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

[xraydoc]

While I certainly understand the utility of a notification light - and I get how it helps the power users - I will say that in my own (admittedly anecdotal) experience, all the people with Android phone I've seen with notification lights just have them blinking away, either oblivious to, or uncertain as to what, to do with it. Even saw one woman sitting at lunch with a friend complaining that she has to keep turning the phone face down so the light didn't distract her.

Reminds me of a VCR perpetually blinking "12:00". It just doesn't fit with Apple's design philosophy.

 

[Hal~9000]

P.S. to everyone arguing that they wouldn't want this feature, then simply imagine it would obviously be hidden asthetically (say underneath the glass or earpiece speaker grill) and NOT turned on by default unless you do so in the settings.

This way there's no real argument the haters could have against it...

 

[woodekm]

I didn't know I'd miss it till I got rid of my HTC ones (both m8 and Max).

I loved have red for charging, and green flashing for voicemail and text arrival (I opted to not see emails received).

Non intrusive, and the light was so small ( hidden behind one of the two front facing speaker grills) it couldn't have burned much battery. You couldn't find the lights when off, if you tried.

Man, I loved that. Come to think of it, I miss the speakers too!

 

[Tinmania]

Maybe - since people are different and have different opinions - the other user just doesn't see a need to see an ABSENCE of light, either. Some of you are acting a bit childish over the idea that other people may not find the same things useful that you do.

There is a difference between understanding something and claiming it is not needed.

It is entirely different to ignorantly misstate how something functions.

Why argue against something that can be turned off. Why care? To me it is obvious: Apple doesn't have it. That is what is childish, in my opinion.

I don't want or ever use the flashing LED functionality that Apple provides for the hearing impaired, and that some people try to pass off as the equivalent of an LED notification light (seriously!). But I would never argue against having it.



Michael

 

[mercuryjones]

P.S. to everyone arguing that they wouldn't want this feature, then simply imagine it would obviously be hidden asthetically (say underneath the glass or earpiece speaker grill) and not turned on by default.

I'm just not missing it all that much, but if they decided to add it, it wouldn't bother me. Just hope that it wouldn't be a deal breaker for you or someone else to buy or not buy an iPhone. Since it seems like such a small thing.

 

[yaboyac29]

This is one of those things that you Apple fanboys don't care about until Apple does it.

Haven't to wake up my device every time I step away for a bit is silly and would kill more battery than a light blinking. LEDs are very energy efficient.

 

[Phillybizzle]

I completely agree. Miss it from my S5.

Can't help but feel it would never happen because Apple Watch..

 

[Tinmania]

I don't have that problem. My wrist tells me if I have something, and to take your point further I can see when I DON'T need to respond to something, because the spam email will be right there on my wrist.

I don't need to go back to 2008 BlackBerry paradigms of half information requiring follow up, I have it all where I don't even need to keep my phone in view.

But you know, that's just sooooo obtuse of me.

Ironic that you call an LED notification light old tech yet wear a watch that has a display that looks like it was ripped right off of a 1996 Palm Pilot.




Mike

 

[maflynn]

I've had it on various phones, and to be honest, I really don't miss it. I think its unnecessary and I've learned to live without it.

 

[yaboyac29]

I guess I'm out of the loop on this one. I've never had an android device so take this with a grain of salt.

But, what is the point of a flashing or solid light? What exactly is that going to tell you?

You missed a call? You have a new email? What if you have seven new emails and the third one is the most important? Does the light blink seven times and the third blink is red? Is there a secret code letting me know my wife was one of three callers?

or

Just look at the lock screen for a detailed listing of notifications.

Not sure why people would want a little light telling them they missed stuff.

I guess based on the posting above that we all develop different habits based on the phones we use.
If I was out of the room or away from my phone, I'd just pick it up and look at it. It takes like, I dunno, less than a second to wake it up and look at it.

So only have a notification light notice for the emails that are important to you just how you only get notified on accounts you want to received notifications from?

 

[cdaq]

I've had it on various phones, and to be honest, I really don't miss it. I think its unnecessary and I've learned to live without it.

Some of us don't want to "learn to live" without useful features. Especially from a premium, expensive phone.

 

[doboy]

I want a notification LED more than anything else on the next revision. My most missed feature of android phones.



They could include one right there for symmetry.

 

[kerrikins]

There is a difference between understanding something and claiming it is not needed.

It is entirely different to ignorantly misstate how something functions.

Why argue against something that can be turned off. Why care? To me it is obvious: Apple doesn't have it. That is what is childish, in my opinion.

I don't want or ever use the flashing LED functionality that Apple provides for the hearing impaired, and that some people try to pass off as the equivalent of an LED notification light (seriously!). But I would never argue against having it.



Michael

I haven't argued against it, all I've said is that Apple hasn't put it in because most people don't need it. *shrugs* And you still have failed to realise that the 'benefit' of a feature still depends on the person using it, and to that person that you were quoting, the reasons do not apply or are not useful. I think most people in this thread are just saying that they don't see a need for it, and that they view it as antiquated.

 

[Surf Monkey]

I haven't argued against it, all I've said is that Apple hasn't put it in because most people don't need it. *shrugs* And you still have failed to realise that the 'benefit' of a feature still depends on the person using it, and to that person that you were quoting, the reasons do not apply or are not useful. I think most people in this thread are just saying that they don't see a need for it, and that they view it as antiquated.

Exactly. Apple already has a fully fledged notification strategy and it's screen based. While it's a consistent aspect of human nature to desire to turn back the hands of time the idea that Apple would add an LED notification light to future iPhones is extremely far fetched.

 

[Chatter]

Maybe a compromise eek could be something like the NoLED app on Android. You dont have to include a new indicator but allow screen off icons.

I am kinda indifferent but can see why someone would want it.

 

[ImNoSuperMan]

LEDs can be useful but it's just way too bright (atleast on my note 2) and in turn, annoying IMO. Ended up turning off mine coz of this. Maybe if it used the sensors to figure out correct brightness (like automatic screen brightness) I'll use it again but right now it's just way too bright for me.

 

[Gincoma]

Because you have too many apple fanboys on here.

Once apple decides to include an LED indicator, the fanboys will say it innovative.

Typical apple fanboy mentality.

So because there are fanboys here Apple wont put in a LED indicator hahaha,your comment makes no sense at all to what the OP posted, its not even relevant....theres going to be fanboys of all brands deal with it.

 

[oplix]

Common sense is not common for everybody.

 

[s15119]

Kills me how many fanboys & girls think everything Apple don't do is right and insult other people when they go against the grain of Apple, but soon as that idea comes about then it the best thing ever, like the larger screens for example.

You almost had an interesting post and then you ruined it with that childish "fanboy" - you're not stupid, you can make your case without resorting to that garbage, it does nothing to help your argument, instead it just poisons it.

I'm not against the LED notification because I'm a "fanboy". I'm against it because I don't see it as a need. Calling me a fanboy will only make me reject any other part of your argument.

good luck

 

[wermy]

There is a difference between understanding something and claiming it is not needed.

It is entirely different to ignorantly misstate how something functions.

Why argue against something that can be turned off. Why care? To me it is obvious: Apple doesn't have it. That is what is childish, in my opinion.

I don't want or ever use the flashing LED functionality that Apple provides for the hearing impaired, and that some people try to pass off as the equivalent of an LED notification light (seriously!). But I would never argue against having it.



Michael

Yeah. This. I don't get why some folks on here can't use their imaginations and say "Sure, I wouldn't use that feature but I can see why some might like it."
Just because you personally would not use a feature doesn't mean it was the correct decision not to include it.

 

[chabig]

Couldn't they put it right next to the hard drive activity light? That doesn't seem so hard.

 

[mercuryjones]

This is one of those things that you Apple fanboys don't care about until Apple does it.

Haven't to wake up my device every time I step away for a bit is silly and would kill more battery than a light blinking. LEDs are very energy efficient.

This is something that you Android fanboys continue to harp on, as if the iPhone not having it means that Apple is "innovating" or keeping up with the times.
Just like "why doesn't Apple have a Quad Core processor or 3GBs of RAM?".

 

[bushido]

its one of the things i miss from my nexus 4. i used to have green for whatsapp, purple for viber, yellow for snapchat, blue for fb etc. now i have to tap the screen to see if i missed something like one of those rude and annoying teens that cannot hold a conversation at a restaurant table and i hate myself for it lol

i used to see "green" ah okay its a whatsapp text, ill answer it after dinner or white oh its an email from uni i better check that. now its tap sorry tap sorry tap sorry tap sorry tap sorry. ok go on with ur convo

 

[cdaq]

I'm not against the LED notification because I'm a "fanboy". I'm against it because I don't see it as a need.

Well since the majority of the posters here (I assume) are fanboys and more than a few of them would find a signal useful, what information can you extrapolate? Maybe some posters here are correct and apple thinks not including such basic functionality will help them sell accessories. Nah, apple has never charged a premium for functions readily available on other devices.

 

[s15119]

Some of us don't want to "learn to live" without useful features. Especially from a premium, expensive phone.

It's a wonderful thing you have a choice of phones to buy.