ask yourself, do you really need cut and paste on a phone? i dont know why EVERYONE keeps whining for this, are you doing hardcore word processing on your iphone? do you troll forums on your iphone? i have been a iphone user since july 07 and have never once come across a situation where i thought "dang i could really use cut and paste now!" give me one valid situation where you would need cut and paste on the iphone.
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Why Apple is taking its time with cut-and-paste.
- Thread starter kavika411
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Yes, it's quite handy. But if you don't use it, why do you care what others want or need?
Obviously it's not a deal-breaker for me, since I bought one knowing it didn't have the feature, but it's a close call. Cut and paste is my number one top request on the iPhone. If you don't care about it, cool, but there are several times a day when I'm reminded of its lack.
Like I said, if you haven't had another PDA/smartphone, maybe you don't realize how useful it is.
Like I said, if you haven't had another PDA/smartphone, maybe you don't realize how useful it is.
Try reading a thread in its entirety before asking questions, rhetorical or otherwise. You just might find that half a dozen people have addressed each one.
That there are people who don't need cut/paste is fine. That there are people who don't need cut/paste and don't want others to have it is ... odd.
I've only given this about 30 seconds so forgive me if it's problematic...
I'll focus on email. Surely they could have a button on the bottom menu bar that if you tap highlights the cursor. You then tap the screen where you want the selection to begin and then tap again where you want it to finish. This selects the text. Upon the second tap a menu pops up and asks if you want to cut or copy etc.
Or...
Apple likes finger movements, yes? Perhaps if you were to draw a 1 inch circle with your finger it would bring up a cut/copy menu or allow the cursor to be positioned in the start place (with drawing another circle confirming position and allowing the end place to be set?) Or perhaps upon drawing the circle two bullet points appear that you could place at the starting/end points?
My point is, that they've done the hard work in building this fantastic little device. Cut and paste is not rocket science. If they want to do it they can.
First off, calm down Apple fanboy. I mean, I thought I was a fan of Apple, but you take it to a whole new level. Cut and paste is a fairly standard feature that does have its uses. Just because you don't use your phone for enough things where you would need this feature doesn't mean that it isn't needed.
Situation # 1:
Receive email with directions on how to get somewhere
Copy the text of the email, and paste it into a text to another friend
Situation # 2:
Copying text of an email and pasting it into the notes section of a calendar item.
Situation # 3:
You want to post on the MacRumors forums, and you quote someone even though you only want to quote one line of their three paragraph response. Instead of holding backspace for three minutes straight, a copy and paste function would necessitate the creation of a way to highlight multiple words/lines of text and then delete it.
I could go on and on, but it is useful.
I'm wondering if the lack of implementation so far is simply BECAUSE it's an all-touch device. There would have to be a way for certain apps to disable whatever method is used, since you could have false input if there were any sort of pattern swipe needed, or even holding a finger in one place.
I think the best way is expanding upon the magnifying glass (I think others have said similar):
- Use the magnifying glass as it works now to get to where you want to start to copy from (the magnifying glass would have to start working in non-typing apps)...the only problem there is that you wouldn't be able to hold your finger anywhere before the glass popped up.
- Once you are in location, do not move finger for 2 seconds, magnifying glass changes to red or something (maybe they give you an option, so there aren't 37 threads lambasting Apple's choice of color).
- With the red magnifying glass, slide your finger around to highlight what you want. Tapping outside the glass or highlighted area would cancel.
- Hold for 1 second on highlighted section to bring up contextual menu with copy, cut, paste (with only relevant options available).
Another option would be to somehow have such a menu available from the top bar to start actions, or to give multiple clipboards?
Any sort of link when held could give various options. Like holding on a phone number would give the option to call or copy. Holding on a URL would give the option to copy the link text, or copy the url. An address could either view in maps or copy info. Already, holding on a URL link brings up a bizarre bubble with the link in it...i guess so you can see the URL?
Anyway...that's my take on it.
And while I don't go crazy without cut & paste and feel the need to rant about it, I certainly see uses for it. While I constantly rag on others for "needing" certain features, and I don't need them at all...copy & paste is one that there can certainly be no argument AGAINST. This thread has shown numerous situations where copy and paste is a definite help.
I think the best way is expanding upon the magnifying glass (I think others have said similar):
- Use the magnifying glass as it works now to get to where you want to start to copy from (the magnifying glass would have to start working in non-typing apps)...the only problem there is that you wouldn't be able to hold your finger anywhere before the glass popped up.
- Once you are in location, do not move finger for 2 seconds, magnifying glass changes to red or something (maybe they give you an option, so there aren't 37 threads lambasting Apple's choice of color).
- With the red magnifying glass, slide your finger around to highlight what you want. Tapping outside the glass or highlighted area would cancel.
- Hold for 1 second on highlighted section to bring up contextual menu with copy, cut, paste (with only relevant options available).
Another option would be to somehow have such a menu available from the top bar to start actions, or to give multiple clipboards?
Any sort of link when held could give various options. Like holding on a phone number would give the option to call or copy. Holding on a URL would give the option to copy the link text, or copy the url. An address could either view in maps or copy info. Already, holding on a URL link brings up a bizarre bubble with the link in it...i guess so you can see the URL?
Anyway...that's my take on it.
And while I don't go crazy without cut & paste and feel the need to rant about it, I certainly see uses for it. While I constantly rag on others for "needing" certain features, and I don't need them at all...copy & paste is one that there can certainly be no argument AGAINST. This thread has shown numerous situations where copy and paste is a definite help.
i could definitely use cut & paste and i don't think it's that hard to implement.
MagicPad has a great, simple implementation. you double-tap and hold your finger at the beginning of the what you want to copy, the loupe come up and you drag to the end of what you want to copy and the text is selected. There's a button on the top of the keyboard that you press & hold to bring up the cut, copy, and paste buttons, and bingo, you've got cut, copy & paste. Very simple and works great. The only other piece needed is a clipboard app that runs in the background so you can copy in one app and paste in another. None of those gestures interfere with the current gestures, and it takes about 2 seconds to get the motion down.
MagicPad has a great, simple implementation. you double-tap and hold your finger at the beginning of the what you want to copy, the loupe come up and you drag to the end of what you want to copy and the text is selected. There's a button on the top of the keyboard that you press & hold to bring up the cut, copy, and paste buttons, and bingo, you've got cut, copy & paste. Very simple and works great. The only other piece needed is a clipboard app that runs in the background so you can copy in one app and paste in another. None of those gestures interfere with the current gestures, and it takes about 2 seconds to get the motion down.
I'll throw in my two cents.
Do I really need it? Not really but there are situations in which I could find it useful.
Situation 1
MMS. So, because Apple thinks it's dated, if I receive an MMS, I now have to visit a site and write down the username/password on a piece of paper to view the tiny ass picture. Very inconvenient and the opposite direction I should have to go with an all in one phone like this.
Situation 2
Just today, I was trying to remember an address for a car dealership. I threw a couple addresses for various dealers into my notes app. On my way, I decided I should use google maps to snag the directions. Of course, there's no way to get that address from Notes to Maps conveniently. In fact, it's an extreme pain. Might as well print directions up, but that would also defeat the purpose of having such a phone.
Those are really 2 main situations that come to mind and actually happened in the last few days. Of course, lack of copy and paste is not going to make me get rid of my iPhone but at times, I do get really frustrated that a multitasking utility can't be used on a phone with such great promise on paper.
Do I really need it? Not really but there are situations in which I could find it useful.
Situation 1
MMS. So, because Apple thinks it's dated, if I receive an MMS, I now have to visit a site and write down the username/password on a piece of paper to view the tiny ass picture. Very inconvenient and the opposite direction I should have to go with an all in one phone like this.
Situation 2
Just today, I was trying to remember an address for a car dealership. I threw a couple addresses for various dealers into my notes app. On my way, I decided I should use google maps to snag the directions. Of course, there's no way to get that address from Notes to Maps conveniently. In fact, it's an extreme pain. Might as well print directions up, but that would also defeat the purpose of having such a phone.
Those are really 2 main situations that come to mind and actually happened in the last few days. Of course, lack of copy and paste is not going to make me get rid of my iPhone but at times, I do get really frustrated that a multitasking utility can't be used on a phone with such great promise on paper.
Okay, here's why Apple will not give us copy and paste. This is very secret sensitive information so if you don't like spoilers, then don't read the text I am about to place below this paragraph:
Apple will not give us copy and paste because copy and paste is old technology that nobody uses anymore and Apple's trying to phase it out. Apple likes to phase old stuff out by taking it out of their products... lemme show you some examples:
First they phased out the floppy drive by not including it in the iMacs.
Then they phased out CDs by giving us iTunes and iPod
They're trying to phase out DVDs with Apple TV
They're trying to phase out CD-ROM drives with the MacBook Air
They're trying to phase out hard drive with Solid-state drives
Now, they're phasing out copy and paste.
On a serious note: I think copy and paste is coming. Apple usually listens to it's users... it may take them a while because they've gotta come up with something brilliant, elegant, easy to use and useful without making all their users mad. Apple doesn't wanna just slap something together because if they do, we can tell. Like others have said... they don't ignore our requests... remember multiple SMS, App Store, Saving Images, Moving Icons, You Tube, iTunes Store and there's probably more. They definitely hear us. I can picture Steve announcing copy and paste. It could go something like this.
*Green Day music playing in the background*
*Steve walks onto stage*
*Audience applauds*
Steve: We've got some exciting announcements to make tonight. The first thing I wanna talk about is the iPhone. One of the biggest complaints about the iPhone OS Software is Copy and Paste. Believe me, we know. The problem is that it's no easy task for us because we wanted to make it fit into the iPhone OS as if it's been there all along. We've come up with an amazing solution to this problem and I am going to demonstrate it for you now.
*Takes a drink of water*
Introducing "SmartClip". It's a brand new way to copy and paste on the iPhone. SmartClip is the center for storing information such as Text and Images. Here's how to use it... it's very simple... this is phenomenal, watch.
*Crowd goes wild!*
Steve: One more thing. New MacBooks.... JUST KIDDING!!!
*Everyone moans*
Apple will not give us copy and paste because copy and paste is old technology that nobody uses anymore and Apple's trying to phase it out. Apple likes to phase old stuff out by taking it out of their products... lemme show you some examples:
First they phased out the floppy drive by not including it in the iMacs.
Then they phased out CDs by giving us iTunes and iPod
They're trying to phase out DVDs with Apple TV
They're trying to phase out CD-ROM drives with the MacBook Air
They're trying to phase out hard drive with Solid-state drives
Now, they're phasing out copy and paste.
On a serious note: I think copy and paste is coming. Apple usually listens to it's users... it may take them a while because they've gotta come up with something brilliant, elegant, easy to use and useful without making all their users mad. Apple doesn't wanna just slap something together because if they do, we can tell. Like others have said... they don't ignore our requests... remember multiple SMS, App Store, Saving Images, Moving Icons, You Tube, iTunes Store and there's probably more. They definitely hear us. I can picture Steve announcing copy and paste. It could go something like this.
*Green Day music playing in the background*
*Steve walks onto stage*
*Audience applauds*
Steve: We've got some exciting announcements to make tonight. The first thing I wanna talk about is the iPhone. One of the biggest complaints about the iPhone OS Software is Copy and Paste. Believe me, we know. The problem is that it's no easy task for us because we wanted to make it fit into the iPhone OS as if it's been there all along. We've come up with an amazing solution to this problem and I am going to demonstrate it for you now.
*Takes a drink of water*
Introducing "SmartClip". It's a brand new way to copy and paste on the iPhone. SmartClip is the center for storing information such as Text and Images. Here's how to use it... it's very simple... this is phenomenal, watch.
*Crowd goes wild!*
Steve: One more thing. New MacBooks.... JUST KIDDING!!!
*Everyone moans*
Hardcore? C'mon. Since when is a basic feature like copy and paste required for a hardcore wordprocessing application. Even dinasoure cell phones have copy and paste.
Any way, thank you for sharing with us all why YOU don't need or want the copy and paste functionality. Fortunately, most of us do use and need it. Besides, it's obvious you're bored and looking for a debate that's why you posted such a baiting comment.
O'Really. I dont' recall being asked if I used it or not. I would like to know how you've come to the conclusion that Apple came to that conclusion?
As far as why Apple is taking their time is quite simple, I believe. Copy and paste is NOT stable. Period. So much for the iPhone being a PDA alternative.
I love how every post on this forum that directly or indirectly relates to a feature that the iphone could/should/might eventually have turns into half the posts being to the effect of "You don't need that!! Why the heck do you need that? I don't need that, and I'm just fine without it. No one needs that, so shut up. Apple made the best phone ever and all you do is complain."
O'Really. I dont' recall being asked if I used it or not. I would like to know how you've come to the conclusion that Apple came to that conclusion?
As far as why Apple is taking their time is quite simple, I believe. Copy and paste is NOT stable. Period. So much for the iPhone being a PDA alternative.
Apparently you missed the "On a serious note..." underneath that.
Just had a thought (yeah it hurt ) - maybe Apple is waiting for their patent application to be approved? They've been filing loads of patents on different stuff the last few years...maybe they've come up with a very elegant way of doing it that they don't want competitors to copy?
) - maybe Apple is waiting for their patent application to be approved? They've been filing loads of patents on different stuff the last few years...maybe they've come up with a very elegant way of doing it that they don't want competitors to copy?it will be in 3.0. apple has to have something new to introduce in 3.0 that makes people jump for joy. also in 3.0 will be turn-by-turn navigation... both of which could've been done today, but they're saving it for later, when other phone companies are catching up to apple. next july will be interesting because the blackberry and HTC touch phones will be out (most likely) and apple will be facing competition from the google android.
Buttons. More buttons...
I can't quite see why an answe or hangup buttom would be useful. They're far bigger and clearer (e.g. in the dark) using the screen rather than a fixed button taking up space. A back button - that's bad/inelegant app design. I agree with the map quandry - It's the price paid for 1 app at a time. Something like the Ctrl-Tab or Mac equivalent, to short cut back springs to mind. But how many times do you click on a map link in an app?
If Apple deems cut and paste as less relevant than other stuff, that's fine by me. Don't most people kinda think Apple has a decent prioritisation of things to do for the iPhone? Cut and paste above battery life improvements, or decreasing call dropping, or solving the time it takes to backup?
Some things from 2.1
- Significantly better battery life
- Fewer call drops
- Bug fixes
- Faster backups to iTunes
- No App crashes
Apple could easily sit on C&P till 3.0/v3 iPhone. It's a non-urgent, but fairly important though not life threatening feature.
Sorry I quoted the whole post, I couldn't select and cut the portions I didn't want.
It is not bad app design to make use of a "back" button. The multi-app integration has been part of the iPhone marketing from day one. Click on a phone number anywhere and it launches the phone. Click on an address and it brings it up in the map. URLs bring up safari.
It's no coincedence that the companies that have been in the cellular phone industry awhile all have 3 or more physical buttons on their new and upcoming touch-screen phones. Two additional buttons can add a lot of flexibility such as a copy/paste function, camera shutter button, voice dial activation, user customizable actions, etc. Finally, there is plenty of room to put them around the home button as the entire lower half-inch is just empty real estate.
Sadly, I wouldn't doubt for a second if you are right. Giving something big like copy/paste, or something huge like turn-by-turn navigation in "just another" firmware update might not make sense for them. As a company trying to maintain market share, they may want to time a firmware release with those features just right.
Regarding two buttons, if they really wanted to, they could add "invisible" touch buttons ala the LG chocolate that Verizon has. No tactile feedback. They could be marked or unmarked but function as buttons. This way, the phone maintains the clean look but still offers the increased functionality. But apple doesn't care about future use of the buttons. They decide what you want and need. The only people who really get a huge benefit would be the jailbreak community. It's not like apple would include a ton of flexibility for them for the end user. Probably just a couple options for each. Just like they did with the home button double click. Not that it wouldn't still be great to have, and useful, especially for jailbroken phones, it's just that I doubt it would be all that great for your run-of-the-mill user, which is probably why they weren't included in the first place.
how about when you receive an MMS text and you need to copy the "jl2sd7f089ds" login and "fountain3key" password. Could go for some copy/paste right about then.
I doubt the reason for the lack of C&P is the implementation. Apple have been researching gestures and multi-touch for years. They have a large, innovative group of people, who get paid to research these things every day.
I'm sure there are multiple implementations floating around Cupertino.
I'm sure there are multiple implementations floating around Cupertino.
I think we might see such things as themes before we see copy and paste.
More people probably want them than want c&p.
And Apple can sell themes.
More people probably want them than want c&p.
And Apple can sell themes.
I think Apple is taking its time with copy-and-paste because it's not as demanded. While it's heavily demanded here, keep in mind there's more than 15 million iPhones/iPod touches.
If you were to think about it, stereo Bluetooth, voice dialing and push (well, the general public would most likely refer to it as being able to run in the background) have a higher demand than copy-and-paste.
I'm sure if Apple implemented copy-and-paste, it would use MagicPad's method...or about the same method only instead of double tapping, tap and hold. once the magnifying glass comes up, put down a second finger. Now drag to select.
If you were to think about it, stereo Bluetooth, voice dialing and push (well, the general public would most likely refer to it as being able to run in the background) have a higher demand than copy-and-paste.
I'm sure if Apple implemented copy-and-paste, it would use MagicPad's method...or about the same method only instead of double tapping, tap and hold. once the magnifying glass comes up, put down a second finger. Now drag to select.
I think Apple's doing what they did with the original Macintosh back in 1984. If any of you remember, the first Mac had absolutely no arrow keys. Apple did this to force developers to use the mouse. If Apple put arrow keys on the first Mac, people would have just used those. It wasn't until the Mac SE in 1987 that they added arrow keys.
I think they're doing the same with the iPhone. Apple's forcing developers to make applications that work with one another to share information instead of just throwing in copy and paste. It took Apple three years to add arrow keys to the Mac, so I get the feeling that the iPhone will probably be the same. Copy and paste in 2010 might sound stupid, but I get the feeling that that's when we'll get it.
I think they're doing the same with the iPhone. Apple's forcing developers to make applications that work with one another to share information instead of just throwing in copy and paste. It took Apple three years to add arrow keys to the Mac, so I get the feeling that the iPhone will probably be the same. Copy and paste in 2010 might sound stupid, but I get the feeling that that's when we'll get it.
MMS = Reason for copy/paste
if they insists on keeping the ridiculous "send me a link and password" thing for MMS, then they HAVE to add copy/paste.
they just give you info that you can do nothing with. what, i have to write down my password to see the mms? WTF? real high-tech solution.
so ... EITHER real mms (not stupid dead link ********) OR copy/paste.
if they insists on keeping the ridiculous "send me a link and password" thing for MMS, then they HAVE to add copy/paste.
they just give you info that you can do nothing with. what, i have to write down my password to see the mms? WTF? real high-tech solution.
so ... EITHER real mms (not stupid dead link ********) OR copy/paste.