I'm with the majority on this. I use the orientation lock quite a bit on a regular basis but hardly ever mute the iPad so I would rather have the physical switch, which can be accessed instantly, be used for the function I use more often. Besides, you can already mute the iPad easily by holding down the volume button for a few seconds.
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Mute or Orientation Lock?
- Thread starter iNeko
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I can understand wanting uniformity across all iOS platforms, but replacing one button action to lock the screen orientation with four seems nonsensical to me.
Maybe they'll give us a choice in general settings as to the button's function. I don't see myself using "mute" on the iPad much if at all.
Just like a portrait lock on the iPhone borders on useless to me. Landscap lock would have been far more useful when using the web browser.
Maybe they'll give us a choice in general settings as to the button's function. I don't see myself using "mute" on the iPad much if at all.
Just like a portrait lock on the iPhone borders on useless to me. Landscap lock would have been far more useful when using the web browser.
Mute, I need to mute my iPad many times without actually being using it. While screen rotator every time i would need that, i will be looking at the screen so an On-Screen bottom makes much more sense
if you push the vol down key for more than 1 sec vol goes all the way down, that is real mute, the switch only activates silent mode but ipad is not a phone i think ipad silent mode is useless.
I know that, but found the switch easier to use/find, I think a physical switch for screen rotation is useless, You are looking at the screen, on-screen function make more sense (to me).
Not when you might be changing every few seconds, i sometimes do for photos.
Anyway... why continue this thread when another one with more votes has been made
Not when you might be changing every few seconds, i sometimes do for photos.
Anyway... why continue this thread when another one with more votes has been made
Sounds like you need to fix your photo library. I have a library of 6000 photos and every one is the proper orientation.
I would find the mute switch useful at night, when I have forgotten to turn the volume all the way down and don't want to hear every email that comes in. Flipping the switch would be much easier than grab the iPad, turn it on, hold the volume button, turn off the iPad place it back on the stand in the dark.
For screen rotation I would love to have it multi-touch like the Nano 6G, I rarely change my iPad from landscape.
For screen rotation I would love to have it multi-touch like the Nano 6G, I rarely change my iPad from landscape.
I agree with all of the above.ditzy said:
In the days before iOS 4, before the double-click of the home button was permanently assigned to pulling up the app switcher, there was a setting in the Settings app to map the double click action to one of about 3 choices (launching the iPod app being one of them) so don't totally give up hope on a configuration option.
I share your pessimism, Apple seems to hate exposing too many user options, but there is precedent for button configuration and this one would be a really simple choice-of-two option.
- Julian
Honestly, I couldnt care less. I hardly used the button when it locked orientation and I still hardly use it now it mutes. Locking orientation via the app switching bar is fine. I wouldn't be surprised if they took out the switch entirely for iPad gen. 2.
It's probably going to stay Mute without a choice. That was clearly the original intention because of the first set of iPad docs which had the button as being Mute.
Then the devs realised they had no way in their branch of iPhoneOS 3.x (3.2) to do it through software easily so they used the button.
Now that 3.2 is being merged back into the iOS trunk with 4.1 which has the new multitasking menu, they have the software option and they'll sync functionality across devices, with the precedent having been set by the iPhone.
Then the devs realised they had no way in their branch of iPhoneOS 3.x (3.2) to do it through software easily so they used the button.
Now that 3.2 is being merged back into the iOS trunk with 4.1 which has the new multitasking menu, they have the software option and they'll sync functionality across devices, with the precedent having been set by the iPhone.
The way that the button works is more than just muting all sounds. Currently you have to turn the volume down to silence the device, but with 4.2 you can mute the various system sounds separately. I'm currently listening to music and I have no interest in my email chiming as it comes in, so I've flicked the switch rather than altering the settings.
I can enjoy the new album from Brandon Flowers without interruption.
Winner!
I can enjoy the new album from Brandon Flowers without interruption.
Winner!
That actually abounds like it might be complicated and confusing for a casual user. I can just see myself trying to explain that to my 80-year old acquaintance. "see, you flick this switch to mute sound. But it doesn't mute all sounds, only system sounds. What are system sounds? Well..." Yeah he'll remember that, all right! *snort!*
Same difference.
"If you are in a meeting or need quiet, this switch turns off any notification sounds." I'm pretty sure anyone with an iPad would know what that means. If they aren't already an iPad owner, then they won't understand what it means any less than what the home button does.