iPhone 15 Pro Action Button is a Horrible Idea

[zach-coleman]

That’s gold to hear, thx! So I found one that shows the Silent Mode item in Control Center. Here:

Screen mirroring is at the bottom right. Screenshot:

View attachment 2266724

They must have put screen mirroring there on the demo units just for people like us who would wonder, lol…

Slightly related, but they’ve almost made all the functions you can’t remove from control center useful now! Only remaining thing for me is having the cellular toggle there instead of hotspot…

 

[Nozuka]

AOD is only offered on certain models and isn't a part of iOS. And yes by control center they mean you can slide the volume button up and down, which really doesn't put the phone in and out of vibrate. Not that big of deal I guess but would be nice to have the action button AND the vibrate switch.

Yes, AOD is only offered on certain models. Just like the action button, that replaces the mute switch -> which means they need to add a way to easily enable mute when u use that button for something else. and only add it to models that have the action button, because it makes no sense to offer it when you have a hardware switch for it.

I don't know why you are now coming up with this "slide volume button up and down" nonsense.. seriously...
even though it was already settled with Apple saying there is a mute button in the control center, i guess you can now also have visual proof thanks to the screenshot from dsteve and stop this nonsense of trying to be right, when all the evidence and logic shows the opposite to be true.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/action-button-is-a-horrible-idea.2401600/post-32496723

 

[Nozuka]

I really need constant notification that mute is on. This is just too important to have to remember .. is it on or off .. KWIM? Just a little light .. something for instant notification that mute is on.

According to this podcast the "muted" sign is constantly visible in the top corner, even on AOD.
But i have not seen visual proof of that yet. But we will know soon enough.

They start talking about the action button at 51:20.

 

[dictoresno]

The more I thought about it the more I worried about accidental pushing of the button, same way I do a lot on my Apple Watch Ultra. However, during my new case search I’ve seen some cases still have a cutout and some have a button built into the case (like the volume buttons always were). I can see where a cutout for the action button would necessitate an intentional pressing of the button vs an accidental pushing. Looking forward to seeing how the different cases (with and without cutout button for action button) play a role in erroneously pushed triggers.

 

[DMG35]

Yes, AOD is only offered on certain models. Just like the action button, that replaces the mute switch -> which means they need to add a way to easily enable mute when u use that button for something else. and only add it to models that have the action button, because it makes no sense to offer it when you have a hardware switch for it.

I don't know why you are now coming up with this "slide volume button up and down" nonsense.. seriously...
even though it was already settled with Apple saying there is a mute button in the control center, i guess you can now also have visual proof thanks to the screenshot from dsteve and stop this nonsense of trying to be right, when all the evidence and logic shows the opposite to be true.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/action-button-is-a-horrible-idea.2401600/post-32496723

Ah, thank you for showing that. That was all I needed to see, appreciate you.

 

[sherwinzadeh]

I really need constant notification that mute is on. This is just too important to have to remember .. is it on or off .. KWIM? Just a little light .. something for instant notification that mute is on.

Exactly. As a physical switch, you don't even need to see it. You can feel if it's mute or not.

 

[dsteve]

Exactly. As a physical switch, you don't even need to see it. You can feel if it's mute or not.

It’s not exactly what you’re asking for, but at 2:04 in the video linked in my last post, he shows that a quick tap of the action button delivers mute status in the dynamic island.

Direct link to timestamp:

He doesn’t say whether it triggers the same haptics as using the button for Silent Mode, which would be another step closer to your wish, but still a step slower than just feeling the existing mute switch.

 

[zach-coleman]

Exactly. As a physical switch, you don't even need to see it. You can feel if it's mute or not.

You can feel if the action button is in mute by tapping it. You receive haptic feedback that tells you if the phone is in ringer or silent. I don't get why this is such a problem.

 

[Madonepro]

I hope this encourages the removal, or at least, a setting, that can toggle camera and light off of the locked screen. I can't tell you how often the camera or light gets accidentally turned on.

 

[Saturn1217]

In a world where software defines the user experience having a physical switch that cannot be controlled by software was a mistake. From the beginning. Apple is getting around to fixing it. I am constantly muting my phone and then forgetting to unmute it. It would be a better experience (and something Android used to do) if I could mute for a set amount of time (or in a specific location like work) and then have software automatically return me to my previous state. Apple will (I assume) get there eventually and this is the first step. The point is NOTHING about the state of the phone should be beyond the control of the software that runs the phone. That's poor design.

I've lived for my entire smartphone life without a mute switch until I bought an iPhone 13 Pro Max. It really isn't that big a deal. Having a hardware button to trigger the camera is going to be a game changer for many people.

 

[tharitm]

I’ve never used the mute switch, I am always on vibrate

I felt the removal of it is to just bring you into the Apple garden even more. For example, I have an Apple Watch so most of my notifications are on it and the phone is always on silent. The silent switch is just sitting there unused, so for me the action button is quite helpful.

 

[ScubaCinci]

The more I think about it, the Action Button on the iPhone 15 Pro is going to make my life much harder -- specifically because it replaces the mute switch which is super important. By being a physical switch, you can just feel if you're on mute without taking your phone out of your pocket. This is something I do daily when in meetings and other scenarios where I don't want my phone to ring. With the Action Button, you have to press and hold but you don't know before if it's already on mute or not. Maybe you can feel with haptics -- don't know. But still you're going to have to press and hold just to find out and undo it if it was already mute.

They should have added the Action Button in addition to the mute switch. There's plenty of room.

(Also never liked the power button moving to the right side. I hit that way too often accidentally. Should be on the top like iPhone 1-5. Then you can stand it on it's side too).

I'm with you. I use the mute switch quite a bit though I guess I'm ok with a different implementation of it which gives flexibility to others. I use the switch mainly when gaming so I can hear the game audio but also when I am not wearing my AW like when charging it, showering, swimming, or otherwise doing things that I do not want to be wearing it (engine repair anyone?) but want to know when I get a text or call.

 

[dsteve]

I'm with you. I use the mute switch quite a bit though I guess I'm ok with a different implementation of it which gives flexibility to others. I use the switch mainly when gaming so I can hear the game audio but also when I am not wearing my AW like when charging it, showering, swimming, or otherwise doing things that I do not want to be wearing it (engine repair anyone?) but want to know when I get a text or call.

Don't think that's yet possible, but eliminating the physical switch is one step closer to it - all we need is a way to trigger based on the Apple Watch being locked/unlocked or connected/disconnected.

Everything else is in place to automate this without having to use the Action Button. There's a new shortcut action in iOS 17 to turn on/off Silent Mode...assuming that works on iPhone 15 Pro and not just ipad/watch (we find out Friday but makes sense to include).

 

[sherwinzadeh]

The more I think about it, the Action Button on the iPhone 15 Pro is going to make my life much harder -- specifically because it replaces the mute switch which is super important. By being a physical switch, you can just feel if you're on mute without taking your phone out of your pocket. This is something I do daily when in meetings and other scenarios where I don't want my phone to ring. With the Action Button, you have to press and hold but you don't know before if it's already on mute or not. Maybe you can feel with haptics -- don't know. But still you're going to have to press and hold just to find out and undo it if it was already mute.

They should have added the Action Button in addition to the mute switch. There's plenty of room.

(Also never liked the power button moving to the right side. I hit that way too often accidentally. Should be on the top like iPhone 1-5. Then you can stand it on it's side too).

From Gizmodo's review:
there were a couple of times I accidentally pressed it when I meant to press the Volume Up button instead.

 

[zach-coleman]

According to this podcast the "muted" sign is constantly visible in the top corner, even on AOD.
But i have not seen visual proof of that yet. But we will know soon enough.

They start talking about the action button at 51:20.

 

[compwiz1202]

Good thing it isn't a dedicated camera button. You can assign the button, unlike the mute switch.

People that can't see their phones?? Lol. They still have to feel for it, right? So pushing a simple button is no harder than flipping a switch...in most countries. It actually might be easier to do, especially with a case on the phone.

But with the switch you can feel in your pocket and know by how the phone ane switch are oriented which state it is in. You don't with the button. It's a Schrodinger's Action Button

 

[compwiz1202]

Which is entirely possible when you shove your phone in the pocket and touch the side.
Hence why I’m looking for another option to enable silent mode and just set the switch to “none” if it becomes an issue.

I just hope you can disable to button when the phone is locked.

 

[skiltrip]

Actually pretty thrilled the old switch is still on the 15.

 

[compwiz1202]

Well of course you can't add it, when you still have the mechanical mute switch. It would be useless.

I know you used to be able to add some shortcut through accessability because I had to for my one iPhone because the switch broke.

 

[Steve686]

But with the switch you can feel in your pocket and know by how the phone ane switch are oriented which state it is in. You don't with the button. It's a Schrodinger's Action Button

‘Weak argument.

You have to feel the switch. You have to feel the haptic.

It’s mind blowing how hard people make putting a phone on mute.

If the phone being on mute is such a pressing matter, mute it all day or before an event that it needs to be muted for.

Here’s an idea. You can probably even check the mute status with the phone in your pocket by pressing the button from the outside of your pants, considering you’re not wearing the tightest pants known to man. How’s that for incognito?

 

[Madonepro]

‘Weak argument.

You have to feel the switch. You have to feel the haptic.

It’s mind blowing how hard people make putting a phone on mute.

If the phone being on mute is such a pressing matter, mute it all day or before an event that it needs to be muted for.

Here’s an idea. You can probably even check the mute status with the phone in your pocket by pressing the button from the outside of your pants, considering you’re not wearing the tightest pants known to man. How’s that for incognito?

Totally agree.
Create a shortcut, that places your phone in a meeting mode, and toggle it with the action button.
When going into a meeting, like almost everyone I know, we actually look at our phones, then place them in our pockets, or on the table in front of us.

 

[Steve686]

And of course.

The button assigned to MUTE function works absolutely flawlessly.

All this hubbub about nothing and this is actually a very positive change. The haptic takes a fraction of a second and each haptic is very discernible from the other so there is no chance you can't tell what mode you're in. A multiple vibration, you're on mute. A single click vibration, you're not on mute.

Hopefully this horrid issue will finally be laid to rest because it is so overblown.

 

[dsteve]

Got my iPhone 15 PM and decided to see what happens.

When you have the action button set to silent mode and tap the button, you do NOT get haptics to feel the status. You have to look at the dynamic island to see silent mode status.

So, people who want to go by feel actually have to a long press to find out if it used to be in silent mode and then long press again to put it back to silent mode.

When you have the action button set to anything else, you don’t get silent mode status in the dynamic island. DI activates for the selection action type, but effectively doesn’t nothing useful for any of them. edit: except it shows current focus mode in DI.

 

[Steve686]

Got my iPhone 15 PM and decided to see what happens.

When you have the action button set to silent mode and tap the button, you do NOT get haptics to feel the status. You have to look at the dynamic island to see silent mode status.

So, people who want to go by feel actually have to a long press to find out if it used to be in silent mode and then long press again to put it back to silent mode.

When you have the action button set to anything else, you don’t get silent mode status in the dynamic island. DI activates for the selection action type, but effectively doesn’t nothing useful for any of them. edit: except it shows current focus mode in DI.

Good god man.

It’s a .2 second press to check. .2!

Saying “long press” is so misrepresentative of what it actually is. It’s so minutely more than just pressing it. Like .05 seconds.

 

[sideman7]

The more I think about it, the Action Button on the iPhone 15 Pro is going to make my life much harder -- specifically because it replaces the mute switch which is super important. By being a physical switch, you can just feel if you're on mute without taking your phone out of your pocket. This is something I do daily when in meetings and other scenarios where I don't want my phone to ring. With the Action Button, you have to press and hold but you don't know before if it's already on mute or not. Maybe you can feel with haptics -- don't know. But still you're going to have to press and hold just to find out and undo it if it was already mute.

They should have added the Action Button in addition to the mute switch. There's plenty of room.

(Also never liked the power button moving to the right side. I hit that way too often accidentally. Should be on the top like iPhone 1-5. Then you can stand it on it's side too).

Sorry, I haven't ready through all 11 pages here. Did anyone mention that now this is software based, you can set a focus mode to automatically toggle the ringer to silent? Add the option to your "work" focus (if you use it), or you can create a new work focus with nothing in it other than this mute option. Then you can activate the focus for a calendar event or for as long as you are at a location. When the event is over or you leave it automatically turns the ringer back on. This is actually better, no?