will we ever get a "numbers" row on the virtual keyboard?

Question

Level 1

24 points

will we ever get a "numbers" row on the virtual keyboard?

I have sent feedback to Apple, and have heard nothing. I have called Apple and was told to leave "feedback".
Is it just me, or does it seem silly to have to type twice as many characters just to enter a password because Apple didn't include numbers on the keyboard.
An eight digit password now takes 12 keystrokes as one must keep turning on and off the numbers row.
Am I missing something?

pc, iOS 4, mac when needed

Posted on Oct 25, 2010 3:27 PM

Reply

Answer 1

tvmaster Author

Level 1

24 points

Nov 3, 2010 1:29 PM in response to tvmaster

really? no one is interested in having greater control of their virtual keyboard?

Reply

Answer 2

Philly_Phan

Level 7

20,707 points

Nov 3, 2010 2:09 PM in response to tvmaster

I would not expect a personal response from Apple. I'm sure that they get millions of suggestions from users.

I also don't like the extra keystrokes but I don't want the keys smaller and I don't want the virtual keyboard any larger so I figure that this is the least of several evils. I'm OK with it as is.

Reply

Answer 3

Nov 3, 2010 2:09 PM in response to tvmaster

As noted on the Feedback page, Apple doesn't reply to feedback. Don't understand why it should take you twice as many keystrokes to type numbers. Numbers stay selected for me until type a space or unselect them. In answer to your question, the keypad seems fine to me. I feel no particular need for change.

Best of luck.

Reply

Answer 4

Philly_Phan

Level 7

20,707 points

Nov 3, 2010 2:14 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

He's referring to going back and forth between the letters keypad and the numbers keypad.

Reply

Answer 5

Nov 3, 2010 2:22 PM in response to Philly_Phan

I just never notice it but I do the vast majority of my typing on either my iPad or my HTC Incredible which also doesn't have numbers unless you tap the number/symbol key. Second nature to me by now.

Reply

Answer 6

Nov 3, 2010 2:28 PM in response to tvmaster

Let's hope that the new iOS update (4.2) will bring a row of numeric keys to the virtual keyboard. In the meantime you can connect an actual keyboard to your iPad and have access to all numeric keys on it - http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC184LL/A

Reply

Answer 7

tvmaster Author

Level 1

24 points

Nov 3, 2010 3:32 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

How do numbers stay selected? I always have to hit the .?123 / ABC key.
Am I missing something, like an "auto" feature that senses in my brain when I want to type numbers or characters?
thanks

Reply

Answer 8

tvmaster Author

Level 1

24 points

Nov 3, 2010 3:39 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

I'm happy that some don't feel a need for a change, but if there was an "option" for those of us who would like this, and didn't mind slightly smaller target keys, what's the harm?

Also, you're misunderstanding me - for every number, I must hit the .?123 key, and then hit the ABC key to type the next letter, then the .?123 key again to get to numbers, etc.

If my password was, for example, er7v4b8nm5, I would have to type seven extra keystrokes for a 10 digit password.

Does that make sense now?

That seems incredibly stupid.

But then again, that's probably why "The Onion" wrote the story on the "Apple Wheel"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BnLbv6QYcA

Reply

Answer 9

Nov 3, 2010 8:48 PM in response to tvmaster

tvmaster wrote:
I'm happy that some don't feel a need for a change, but if there was an "option" for those of us who would like this, and didn't mind slightly smaller target keys, what's the harm?

No harm at all. You asked if anyone else cared about the issue. I was simply responding to your question.

Best of luck.

Reply

Answer 10

tvmaster Author

Level 1

24 points

Jan 2, 2011 9:07 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

so, two months have passed and NO ONE wants a visible number row? I am amazed that Canadians and Brits put up with Apple's ignorance with regards to their culture.
For example, a Canadian - British postal code looks like this: M2L 2K4
so, to type this six-digit postal code, you need to type 11 keystrokes.
I imagine their post offices won't use the iPad.
Apple Wheel - coming soon

Reply

Answer 11

deggie

Level 10

167,177 points

Jan 2, 2011 9:11 PM in response to tvmaster

Sorry, but I'd rather have a larger keypad and switch to one with numbers.

Reply

Answer 12

Jan 2, 2011 9:41 PM in response to tvmaster

tvmaster wrote:
so, two months have passed and NO ONE wants a visible number row?

Apparently not

I am amazed that Canadians and Brits put up with Apple's ignorance with regards to their culture.
For example, a Canadian - British postal code looks like this: M2L 2K4

Oddly, I'd always thought that postal codes were something foisted upon us by a bureaucracy for their convenience rather than part of our "culture".

Reply

Answer 13

Chris CA

Level 10

82,434 points

Jan 2, 2011 9:43 PM in response to tvmaster

Is it just me, or does it seem silly to have to type twice as many characters just to enter a password

I just use the 1Password app (on my Mac and on my iPad) and don't need to type any usernames or passwords.

Reply

Answer 14

Jan 2, 2011 11:00 PM in response to tvmaster

tvmaster wrote:
so, two months have passed and NO ONE wants a visible number row?

The evidence is in, the answer is no.

I am amazed that Canadians and Brits put up with Apple's ignorance with regards to their culture.
For example, a Canadian - British postal code looks like this: M2L 2K4

British postal codes are essential parts of its culture? And this should concern Apple just how and why, again?

so, to type this six-digit postal code, you need to type 11 keystrokes.

What is your point? Were the Brits to change the format of their postal codes to, let us say, all numerical, while maintaining their insistence that any given Postsl Code should only represent somewhere on the order of 15-20 physical addresses, I think you'd still be typing 11 keystrokes. Or more.

I imagine their post offices won't use the iPad.

Oh, I should think they would. They will probably function better with it, and certainly complain less than some.

Apple Wheel - coming soon

It just numbs my brain after a while ....

Reply

Answer 15

tvmaster Author

Level 1

24 points

Jan 3, 2011 9:15 AM in response to Michael Morgan1

it just numbs your brain?

still waiting for left and right arrow keys, and a proper delete/backspace combo. Apple devotees settle for SO little.
🙂

Reply