General TheVerge: Rethinking iOS, Concepts in development and more

[Abazigal]

Some first impressions from the video:

1) I don't see the point of being to preview the app I am switching to. This is my phone, I would know best the app I am opening. What does it matter whether I am looking at a small square icon or the actual app as it would appear?

Might it be better to allow us to preview more apps in the bar, say 2-3 rows of 4 icons instead?

2) Tucking the commonly used settings like wireless/bluetooth 2 flicks away from the multitasking bar seems no less convenient to access than going to the settings bar, since it is unlikely that I will need to toggle more than one one/off at any one time. Seems better if I could just access them directly from the notifications bar or via siri.

In fact, why not just integrate the search bar into the notification? So I can just flick down, rather than press home button, then flick left.

 

[jrodsep]

I agree with the first point 100%. I've never once used Spotlight on my phone. It's nice on the computer where you have the option to save things where you choose but in my experience (meaning yours may differ), it's completely unnecessary in iOS.

As for the banners, I like em.

The thing with banners IMHO is that instead of looking clean and unobtrusive it looks out of place and just plain ugly. If the icons or app were to scale down just a bit (like webOS) so the banner or ticker didn't interfere with the screen I would be all for that.

 

[Abazigal]

I use spotlight a fair bit, actually. Quite handy for quickly digging up contacts and emails without actually having to go into the respective apps.

 

[MozMan68]

I use spotlight a fair bit, actually. Quite handy for quickly digging up contacts and emails without actually having to go into the respective apps.

I do too...but why not make it part of the notification center? (Always at the top when you open the center)..or simply make better use of the area below the arch bar if it stays there...like a drop down search window that comes up as you search? Just like it is done in the other search bars in iOS.

It does seem like they are missing an opportunity to have the "swipe right" page as some sort of user defined access page. I'm not even asking for live widgets or anything fancy...just the ability to take an non active app setting ( like airplane mode for example) and "copy" or drop the function as a "quick access" app button on what is currently the spotlight page.

Really no different than what one gets when they swipe right in the multitask bar.

 

[VulchR]

Apple already agree that various toggles for setting are useful - why else would they have a Settings app? Thus, what would be so terrible about moving or copying the most used and useful settings to the search page or some other convenient location?

The iPhone has a lot of nice little touches - I can't imagine that a corporation like Apple that wins awards for innovation can't find a more elegant solution for settings toggles that a Settings app with a horribly complicated hierarchical structure.

 

[tomjleeds]

Not necessarily. Just swipe more to the left if you are not inclined to pressing the home button.

What happens to the applications which have adopted this gesture?

 

[Sedrick]

I agree with the first point 100%. I've never once used Spotlight on my phone. It's nice on the computer where you have the option to save things where you choose but in my experience (meaning yours may differ), it's completely unnecessary in iOS.

As for the banners, I like em.

I use Spotlight search all the time. With 100+ apps on that tiny screen in tiny folders, it's far quicker to do a Spotlight search to find the app or song you're looking for. Much like the search feature in Windows 7 (hit the start button and start typing and you've got your findings instantly).

 

[1member1]

I like the current multi tasking view in iOS.. its simple and managed good by the OS.
i prefer the 3G WIFI bluetooth fast toggles .. but still i removed jailbreak after 4 years enjoying every moment of clean iphone

 

[fabianjj]

I think something as simple as merely allowing access to the multitasking tray through a swipe-up motion on the iphone would be a HUGE improvement in terms of multitasking. At least, to me, it feels very frustrating having to switch between "touch-screen interaction" and "button-clicking" when trying to multitask.

 

[ajvizzgamer101]

I fail to see the benefit of the elongated app switcher. gimmick?

It provides move features like the settings toggles, bigger buttons, audio info, and brightness slider. Thats not a gimmick.

 

[JS82712]

It provides move features like the settings toggles, bigger buttons, audio info, and brightness slider. Thats not a gimmick.

and you know what? having a screenshot of every app presented to you every time you load up the multitasking tray will lag your phone like crazy; iOS doesn't run on magical dusts.

 

[McGiord]

The screen image of the App is a visual candy that I don't need if it will drain the battery faster.
Instead of that, or in addition to that, please add a KillEmAll button! Metallica Style.
The quick access to enable disable toggle basic things are needed: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, cellular data, brightness, location services.
They did some improvements with iOS 6, but now the cellular and data settings are a split into different locations.
Why Siri can't enable/disable settings: it is still beta?
Obviously they are afraid that it will mess up your settings and have the people that will buy the Will.I.Am camera accessory mad when the iPhone doesn't work anymore.
The solution is very simple: record a user defined password and after using it you will decide to have the Siri capability to change setting on all the time, or require the password confirmation (very non-Apple application), as usual they were struggling to make it work and focused on the politics of ousting Forestall than making things work.

 

[Abazigal]

It provides move features like the settings toggles, bigger buttons, audio info, and brightness slider. Thats not a gimmick.

I don't mind those. It's the app preview feature I am just not getting. At any rate, the preview will likely be so small that I can't view any updates from it anyways. And if it is simply a pre-rendered or default thumbnail, then what's the point?

 

[ajvizzgamer101]

I don't mind those. It's the app preview feature I am just not getting. At any rate, the preview will likely be so small that I can't view any updates from it anyways. And if it is simply a pre-rendered or default thumbnail, then what's the point?

It's no different than OS X Mission control

 

[skaertus]

I liked it.

But IMHO the iOS should be rethought from ground up.

iOS was designed for the 3.5" screen of the iPhone, and it is great for that. It also works well with the iPad, but the iPad, with a much larger screen, has so much potential to be unleashed. It's too dumbed down. iOS could support multi-tasking, for instance. And it could have a real file system.

But then again the iOS may become too complicated and scare away people who likes its simplicity.

 

[MattInOz]

and you know what? having a screenshot of every app presented to you every time you load up the multitasking tray will lag your phone like crazy; iOS doesn't run on magical dusts.

It runs on quartz (composer) which when ground to a fine powder can be used as magical dust to distract people while you pull a slight of hand.

If it does happen then the Screen layout engine would just hold on to a snapshot as the app goes off screen and inactive. The engine already does that in part when it closes the app with the shrinking effect. So it's just holding that thumbnail around for future use. Laying out thumbnails wouldn't be much more drain on the system as laying out icons.

 

[nw9]

If it does happen then the Screen layout engine would just hold on to a snapshot as the app goes off screen and inactive. The engine already does that in part when it closes the app with the shrinking effect. So it's just holding that thumbnail around for future use. Laying out thumbnails wouldn't be much more drain on the system as laying out icons.

It's a moot point if most people don't find the thumbnail feature useful. I don't see how useful having a tiny snapshot of each app is going to help people. I already know what my apps look like when it's open. I don't need a snapshot of it. I don't mind if it is included as long as it doesn't slow down the iPhone. If it displayed small bits of useful data from the app without having to open the app, then it might be more useful to the majority of people. That's what I would want instead.

I've already mentioned it, but what I like about this new switcher is how he put frequently used settings like network off/on buttons into the app switcher. Apple already put the rotation lock button there, but I'm surprised that they didn't think any other frequently used buttons should be there too.

 

[irDigital0l]

I liked it.

But IMHO the iOS should be rethought from ground up.

iOS was designed for the 3.5" screen of the iPhone, and it is great for that. It also works well with the iPad, but the iPad, with a much larger screen, has so much potential to be unleashed. It's too dumbed down. iOS could support multi-tasking, for instance. And it could have a real file system.

But then again the iOS may become too complicated and scare away people who likes its simplicity.

This.

Apple is lacking not in hardware now, its software. They always talk about how they completely build from the ground up the new iPhone.

I would like to see this approach for iOS too.

For example...you can't swipe to delete Notifications in Notification Center, weather and clock icon never change dynamically, multitasking is slow. More so on the iPad I find that a lot could be done to it. Make it more like Mountain Lion on the iPad for Notification Center, Mission Control, etc.

 

[ajvizzgamer101]

This.

Apple is lacking not in hardware now, its software. They always talk about how they completely build from the ground up the new iPhone.

I would like to see this approach for iOS too.

For example...you can't swipe to delete Notifications in Notification Center, weather and clock icon never change dynamically, multitasking is slow. More so on the iPad I find that a lot could be done to it. Make it more like Mountain Lion on the iPad for Notification Center, Mission Control, etc.

Hardware > Content > Software > Web Service <--- Basically the hierarchy at Apple. Hopefully, with the new roles at the company there will be tighter integration.

 

[Beeplance]

Well, quick settings is a good addition, but honestly it doesn't matter much to me if they implement it or not. Quick settings in Notification centre also probably won't materialize, or else Apple will be sued by the guys over at Mountain View.

I don't use Spotlight search that much, in fact, I turned it off in the settings the first minute I use my phone.

 

[skaertus]

This.

Apple is lacking not in hardware now, its software. They always talk about how they completely build from the ground up the new iPhone.

I would like to see this approach for iOS too.

For example...you can't swipe to delete Notifications in Notification Center, weather and clock icon never change dynamically, multitasking is slow. More so on the iPad I find that a lot could be done to it. Make it more like Mountain Lion on the iPad for Notification Center, Mission Control, etc.

Yes, that's for sure.

The iPad is great, but it behaves like a big iPhone. It could do so much more. It could be like a Mac without a keyboard.

 

[JS82712]

It runs on quartz (composer) which when ground to a fine powder can be used as magical dust to distract people while you pull a slight of hand.

If it does happen then the Screen layout engine would just hold on to a snapshot as the app goes off screen and inactive. The engine already does that in part when it closes the app with the shrinking effect. So it's just holding that thumbnail around for future use. Laying out thumbnails wouldn't be much more drain on the system as laying out icons.

why don't you tell that to the iPad 3, a device that lags even when doing the 3 finger pinch to home screen animation.

 

[Abazigal]

Yes, that's for sure.

The iPad is great, but it behaves like a big iPhone. It could do so much more. It could be like a Mac without a keyboard.

There were windows tablet PCs which tried to do the same thing prior to the ipad. Needless to say, they were not very successful.

 

[APlotdevice]

There were windows tablet PCs which tried to do the same thing prior to the ipad. Needless to say, they were not very successful.

That's because they tried to run an OS that was designed for much more powerful hardware and a completely different interface. Countless jailbreak tweaks have shown that iOS can be made much more advanced while still keeping its core advantages of low power usage and a touch friendly interface.

 

[skaertus]

There were windows tablet PCs which tried to do the same thing prior to the ipad. Needless to say, they were not very successful.

They were not successful indeed. I haven't tried any of them, but I guess the experience was not very good.

The Microsoft Surface RT and the Asus Vivo Tab RT have some of this functionality. Although I've only tested them briefly, they seemed to work fine (I may swallow these words, though). The Windows 8 interface may be awkward, but one can always choose to run apps on full screen and forget about the desktop or multi-tasking.

Apple could well bring up something to make the iPad have this sort of experience. It would be great to multi-task on the iPad. I don't see it replacing a laptop computer without actually behaving like one.