[subego]

Not for long...

iPad's orientation lock to mute switch change will be permanent

I use it, so I'm miffed that it's going away. Let's hope for a software solution.

[Railroader]

I'd like to answer "Yes" but both "yes" options fit. I sometimes lock in portrait and sometimes in landscape. Shame that function is rumored to go away.

[turtle777]

I rarely lock the iPad's orientation (I did it maybe 3 times since I got it on day 1).

I think I'd use the mute button more often.

-t

[-Q-]

I use it all the time. That's a disappointing change.

[Oisín]

Wow, that is unebelievably retarded.

Not switching the function of the button from rotation lock to mute—that makes sense (and it should have been a mute button from the start, if nothing else then just for the sake consistency). But deliberately not providing a setting to lock the rotation and simply removing the (very usable, and very used) feature altogether is just plain dumb.

[Spheric Harlot]

You mean it WON'T be replaced by the rotation-lock functionality available on the iPhone with OS 4, but simply removed outright?

You're right - that's incredibly dumb.

Screw you, Apple! :shakes fist, then smacks himself on the head with it:

Oh wait

[subego]

Originally Posted by Railroader 

I'd like to answer "Yes" but both "yes" options fit. I sometimes lock in portrait and sometimes in landscape. Shame that function is rumored to go away.

Do you use one more than the other, and for what?

I'm always curious how people use their iPads.

[Wiskedjak]

I'd use the switch more for mute, but I use screen lock often enough that i'd miss it if it were taken away entirely.

Software solutions already exist (Atomic Browser has an option to Lock Screen Rotation), so perhaps we'll see more apps add in that ability for the user.

[Atheist]

I don't use the lock function on the iPad much at all.

The functionality isn't going away... it will be the same as on the iPhone 4.

[subego]

Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot 

You mean it WON'T be replaced by the rotation-lock functionality available on the iPhone with OS 4, but simply removed outright?

You're right - that's incredibly dumb.

Screw you, Apple! :shakes fist, then smacks himself on the head with it:

Oh wait

I figured there'd be a software solution. I've never seen it on the iPhone because I like having it be variable.

Since I use it mostly in portrait, the software solution more or less works for me. It'll suck for video content.

[ajprice]

The screen rotation lock isn't disappearing completely, its going to be in the software, as on iPhone OS 4

IOS 4.2 Changes iPad Screen-Lock Switch to Mute Button | Gadget Lab | Wired.com



Yes its more steps to make the dock control pop up and then click on the lock button than it is to press the button on the side, but the option is at least still there.

[Oisín]

Apologies—I misread the article in the OP (which was not very well-worded, admittedly), and didn’t click the link to the original source, which cleared it up:

Originally Posted by Article

However, since this is clearly a software-managed control rather than being hard-wired, some users were hoping that this might be configurable somewhere in the settings.

Unfortunately, Steve Jobs has made it clear to a 9to5Mac reader via email that no such user configurability will be a part of iOS 4.2.

I read “this might be configurable somewhere in the settings” as rotation lock being configurable somewhere in the settings, which it obviously should be.

Reading the article linked to in the OP’s article, it’s clear that it refers only to being able to configure what the mute/rotation button on the side does; not rotation locking.

That’s all right, then. As long as it’s still there.

[turtle777]

For all that are still confused: iOS 4.2 will handle mute and orientation lock EXACTLY the same as iOS 4 does it on the iPhone 4:

switch: mute
software: orientation lock

-t

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by subego 

Do you use one more than the other, and for what?

I'm always curious how people use their iPads.

Probably equally in each orientation. Usually reading in bed on my side or watching movies the same way.

[andi*pandi]

How hard was it to mute the iPad by holding down the volume button? I don't see the need for a whole nuther button for that, aside from consistency with the iPhone.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by andi*pandi 

I don't see the need for a whole nuther button for that, aside from consistency with the iPhone.

But that's exactly the point.

Consistency between iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

-t

[Wiskedjak]

Originally Posted by andi*pandi 

How hard was it to mute the iPad by holding down the volume button? I don't see the need for a whole nuther button for that, aside from consistency with the iPhone.

It would be nice to be able to mute it without having to unlock it.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by Wiskedjak 

It would be nice to be able to mute it without having to unlock it.

Well, in the future, you can

-t

[subego]

Originally Posted by Railroader 

Probably equally in each orientation. Usually reading in bed on my side or watching movies the same way.

Ahhhh. Never thought of that (though it's really obvious).

I usually use it just to stop from accidentally slipping out of portrait rather than intentionally going against the sensor. You're getting much better use out of it.