Why is Apple so damn stubborn to never include notification LED in its iPhone brand?

[TomTomHatesCats]

You really don't grasp the difference between an active and a passive alert?

That's not what I directly addressed. You said having an LED meant the phone is in control. I know you were trying to riff off of a previous poster's words, but come on. That's silly.

I've had plenty of phones with alert lights. Not understanding what they are or how they work isn't the issue here.

I didn't accuse you of either of those things, only that you, and some others, have mischaracterized them, sometimes to the point of caricature. If you really have had plenty of phones with LED indicators, I'd hope that you'd agree.

The point was that claiming an alert light is COMMON SENSE is completely bogus. Just as bogus as claiming a lack of an alert light is common sense.

The fact that many of you are against LEDs shows it's not "common sense" to have them, so I agree with you there. Perhaps the original poster of those words could have chosen better, but still, to me that's somewhat more defensible than saying it's "common sense" to not have them (which I know is NOT what you said).

 

[AZhappyjack]

i agree and am surprised more people have not attacked you on this. I posted a question like this months back and got reamed out. i don't think it would ruin the design what so ever. i have a samsung galaxy s3 and the notification helps a lot, plus designating certain colors for email, text, missed calls, etc.

i hope someday apple wakes up and realizes just about every other phone on the market has one, thats about one of the few features apple hasn't decided to add to "catch up".

with that said, i have a 6+ 64gb on order and am happy to jump back into the apple ecosystem. the LED notification would have been the icing on the cake. oh well.

Just because "just about every other phone ..." doesn’t mean that Apple should. The only people that I hear clamoring for it are new BB converts.

 

[Surf Monkey]

That's not what I directly addressed. You said having an LED meant the phone is in control. I know you were trying to riff off of a previous poster's words, but come on. That's silly.

I didn't accuse you of either of those things, only that you, and some others, have mischaracterized them, sometimes to the point of caricature. If you really have had plenty of phones with LED indicators, I'd hope that you'd agree.

The fact that many of you are against LEDs shows it's not "common sense" to have them, so I agree with you there. Perhaps the original poster of those words could have chosen better, but still, to me that's somewhat more defensible than saying it's "common sense" to not have them (which I know is NOT what you said).

I feel like I need to take a nap after reading that.

 

[mib1800]

Iphone users mind are really finicky and incomprehensible sometimes. Before big screen/pull down notification/widgets/3rd party keyboards are available for iphone many iphone users were vehemently against those things (giving all sorts of reasons of them being useless) all just because the competitors have them and apple doesnt. You seldom hear any Android fans being so anti-functionalities.

 

[mercuryjones]

Iphone users mind are really finicky and incomprehensible sometimes. Before big screen/pull down notification/widgets/3rd party keyboards are available for iphone many iphone users were vehemently against those things (giving all sorts of reasons of them being useless) all just because the competitors have them and apple doesnt. You seldom hear any Android fans being so anti-functionalities.

Nope. They are just anti-Apple, to the nth degree.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

So my phone notifies me if I want in a thousand and one ways for each communication channel and application. The same notifications go to my notebook and my desktop. Heck even my tablet is trying to get my attention for the same notification. And when I'm in the car the dashboard information system also displays the notification. Soon there will be someone tapping me on the wrist as well to alert me.

And some people still want more notifications through a little led? Come on....get real.

 

[cdaq]

So my phone notifies me if I want in a thousand and one ways for each communication channel and application.

What phone do you have? Seems the iphone only notifies you if you pick up the phone and actively check.

 

[DiggityBiggity]

What phone do you have? Seems the iphone only notifies you if you pick up the phone and actively check.

My thoughts exactly. It notifies him in a 1,001 ways??? Really... because if I'm out of the room and my phone goes off, I would only know by picking it up.

 

[mercuryjones]

My thoughts exactly. It notifies him in a 1,001 ways??? Really... because if I'm out of the room and my phone goes off, I would only know by picking it up.

And, if your phone has an blinking light, you still have to pick it up to find out what it actually is. So, in the end, we are all still doing the exact same thing.
Now, with Continuity, I don't have to have my iPhone in the same room with me to see notifications.

 

[nooaah]

The idea of lighting the Apple logo on the back is actually really cool. I never really used led notifications on my Nexus 5 but I can totally see why a lot of people love it. Hell maybe light the ring around Touch ID. I'd almost prefer that if I were forced to own an iPhone with that feature. It'd look pretty elegant if done right.

 

[DiggityBiggity]

And, if your phone has an blinking light, you still have to pick it up to find out what it actually is. So, in the end, we are all still doing the exact same thing.
Now, with Continuity, I don't have to have my iPhone in the same room with me to see notifications.

What a load... are you serious or trolling? We are NOT doing the same thing. I wouldn't NEED or HAVE to pick up my phone if it wasn't blinking. Furthermore, if it was blinking Blue (Let's say FB) vs Red (Gmail?) or Green (Txt) I could CHOOSE to ignore the notification. Maybe I'm waiting for an e-Mail but it's just a FB notification... I wouldn't have to turn my screen on (MAJOR battery suck) just to see that.

 

[mercuryjones]

What a load... are you serious or trolling? We are NOT doing the same thing. I wouldn't NEED or HAVE to pick up my phone if it wasn't blinking. Furthermore, if it was blinking Blue (Let's say FB) vs Red (Gmail?) or Green (Txt) I could CHOOSE to ignore the notification. Maybe I'm waiting for an e-Mail but it's just a FB notification... I wouldn't have to turn my screen on (MAJOR battery suck) just to see that.

Seriously? Are you trolling at this point?
An email? Do you only get email on your phone in this day and age? If so, that's pretty sad.
You completely missed the meaning of my comment, but I expect that. Your way is the best way, as I'm slowly learning. Any other way of doing it is just wrong.

 

[opfreak]

And, if your phone has an blinking light, you still have to pick it up to find out what it actually is. So, in the end, we are all still doing the exact same thing.
Now, with Continuity, I don't have to have my iPhone in the same room with me to see notifications.

but if i dont see the led blinking I dont have to pick the phone up.

so its not exactly the same.

 

[mercuryjones]

but if i dont see the led blinking I dont have to pick the phone up.

so its not exactly the same.

Guess what? I don't have to pick up my phone to check for notifications either. The next time a new notification pops up, all the ones that I haven't seen are displayed.
Are you guys ever going to understand that? Or, do you suppose that iPhone users are just constantly checking their phones for notifications ever 2 minutes, since we don't have an LED blinking at us?

 

[TomTomHatesCats]

So my phone notifies me if I want in a thousand and one ways...notifications go to my notebook and my desktop...my tablet is trying to get my attention for the same notification...in the car the dashboard information system also displays the notification...there will be someone tapping me on the wrist as well...And some people still want more notifications through a little led? Come on....get real.

For the people that appreciate those notifications, I imagine they've turned them on. For you, I imagine they're off. Maybe you'd like them removed entirely and deny their use to others because it's a chore to go through your settings.

Anyway not one of those other notifications serves the function of the proposed LED, so you haven't made a good point here.

 

[DiggityBiggity]

Guess what? I don't have to pick up my phone to check for notifications either. The next time a new notification pops up, all the ones that I haven't seen are displayed.
Are you guys ever going to understand that? Or, do you suppose that iPhone users are just constantly checking their phones for notifications ever 2 minutes, since we don't have an LED blinking at us?

Are you ever going to understand that lighting up the entire screen SUCKS battery?

Scenario: I'm at work, my personal phone is on my desk. I come back from the warehouse floor to my desk and start digging in to more paperwork. I look over at my iPhone (black screen) and wonder if my wife called. I hit the power button... nope, no missed call.

Scenario 2: All of the above, aside from when coming back from the warehouse floor I have a slight glow around my touchID... now I KNOW I missed something, and I don't have to waste battery

 

[bmt134]

Guess what? I don't have to pick up my phone to check for notifications either. The next time a new notification pops up, all the ones that I haven't seen are displayed.
Are you guys ever going to understand that? Or, do you suppose that iPhone users are just constantly checking their phones for notifications ever 2 minutes, since we don't have an LED blinking at us?

So you would only know if you missed a notification by only having a new notification popup with you close enough to look at the screen.


That's not dumb at all.

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Are you ever going to understand that lighting up the entire screen SUCKS battery?

Scenario: I'm at work, my personal phone is on my desk. I come back from the warehouse floor to my desk and start digging in to more paperwork. I look over at my iPhone (black screen) and wonder if my wife called. I hit the power button... nope, no missed call.

Scenario 2: All of the above, aside from when coming back from the warehouse floor I have a slight glow around my touchID... now I KNOW I missed something, and I don't have to waste battery

Or you can just wait an undetermined amount of time for a new notification to popup while you are there to show you all the old notifications you have missed.

Not dumb at all.

 

[appleii.c]

Are you ever going to understand that lighting up the entire screen SUCKS battery?

Scenario: I'm at work, my personal phone is on my desk. I come back from the warehouse floor to my desk and start digging in to more paperwork. I look over at my iPhone (black screen) and wonder if my wife called. I hit the power button... nope, no missed call.

Scenario 2: All of the above, aside from when coming back from the warehouse floor I have a slight glow around my touchID... now I KNOW I missed something, and I don't have to waste battery

Depends on how long you've been away I suppose. If you are in the warehouse for an hour or two, that glow being on for an hour or two might suck more battery than the one time hitting the home button when you get back.

 

[BigHonkingDeal]

Here's my take on this... I use both Android and IOS devices and when it comes to notifications I think the blinking light is overrated.

Actually the way IOS handles notifications works out better for me. If I'm in viewing sight of the phone the screen turns on and gives me the info, Android just blinks and I have to turn it on and pull down from the top to see the info.

When I'm away from the phone it's the same, sure the Android phone has a blinking message light but you still have to turn it on and pull down the screen while in IOS you just click the home button.... Now how hard is that?

 

[mercuryjones]

So you would only know if you missed a notification by only having a new notification popup with you close enough to look at the screen.


That's not dumb at all.

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Or you can just wait an undetermined amount of time for a new notification to popup while you are there to show you all the old notifications you have missed.

Not dumb at all.

So, you have a blinking light. It blocks red for an email. You decide not to view it. Now, you get another email that you really want to view. But wait, the LED still just blinks red, because you didn't view the first one. Now, what do you do?
"Not dumb at all"
Look, I don't miss a notification light. If Apple added it, I'd use it. Until that time, I'm not missing it and deal with my notifications fine.

 

[TomTomHatesCats]

Or you can just wait an undetermined amount of time for a new notification to popup while you are there to show you all the old notifications you have missed.

Perhaps a better (related) scenario to illustrate the LED's usefulness might have been: He was waiting for his wife to call. He stepped away, and came back to his desk. His LED was NOT blinking. Therefore, no missed calls.

Everybody kind of wins here. No notifications shown, no battery used. Yet, information is still imparted.

To your point, though, I do appreciate seeing previous notifications along with current notifications on the lockscreen (although it doesn't serve the same purpose).

 

[bmt134]

So, you have a blinking light. It blocks red for an email. You decide not to view it. Now, you get another email that you really want to view. But wait, the LED still just blinks red, because you didn't view the first one. Now, what do you do?
"Not dumb at all"
Look, I don't miss a notification light. If Apple added it, I'd use it. Until that time, I'm not missing it and deal with my notifications fine.

If you are waiting for an email why would you ignore the first email LED notification?

Try at least to use common sense.

 

[nooaah]

Iphone users mind are really finicky and incomprehensible sometimes. Before big screen/pull down notification/widgets/3rd party keyboards are available for iphone many iphone users were vehemently against those things (giving all sorts of reasons of them being useless) all just because the competitors have them and apple doesnt. You seldom hear any Android fans being so anti-functionalities.

Android had features like that early on but they were half arsed. Battery draining screen hogs = widgets. Ive already said they tried big screens with iPhone 5 prototypes and couldn't get the form and ergonomics down. I'm sure you can find some who berated big screens before who now use a 6+ but so what? You think Android users never change their minds or have irrational brand loyalty?

Android fanatics scream about functionality because they're forcefed the "freedom and choice" nonsense while never acknowledging that those choices come with compromises. Whether you like it or not, Apple holds features rather than making compromises in battery life, screen quality, etc because a quality product is more than how long of a bullet list of features you can cram into an ad.

 

[opfreak]

Guess what? I don't have to pick up my phone to check for notifications

Here's my take on this... I use both Android and IOS devices and when it comes to notifications I think the blinking light is overrated.

Actually the way IOS handles notifications works out better for me. If I'm in viewing sight of the phone the screen turns on and gives me the info, Android just blinks and I have to turn it on and pull down from the top to see the info.

When I'm away from the phone it's the same, sure the Android phone has a blinking message light but you still have to turn it on and pull down the screen while in IOS you just click the home button.... Now how hard is that?

If you are away from your phone. And the LED is NOT blinking you know you dont have to check your phone.


With iphone you dont know if you did or did not miss anything unless you wake up the screen.

 

[tjl3]

Here's my take on this... I use both Android and IOS devices and when it comes to notifications I think the blinking light is overrated.

Actually the way IOS handles notifications works out better for me. If I'm in viewing sight of the phone the screen turns on and gives me the info, Android just blinks and I have to turn it on and pull down from the top to see the info.

When I'm away from the phone it's the same, sure the Android phone has a blinking message light but you still have to turn it on and pull down the screen while in IOS you just click the home button.... Now how hard is that?

This is going to get argued to no end. Pro LED notification supporters are going to argue that you can ignore an unimportant notifications based on their color code. It's about micromanaging the little things. If I am doing something super-ultra-mega important and I don't want to be disturbed, I will ignore these messages.

But I agree with you, I disabled the LED notification when I was on Android b/c it wasn't helpful to me that I'd have to wake the phone anyway to see what the important notification was. Even if I saw that I got a Facebook message (red), if I hadn't cleared it, it would still persistently blink red until I finally woke the phone to clear it.