IPad change coming? screen lock to mute?

Hobbes

Not sure if this is a wind up but I can say I am not overly happy with this option. Sounds like a wind up. The device already has a mute button (hold your finger on volume down).

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1036957

One of the controversial changes in the upcoming iPad OS 4.2 was the change in functionality of the iPad's Orientation locking switch to a Mute switch.

Sad Professor

According to Jobs there won't be any option to change it back either. It's a stupid change. Nobody, except Apple, seems to think it's a good idea.

naasrd

No logic to it at all.

Red Alert

I could see the advantage in having it similar to the smaller iOS devices. The thing this, though, that the mute switch on an iPhone only mutes telephone sounds and some others. It does not globally mute the iPhone. Not sure how well this could translate to an iPad.

Scuid Mhór

wouldn't worry that much about it. could end up better than you expect and if there is public outcry, they'd probably amend it with the next software update.

Draco

It's not a wind up at all.

The logic as far as I can see is that since the same lock option as you have on the iPhone with iOS 4 is available means they could change the functionality of that switch.

naasrd

Draco wrote: »

It's not a wind up at all.

The logic as far as I can see is that since the same lock option as you have on the iPhone with iOS 4 is available means they could change the functionality of that switch.

Then it looks we're gonna get Screen Lock under Multi Tasking which is en route to iPad and already on the iPhone 4?

Linoge

Agreed that it is a ridiculous change. I need to lock the orientation much more often than i ever need to mute. Its not like you have the iPad discreetly stored in your pocket during a meeting and need to turn off the sound instantly and without looking at it (why.... just in case it rings of course!).

aidan_walsh

The screen lock was originally billed as a mute switch until maybe a month before the release of the iPad.

This change back does seem to be standardising for standardisings sake though, its a very useful thing to have and a mute can be quickly achieved by holding the Volume Down button for only a second or so.

brianhickey

It's a terrible decision. Most of the time they row back on these things eventually, hopefully they do in this case, and give the option for iPhones and iPods too. There will be a fix on Cydia straight away.

gzoladz

These are the things that really piss me off from Apple.
What's next? Make a bright adjustment knob out of the camera in the new ipod touch???

Hopefully Cydia will sort it. I wonder how many users would not have bought an ipod/ipad/iphone if they were not jaillbreakable.

_Whimsical_

Another vote against this. I think the screen lock is particularly essential for using the ipad as an ireader. I read in bed mostly and if you're planning to spend an hour or more it's very infuriating to have the screen flip to landscape whenever you change position...who wants to read in landscape? It'll render the ibooks app useless.

How is this even legal I wonder ? If you buy a product, you've entered into a contract to receive it "as described". How can they just change an useful function like this when it belongs to us rather than to them? Can Sony turn up at your door someday and say "we're removing the rewind button on your dvd?".

If they can change one small thing whats to stop them changing bigger things?

Sad Professor

_Whimsical_ wrote: »

Another vote against this. I think the screen lock is particularly essential for using the ipad as an ireader. I read in bed mostly and if you're planning to spend an hour or more it's very infuriating to have the screen flip to landscape whenever you change position...who wants to read in landscape? It'll render the ibooks app useless.

You'll still be able to lock the orientation, you'll just have to use the multitasking bar - same as on the iPhone. The switch is just more convenient, that's all.

jamesd

I am using the 4.2 beta on the iPad so I have this change on my iPad already, you get used to it. Holding down the volume - button for 2 seconds mutes the volume and as wrote above you can lock the screen orientation like the IPhone 4 with on the multitask bar.

_Whimsical_

Sad Professor wrote: »

You'll still be able to lock the orientation, you'll just have to use the multitasking bar - same as on the iPhone. The switch is just more convenient, that's all.

Ok well thats not as bad then. Thanks

chrislad

Scuid Mhór wrote: »

wouldn't worry that much about it. could end up better than you expect and if there is public outcry, they'd probably amend it with the next software update.

It's not better. I've been using the 4.2 beta for a month, and I can't stand it. Yes, I can double click and swipe across, but I don't want to have to do that. On a phone, I can understand it being more useful as a mute switch, but there's no need for an iPad. Orientation is more important as I am always moving it around.

Hobbes

Is the software lock permanent? Or do you have to do it each time you turn on the device?

The only logic I can see for changing it to a mute is the possible chance of a webcam going into the next gen iPads.

Wossack

Hobbes wrote: »

Is the software lock permanent? Or do you have to do it each time you turn on the device?

The only logic I can see for changing it to a mute is the possible chance of a webcam going into the next gen iPads.

fwiw the iphone software lock survives a restart, so I would imagine it'd be the same for the pad

kingshankly

if it gonna cause so much hassle why update

jester77

I think it's a good idea. The first night I got the ipad I pushed the switch down to mute it from getting notifications during the night, thought it was broken. Makes more sense to have it as mute, the orientation is just a double click away in v4 and you will always have the ipad on anyway if you ever need to do this (still haven't had a reason to use it)

aidan_walsh

Like the phone the software lock remains until you disable it.

Earthhorse

Ugh, given that there will be a way to do either of these things; lock orientation and mute the device, outside of the button, why not simply allow users to set what they want the button to do based on which action they perform more? I lock the orientation more often but why the need the lock it down?