of view in maybe 10 secs (or the length of time could be user defined).

Then if the user wants to review his notifications he can quickly open up the multi tasking bar and review a list of new notifications available to them.

Wish I was good with photoshop to be able to draw up an idea for you all.
 
These are all GREAT ways to implement notifications into iOS! I hope all these ideas are making their way to apples suggestion box ;)

But instead of the multi tasking bar popping up to show us notifications, how about a thin blue bubble at the bottom of the screen, while in an app, kind of like what you get when you receive a text message. It would be at the bottom of the screen so it is out of the way, bubble & text fade into view and out of view in maybe 10 secs (or the length of time could be user defined).

Then if the user wants to review his notifications he can quickly open up the multi tasking bar and review a list of new notifications available to them.

Wish I was good with photoshop to be able to draw up an idea for you all.

The intention wasn't for the multitasking bar to pop up for every notification. It is there for you to check your notifications. As state earlier, a red badge number would either show up in the menu bar or like your idea, some color effect in the dock.
 
Excellent! I'd love this. Plus, I have another proposition which is quite unlikely though.

A new button, maybe underneath volume up/down buttons. That will be the "notifications" button. Instantly brings the notifications page when pressed. (When pressed when the phone is locked doesn't unlock the phone, it just brings up the page on the lock screen)
 
Well I'm hoping for an official release for something similar to this so that I don't have to jailbreak my iPhone.

As am I, however if such a concept were to come to Cydia before an official release I would pay money.

However I just have a feeling that iOS 5 will include a better notifications system. Apple always seems to push features 1 more version later than when everyone thinks they'll come (MMS, anyone?).
 
I know people have said no drop down from the top, but the top bar is already used in some situations to scroll to the top of a page or list, so it has the potential to be used here. Something like this? (thanks dejo for the homescreen pic)

EDIT: just thought I would add that the list appearance came straight from OS X stacks.
 

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I know people have said no drop down from the top, but the top bar is already used in some situations to scroll to the top of a page or list, so it has the potential to be used here. Something like this? (thanks dejo for the homescreen pic)

EDIT: just thought I would add that the list appearance came straight from OS X stacks.

Whilst I do like the look of your concept, you have to think about screen real estate. There's really not enough room on the iPhone screen to have a drop down menu that has clickable options. I suppose you could have something like this on the iPad, but then you would be fracturing how the two devices function.

I do agree that there needs to be some way to check notifications whilst in apps though. Thanks for your contribution :)
 
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