![ipad11_thumb2[1]](http://www.teleread.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/ipad11_thumb21.jpg "ipad11_thumb2[1]")
9 to 5 Mac reports that in another one of Jobs’s laconic email exchanges, he has confirmed that the switch on the side of the iPad—currently an orientation lock to keep the screen from switching around when you move the device—will become a mute switch in iOS 4.2 (as we reported back in September), and it will not be user-configurable to change back.
This is going to be a big problem for a lot of people, especially those who read e-books—there’s not a lot that’s more jarring than having your two-page iBooks landscape view suddenly switch to portrait because you accidentally tilted the device a hair too much in one direction.
None of the people posting comments under the article liked the idea, and a number of them remarked that this would likely drive them to jailbreak in order to change it back. It remains to be seen whether consumer outcry will reach the level of the “don’t hold it like that” antenna debacle of earlier this year, and what Jobs will do if it does.
Some commenters pegged the reason for the change as being FaceTime, which the next generation of iPad will undoubtedly include. Changing the switch to a mute will bring it into line with the behavior of the similar switch on current iPhones.
All I can say is, the new double-tap-and-slide screen lock method had darned well better be a lot more convenient than it sounds like. I’m almost tempted not to upgrade out of iOS 3.
FIne. Make in line with the iPhone. And make the iPhone switch user-configurable at the same time.
I don’t have an iPad but I have an iPhone. The Stanza, and B & N apps have a way to lock the orientation from their settings menu. The Kindle app’s orientation can be locked by tapping the lower right portion of the screen. I haven’t found it that inconvenient.
It is annoying, and awkward to use. But fast-app switching more than makes up for it, IMO. I have been running the beta for a while and occasionally make use of orientation lock, but the app switching makes a huge difference all the time.
Many apps have locks built in. This is a storm in a teacup.
Hmm, this is where I have some issues with Apple, yes their products are fun, and the hackers can’t be bothered to attack them, but why make a change that inconveniences buyers?
On my iPod touch some of the reading apps don’t include a lock so I am familiar with the issue (I don’t blame Apple for this).
I guess the ipad is only meant to be used when laying on your lap. So accidental orientation change may not be a problem.
Actually, iOS 4.1, which I’m currently running on my iPhone 3GS, includes a software orientation lock as part of the multitasking feature set. When you double-click the home button and trigger the multitasking pane, you swipe left to reveal iPod controls and an orientation lock button.
Older iPhone models running 4.1 don’t get the multitasking feature set and therefore don’t see this special feature I’m guessing. Since the iPad uses the faster A4 processor I suspect it will indeed offer this–especially if they’re rerouting the hardware switch.
Indeed they will.
But I’m really going to miss the convenience of a one-touch lock, as opposed to a touch-touch-swipe-touch lock.
I’m running iOS 4.2 beta 3 and I love the software screen lock, which also has a brightness slider next to it. It’s literally just a couple of clicks away…once I got used to it it was absolutely no big deal.