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melgish Author

Level 1

0 points

4.2.1 mute switch doesn't mute.

Subject pretty much covers it. After upgrade to 4.2.1, the hardware switch that used to lock the screen is now broken.

Switching to the up position shows a speaker and the current volume.
Switching to the down position shows a speaker with a slash through it.

Neither position affects the volume of what's currently playing.

many, iOS 4

Posted on Nov 22, 2010 10:57 AM

42 replies

Philly_Phan

Level 7

20,707 points

Jan 7, 2011 4:26 PM in response to Dogcow-Moof

William Kucharski wrote:
This makes perfect sense, actually - the hardware switch now functions exactly the same between an iPad and iPhone, and the method to lock screen orientation is exactly the same as well.

Yes, it's annoying for those of us who grew used to the switch being a horizontal lock switch but it makes more logical sense for all iOS devices to act the same, which was the whole point of the iOS 4.2 release.

Also, it's logical for the mute switch to be physically next to the volume control.

Philly_Phan

Level 7

20,707 points

Jan 7, 2011 4:29 PM in response to Thomas O'Connell

Tom Oconnell wrote:
Pogo-

For most users that may be true but I use it in bed and on a sofa for a lot of my usage and the lock switch is vital.

thanks,

tom

Me too and I have no problem with the 4.2.1 configuration. Even if I didn't like it, I'd be danged if I'd be willing to give up all the 4.2.1 bennies.

Jan 7, 2011 8:15 PM in response to SomaDoubleCross

SomaDoubleCross wrote:
It doesn't mute YouTube, either. *. . . . .. MUTE should always be EXACTLY equivalent to setting the volume to ZERO. I can turn down the volume and it stays down, but I cant' keep MUTE MUTED. That's bleeping crap!

Right. And that may very well be why Apple doesn't call it a Mute Switch. In case you never noticed.

Seriously, this issue has been discussed and explained to death ever since 4.2.1 hit the streets. For those trying to explain, there's nothing left to say and no new ways to say it. For those complaining, the field remains pretty much open.

Jan 8, 2011 10:14 AM in response to Michael Morgan1

Call it whatever you want, but when you a) place a toggle beside volume controls, b) use the symbol on screen with a line through a speaker, then I'm sorry, but that's a mute feature... meaning one thing. Shut the speakers off.

If it's NOT a mute button then change the freaking icon so that it is obvious it is not a conventional mute. Seriously, how about giving the consumer what they want - simple intuitive system.
Enough excuses for a flawed implementation.

First off, since when does Apple expect/demand the consumer to now be reading User's Guides? How the F would I know what Apple calls the button? I 'discovered' its new feature, and when I see a diagonal slash through a speaker icon, I read that to be a speaker mute. And when the sound goes off when I toggle it, it MUST be a speaker mute. So, when the sound only goes off sometimes, that must be a BUG.

I have yet to read a manual for any iOS device, and that is the point. That's successful design.

Message was edited by: SomaDoubleCross

Philly_Phan

Level 7

20,707 points

Jan 8, 2011 10:19 AM in response to SomaDoubleCross

Clearly you're not interested in how the iPad functions. You just like to rant.

Jan 8, 2011 11:01 AM in response to Philly_Phan

Thanks, Philly_Phan for bullying me into wanting me to stop making this design point. That worked well. Rather than consider my view, your comment to "stop ranting" is a childish one.

I'm not arguing the redesign of the screen lock, or the new consistency across the iOS devices. What I'm arguing is the hardware toggle shows an icon of a diagonal line thru a speaker icon. That is the universally accepted icon for MUTE. And since it's a hardware button, it seemingly applies to the entire device as consistent with the volume hardware controls on the device. But that isn't the case, is it? When the mute button, sorry my term, doesn't actually stop sound from emanating from the device, to the person that hasn't read the user's guides line by line, the behavior appears to be a BUG.

If the mute was a soft-control, then I'd be more inclined to buy into the new design, but this is to the end user, a hardware control. And given it uses the universal symbol for MUTE, I will restate my analogy: this mute button should work exactly like the exact same mute symbol on a TV remote control where the mute mutes the speakers regardless of input. Equate input to iOS application running, and you can follow the argument.

Perhaps the solution is to adjust the icon so that it isn't misleading the user.. thinking it's a mute button. But since you can't stomach hearing constructive criticism of the device, Philly_Phan construes this argument as ranting.

JimHdk

Level 7

28,880 points

Jan 8, 2011 11:04 AM in response to SomaDoubleCross

Rather than posting your suggestions here where everyone is just a user post them directly to Apple at: http://www.apple.com/feedback/ipad.html

Jan 8, 2011 11:27 AM in response to JimHdk

Thank you. I wasn't aware of a feedback form.

Let me know if you suffer any embarrassing moments due to the misunderstanding of the mute. I sure did. I fired up a YouTube video, while in a board meeting. I thought I had the iPad on mute, since the toggle showed the symbol of the line through the speakers. Boy, was I surprised to share the audio with half the meeting attendees!

Deenfoxx

Level 1

0 points

Jan 11, 2011 2:49 PM in response to SomaDoubleCross

I'm okay with the change, but...
1. I thought it was a normal mute, also.
2. I didn't have an embarrassing moment, but sure got startled.
3. I agree it should not be a line through a speaker, it should perhaps be a line through a bell.
4. I had to figure this out, and multi-tasking, and screen-lock, on my own because it didn't notify me when I upgraded to iOS4.
5. I think Apple should clearly show on-screen when these major changes are made, complete with tutorials for use.
6. I NEED a way to tell apps to close completely without having to close app, then double-click, then tap-hold, then tap red-x. I think it should simply force close by just holding down the home button.
7. I NEED a way to tell ALL suspended/background tasks to close instead of having to repeatedly tap the red-x for each app... Sometimes over 20 are hogging memory and other apps will not run.

Just my 7-bits worth.

Philly_Phan

Level 7

20,707 points

Jan 11, 2011 3:17 PM in response to Deenfoxx

Deenfoxx wrote:
I'm okay with the change, but...
1. I thought it was a normal mute, also.
2. I didn't have an embarrassing moment, but sure got startled.
3. I agree it should not be a line through a speaker, it should perhaps be a line through a bell.
4. I had to figure this out, and multi-tasking, and screen-lock, on my own because it didn't notify me when I upgraded to iOS4.
5. I think Apple should clearly show on-screen when these major changes are made, complete with tutorials for use.
6. I NEED a way to tell apps to close completely without having to close app, then double-click, then tap-hold, then tap red-x. I think it should simply force close by just holding down the home button.
7. I NEED a way to tell ALL suspended/background tasks to close instead of having to repeatedly tap the red-x for each app... Sometimes over 20 are hogging memory and other apps will not run.

Just my 7-bits worth.

1. Many thought that.
2. I don't get scared easily.
3. No one will disagree with that.
4. I'm unaware of ANY computer or computer-type product where that's done. Why should the iPad be the only device that does so? The information is available for those that are willing to look for it instead of waiting to be spoon-fed.
6. Why? They're not harming anything and most of them are closed anyway. You are merely seeing icons of "recently used" apps. They're not using any system resources required by the active app.
7. See #6 above.

Jan 11, 2011 7:57 PM in response to Deenfoxx

Deenfoxx wrote:
....... (no serious disagreement) ....
4. I had to figure this out, and multi-tasking, and screen-lock, on my own because it didn't notify me when I upgraded to iOS4.

On the day that iOS 4.2.1 was released, the upgraded OS 4 version of the User's Guide was available for free download in the iBooks store and at Apple Support. On that same day, all content and videos on the iPad site (apple.com/ipad) and the iPad Support site (apple.com/support/ipad) were changed to include iOS 4 and to describe the changes. At the time that you upgraded your own system your local copy of the User's Guide, the one in your Safari bookmarks, changed to the OS 4 version. Every aspect of the changes introduced were being vigorously discussed in these and other forums and sites from the first day it was released. I gather it was some other 'it' which failed to notify you about something ....

5. I think Apple should clearly show on-screen when these major changes are made, complete with tutorials for use.

Really? Who provides that level of wet-nursing? Oh, right ... they do that at Apple Stores. And, yes, also at those sites mentioned above. And lots of folks in these forums, come to think of it ...

6. I NEED a way to tell apps to close completely without having to close app, then double-click, then tap-hold, then tap red-x. I think it should simply force close by just holding down the home button.
7. I NEED a way to tell ALL suspended/background tasks to close instead of having to repeatedly tap the red-x for each app... Sometimes over 20 are hogging memory and other apps will not run.

No, you just NEED to figure out how the OS and multi-tasking are really working. You also need to know how to request changes, which you'd like to think would be sensible and workable and have a snowball's chance in **** of ever getting incorporated. For that, use the FEEDBACK FORM

http://www.apple.com/feedback/ipad.html

Ascbg

Level 1

0 points

Nov 7, 2011 12:34 PM in response to melgish

Workaround.

Put a plug in the earphone socket.

4.2.1 mute switch doesn't mute.