Press home to unlock! WHY?

Question

Level 1

8 points

Press home to unlock! WHY?

Dear Apple

Why have you changed how to open an ipad to make it harder? Previously I could open by swiping the screen. What could be easier? Now I have to press the home button and then press it again.

THIS IS INFURIATING!

I have searched to see how to remove this act of stupidity. Many people suggest going to settings / general / accessibility / home button and pressing rest finger to unlock. However this is not an option in the most recent update.

I can only conclude that you have deliberately changed the functionality so that my home button wears out more quickly. This is an example of deliberate obsolescence in design. Do not think that people are unaware of what you are doing!

The usability is pathologically bad. Those with arthritis not only find this annoying, it is also painful to have to find the little, horrible, clicky button.

Please could you restore the swipe function immediately.

Posted on Feb 23, 2017 3:36 PM

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Answer 1

Feb 23, 2017 4:13 PM in response to dr_xray

If all iPhones from the beginning of time had opened by pressing the HOME button instead of by swiping, and the latest release changed that behavior to require swiping, you would be just as upset. It's change that you are objecting to, not what was changed. Things change; get used to it. If this is the biggest change you are ever going to have to face in life you will be lucky indeed.

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Answer 2

Demo

Level 10

166,747 points

Feb 23, 2017 5:13 PM in response to dr_xray

There is a workaround for this, although it is a little clunky itself. But it does negate the need to use the home button to unlock the device.

After you have tapped the home button or the sleep button to wake the device up, swipe to the right from the lock screen to get to one of the widgets on the widgets screen. Tap on any app on the widget screen and that will invoke the passcode screen. Enter your passcode to unlock the phone. It requires another step, but it saves the wear on the home button if that is really a concern.

I have had my iPhone 5s for almost 4 years and my iPad Air 2 for 2-1/2 years. I use the home button over and over again on both devices and have no fear whatsoever that I am putting unnecessary wear and tear on either device's home button.

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Answer 3

dr_xray Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 23, 2017 5:01 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

Hi Lawrence

This is not a helpful comment. I am a website usability designer. The day one lesson one of usability is that you should not design in any function that requires an extra step, however trivial. The aim being to prevent the user having to think at all. I am not averse to change - bring it on! But let's have change that improves stuff, not change that is annoying.

It is annoying because the user has to find the button. I most frequently use my iPad in a darkened room and it is not always obvious which way up the iPad is, let alone where the tiny target of the home button can be found, especially when I'm not entirely sober.

Introducing idiotic user experience to products is bad for Apple. This is one of the many, many silly and unnecessary things Apple do which turns people off. No doubt I will discuss this with my techie colleagues and friends, many of whom already think I am stupid for buying their products.

Please don't trivialise my trying to be helpful in pointing out to apple a usability issue. I am always very grateful when users point out functionality that is counterintuitive. Yes this is what it is - otherwise the message 'press home to open' message would be unnecessary.

Best wishes

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Answer 4

Feb 23, 2017 5:04 PM in response to dr_xray

In a darkened room you have no idea which way to swipe. No difference from finding the HOME button. Actually, you can find the HOME button by feel. You can't know which way to swipe by feel. I much prefer this change. Swiping requires more energy and more concentration.

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