I dont get it, why they are doing this.
I use this button all the time, it is very convenient to have this function as a hardware button as opposed to software on the screen.
You already have a mute button, a long press on the volume button achieves exactly that. This is a surprising, and IMO a poor usability choice by Apple.
They are doing it so that their products, from an iPod Touch to an iPhone to a iPad all have a consistent way of handling screen lock and mute.
On release of the iPad, iOS4 (which contains a screen lock software control via double-click of the home button) was not yet ready.
Therefore for the time being they repurposed the mute switch to be a temporary screen lock until they had finished implementing the software implementation. The other option they had was to leave out screen lock completely at the start (which is what the original press materials showed for a while) but I think we can all imagine the outrage in the press & reviews if there was no way to lock the screen at all, so they repurposed the mute switch for the time being.
I installed iOS 4.2 beta on my ipad last week so I kind of get what you're saying.
The main thing I noticed is that when I needed to mute I typically need to mute quicker than I need to switch orientation. Whenever I need to orientation lock I can easily set it up before hand. I usually need to set my iPad to mute because I have to take care of something that comes up.
And holding down volume down seems to get rid of my volume setting whereas having a switch does not.
Strange. I have the apple ipad case and use the orientation lock all the time. Given how thin the case is and the amount of the switch that sticks up from the edge it seems pretty easy. You would need to have particularly fat fingers to not be able to turn the orientation lock off and even if I use a thumb it is easy to turn it on.
A software button will be really annoying. I never need to use a mute button, but set the orientation lock several times a day. Oh well, at least I know that a solution to this "solution" will probable be easy for someone to whip up and add to the jailbreak repos.
I don't like it, but I understand why they can't have orientation lock be both a soft switch and a hard switch at the same time. It's a hell of a lot more convenient as a hard switch, that's for sure.
What I can't understand is why you can't choose this in Settings if you want it as a Mute button or Orientation Lock button. Why not make this a CP setting? People who like it the way it is can go through the extra steps to activate it, while new users have it default as mute.
Because then, if you handed your iPad to another person, they wouldn't be able to instantly know everything about how to use it if they had used one previously. Apple goes to a lot of effort to be consistent.
Honestly I think this change in 4.2 for the iPad makes sense. Not only for consistency sake, but I think more people will want to quickly mute audio rather than have to do it in software.
As has been mentioned, the volume rocker on the iPad already allows "quick muting" - holding the volume decrease button decreases the volume linearly for about a half-second, then jumps immediately to mute.
I have personally always hated this behavior, but the hardware mute switch neither corrects nor exacerbates this problem.
Having said that, I strongly prefer using the toggle for muting and placing the orientation lock in the tray: orientation locking is done while the unit is in use, and getting to the tray is fairly easy (double-press Home and swipe right). Muting on the other hand, should ideally be available while the unit is locked.
if you happen to also have the ipod nano with a camera, then the switch is priceless for watching the videos. Otherwise, you cannot make is full screen unless you physically tilt your head ... depends on how the video was taken.
I first noticed that the switch changed when I was trying out the beta and was pissed until I realized there was a software button for locking. The software button is fine, though less convenient. But now there is an easy access brightness toggle too! Net positive.
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[ 3.0 ms ] story [ 48.7 ms ] threadYou already have a mute button, a long press on the volume button achieves exactly that. This is a surprising, and IMO a poor usability choice by Apple.
On release of the iPad, iOS4 (which contains a screen lock software control via double-click of the home button) was not yet ready.
Therefore for the time being they repurposed the mute switch to be a temporary screen lock until they had finished implementing the software implementation. The other option they had was to leave out screen lock completely at the start (which is what the original press materials showed for a while) but I think we can all imagine the outrage in the press & reviews if there was no way to lock the screen at all, so they repurposed the mute switch for the time being.
The main thing I noticed is that when I needed to mute I typically need to mute quicker than I need to switch orientation. Whenever I need to orientation lock I can easily set it up before hand. I usually need to set my iPad to mute because I have to take care of something that comes up.
And holding down volume down seems to get rid of my volume setting whereas having a switch does not.
A software button will be really annoying. I never need to use a mute button, but set the orientation lock several times a day. Oh well, at least I know that a solution to this "solution" will probable be easy for someone to whip up and add to the jailbreak repos.
I have personally always hated this behavior, but the hardware mute switch neither corrects nor exacerbates this problem.
Having said that, I strongly prefer using the toggle for muting and placing the orientation lock in the tray: orientation locking is done while the unit is in use, and getting to the tray is fairly easy (double-press Home and swipe right). Muting on the other hand, should ideally be available while the unit is locked.