iPad lock to become a mute button again, instead of orientation lock
If you’ve grown accustomed to flicking the switch to lock the screen, you’re going to be pretty annoyed when iOS 4.2 launches next month. Apple plans on leaving the switch as a mute button.
According to another vague email from Jobs, it’s pretty clear that they intend on leaving it as a volume mute switch, which has to be the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. It’s not stupid because the iPad needs a mute switch. It’s stupid because the iPad already has a mute switch: it’s called holding down the lower volume button on the volume rocker. The volume drops from one bar to mute in a split second.
How many steps is it going to take to switch the screen orientation? Five. You’ll have to double click the home button to bring up the multi-tasking menu, then swipe (left to right) to bring up the controls, then unclick the orientation lock, then flip the device, then re-click the orientation lock to lock it.
How many steps is it currently? Three. You flip the switch, flip the device, and flip the switch again. You tell me which one makes more sense?
Emails From Steve Jobs.com reader, Robert Novak, sent an e-mail to Steve Jobs asking:
In IOS 4.2 for iPad is the switch on the side going to be the mute and not screen orientation lock from now on?
After getting a classic thumbs up from Jobs:
Yep.
Sent from my iPhone
Robert asked him if this would be an option for the user:
Are you planning to make that a changeable option?
And Jobs’ answer:
Nope.
So there you have it. Your mute switch with iPad 4.2 will seemingly never be an orientation lock again, according to Jobs.
Exclusive screen shots:
