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mattoligy

macrumors 6502
Original poster
May 15, 2010
396
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Cloud 9
Why are there two search areas in iOS9? One where it was in iOS8 via pulling down on the homescreen (which seems far better as you can access it from any springboard page) and a new one to the left, where it was in iOS6... Also it seems both search areas offer separate functionality which is ridiculous! They should be combined, not separated so people can't end up remembering which one does what and constantly flicking to the wrong one... I thought spotlight was known as "Spotlight Search", so why then in iOS9 is there a separate Spotlight and a separate Search? :-/
 
Disagree. If you want to do a quick search just pull down.

If you want to access frequent apps, read some random news, or go to your favorite contacts, swipe left.

They offer two separate functionalities. In fact, I really don't see the need for the persistent search bar on the Proactive Screen.
 
The swipe left is part of Proactive Siri and changes depending on what contacts, apps etc it thinks you might find helpful at that moment. It also provides Spotlight Seacch to compliment its recommendations
 
I get what you guys are saying but I agree with the OP. I would like to see the proactive info on the pull down prior to a search maybe. I like the idea of what proactive is doing but I have taught myself to use Spotlight and would like to just use this feature and combine the functions. Maybe its just something else to get used to over time.
 
Exactly. When they first announced it I could not understand at all why they brought back the left page. And after using iOS 9 for two weeks, I think I know why they did it but I sill don't think they should have done it. iOS 7 removed it so IMO they should not bring it back. I think they did though so they could have more screen real estate for all the new stuff they want to put there because they don't need the keyboard to pop up right away. I just really wish they would have made it work keyboard and all from the swipe down.
 
As said above, left swipe brings up proactive whereas Siri tries to anticipate what you need at that moment.

Let's say you want to message someone who was a previous "recent" contact, but since you haven't interacted with that person in awhile, Siri doesn't have them listed. With the Spotlight bar, you don't have to leave that screen in order to find them.

It costs you nothing for it being there but increases your ability to find exactly what you want in the event it's not.
 
As said above, left swipe brings up proactive whereas Siri tries to anticipate what you need at that moment.

Let's say you want to message someone who was a previous "recent" contact, but since you haven't interacted with that person in awhile, Siri doesn't have them listed. With the Spotlight bar, you don't have to leave that screen in order to find them.

It costs you nothing for it being there but increases your ability to find exactly what you want in the event it's not.

I think we all understand the differences, but why not make proactive siri part of the standard swipe down search? More information is never a bad thing....two search options is just weird!
 
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Agree with op. Make up your mind Apple. I'm hoping it's just for the beta.

edit: One option would be to have either a swipe down or right to access the proactive screen. Then have the search bar at the bottom always being on top when scrolling. Having it at the top is tough to reach with 6/6plus.
 
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LOL at all those who try to explain and make sense out of this dubious "double search feature". It's not a feature. It's just that Apple didn't have enough time to polish it for the first beta. Either the two will be consolidated or one will be removed. LOL
 
LOL at all those who try to explain and make sense out of this dubious "double search feature". It's not a feature. It's just that Apple didn't have enough time to polish it for the first beta. Either the two will be consolidated or one will be removed. LOL

...and that will be fine. Whatever the method if we have it consolidated I will learn either way and adapt. I have gotten used to the pull down for Spotlight and would vote to use that so I don't have to change habits but again. I can learn.
 
LOL at all those who try to explain and make sense out of this dubious "double search feature". It's not a feature. It's just that Apple didn't have enough time to polish it for the first beta. Either the two will be consolidated or one will be removed. LOL

I think you may be wrong. They highlighted the fact there were two different ways to search. If it was something that was not ready or as they intended, it would have been left out. I don't recall a feature being introduced that changed.
 
Swiping left brings up Siri suggestions with Search at the top that you need to tap to activate. Swiping down jumps straight into search with the cursor and keyboard active. It makes sense to me to have both, left is more info and suggestions, down is faster for typing. I can't understand why you guys are so opposed to having both.
 
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Swiping left brings up Siri suggestions with Search at the top that you need to tap to activate. Swiping down jumps straight into search with the cursor and keyboard active. It makes sense to me to have both, left is more info and suggestions, down is faster for typing. I can't understand why you guys are so opposed to having both.

Right, swipe down = search. Swipe right = suggestions + option to search.

I think part of the hate is people not liking "page 0" home screen from pre iOS 7 era in general, a sentiment I kinda agree with.

That is, I would love an option to configure swipe down as suggestions + option to search and disable swipe right altogether.
 
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When you swipe right and select the search text field, can it search for everything spotlight can (swipe down on sb)? If so, maybe a simple option in settings to disable the swipe down search area would suffice! If not I guess we'll be waiting for a jb to fix Apples mess like usual :-/
 
The swipe left is part of Proactive Siri and changes depending on what contacts, apps etc it thinks you might find helpful at that moment. It also provides Spotlight Seacch to compliment its recommendations
Swiping left brings up Siri suggestions with Search at the top that you need to tap to activate. Swiping down jumps straight into search with the cursor and keyboard active. It makes sense to me to have both, left is more info and suggestions, down is faster for typing. I can't understand why you guys are so opposed to having both.
That's basically it.

Would it be better if people thought of the proactive left screen as one without the search filed but everything else? Perhaps that would make it less confusing--search is there as usual as a pull-down, while proactive is there as a new left screen.
 
Remember how iOS 7 added a new notification tray with 3 separate areas and no one really knew why there were 3?

And then remember how iOS 8 consolidated them to just 2, which made way more sense?

Yeah... that's what's going to happen here. Let's hope they figure it out before iOS 9 comes out and we don't have to wait an entire extra year.
 
That's basically it.

Would it be better if people thought of the proactive left screen as one without the search filed but everything else? Perhaps that would make it less confusing--search is there as usual as a pull-down, while proactive is there as a new left screen.

I'm just trying to say it's counter to what has been working. Widgets, pull down. Spotlight, pull down. Now, suggestions, swipe left? Why not pull down with scroll like widgets? Works fine.

I have said it but will say it again. I'm not mad about it and will adjust. Just like to point out its odd to swipe left at this point. Thankfully I only have two pages. In the past it would have been click to get home then swipe left. Remember that before we had folders?
 
Disagree. If you want to do a quick search just pull down.

If you want to access frequent apps, read some random news, or go to your favorite contacts, swipe left.

They offer two separate functionalities. In fact, I really don't see the need for the persistent search bar on the Proactive Screen.
What you're describing are essentially widgets so not exactly search. I do agree that there really shouldn't be a search bar in Siri Proactive b/c it really isn't search! marketing brain freeze by apple I'd say.
 
Siri Proactive is basically like a personal assistant helping their boss; getting coffee, calling a contact, etc… It should've been called Siri Assist or something, not 'Search' b/c it's not search at all!
 
Siri Proactive is basically like a personal assistant helping their boss; getting coffee, calling a contact, etc… It should've been called Siri Assist or something, not 'Search' b/c it's not search at all!

Then why does it have a search field?
 
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