Gear Chat: What Do You Want in iOS 6.0?

 

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Last week I asked a simple question to our team. The question-

iOS Users- What features would you like to see in iOS 6.0? (Android users- This is a serious question so please spare me the “Android does that blah blah blah…”)

My list-

I want a simple way to access key settings like Bluetooth without having to dig down into menus.

I want sound/notification profiles that are time or geography-dependant. i.e., I get to work and the device goes to silent

I want an automatic folder or two that grabs “frequently launched apps” and makes them accessible.

Safari

Chris:

I’d like to see them put the lyrics display BACK into the iPad version of iTunes – it’s in the iPhone version so why did they remove it from the iPad version?

I’d like to have my folders stackable, please

I agree with simpler access to key toggles like BT and WiFi

I’d like to see email retain a selection after you multiple select and change something like mark as read so you don’t have to reselect everything just to also do a move – or better yet – give us some simple rules management,

I’d like to see tap-and-hold functionality extend to hardware keyboards. Maybe that should come from the keyboard manufacturers but I suspect it would be easier if the hooks were in the OS.

I’d like to see the OS extended to more languages.

I’d love to see something superior to the current Maps program.

 

Carly:

I want everything Dan asked for.

Also, I would love some widgets. Not a ton, but maybe the option to quick launch a few apps from the drop down notification, or access frequent notes, etc.

Maps is fine for me but voice navigation similar to Android would be nice.

Gestures for the iPhone like the iPad has would also be great.

 

Christopher:

Well there already are widgets there for stocks and weather – but extending that functionality a bit would be ok. I don’t want to see Android-style widgets – too much battery hit and sometimes even a stability hit.

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Carly:

Right but to use stocks and weather as examples: both of those are really super basic as far as apps go. Especially the stocks one. If CNBC Real-Time could have a floating headline/stock ticker widget in the drop down I would use it…I turned off the stock one because it was a waste of battery life.

I don’t want to see widgets for every little thing, but a bit more fleshed out functionality would be nice.

 

Joel:

Android doesn’t do all that Dan and some of your wants are my wants. I want nested folders on the home screen on both iOS and Android. Plus iOS sorely needs quick ways to enable/disable Bluetooth and wifi.

I like smart actions…. use Locale on Android and while it works, an integrated solution would be way better.

 

Joel:

Oh on widgets I don’t have an issue with stability or battery drain. Then again, I run very few widgets so that could be why.

The worst widgets were on my Droid 2 at the beginning.

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Douglas:

Quick access to Bluetooth, as you say. I’d even be satisfied with a reorganization of the items under settings, so long as it put Bluetooth on top. I am *constantly* turning BT on and off.

Ability of Siri to launch apps. The fact that she can’t is really silly.

Letting folders stay open when you swipe from one screen to another. Having to close a folder before you swipe to a different screen is also kind of silly, in my opinion.

I know Carly works in the business world, but I still find it kind of funny about the Stocks app, which I almost literally *never* use–if I’ve used that app more than 5 times since I first got an iPhone in 2007, I’d be surprised!

 

Travis:

Siri to launch apps. Quick way to toggle bluetooth, wifi etc… lock screen weather, calendar and todo

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About the Author

Dan Cohen
Having a father who was heavily involved in early laser and fiber-optical research, Dan grew up surrounded by technology and gadgets. Dan’s father brought home one of the very first video games when he was young and Dan remembers seeing a “pre-release” touchtone phone. (When he asked his father what the “#” and “*” buttons were his dad said, “Some day, far in the future, we’ll have some use for them.”) Technology seemed to be in Dan’s blood but at some point he took a different path and ended up in the clergy. His passion for technology and gadgets never left him. Dan is married to Raina Goldberg who is also an avid user of Apple products. They live in New Jersey with their golden doodle Nava.

2 Comments on "Gear Chat: What Do You Want in iOS 6.0?"

  1. It would be nice not to HAVE to jailbreak in order to get most of the things on this above lists. There are JB apps to toggle BT & WiFi, stack folders, & get more functions from Siri.

    What I miss most from ye olde Windows Mobile is my calendar appointments on my first page. Not for love or money can I remember when my bro-in-laws birthdays are! Having them show up on my home screen reminds me in enough time to actually do something more than a text or FB message. I’m using IntelliscreenX now to get that function.

    My other HUGE complaint is the necessity of closing whatever app you’re in to reply to a text message. So, BiteSMS takes care of that for me.

    The nested folders is really a huge deal. I was having trouble with my phone, and reset all settings without thinking it through, and wound up with apps all over the place. It took me 3 days to get them sorted correctly, since if you use FolderEnhancer you can’t use the app re-arranging function in iTunes. It’s still not what it used to be though, and I’m hoping that PackageBackup will make that easier when I try to go and update to the new jailbreak later today.

    So, if they could address all of those items without having to jailbreak, I’d be happy. I’d probably still jailbreak though, just because it’s fun to have more options than just the iTunes store.

  2. Rodney St. John | June 1, 2012 at 7:33 am |

    I agree with JDTagish. The only reason I jailbreak now is for IntelliscreenX. The notification center is nice, but why not show more calendar appointments and upcoming reminders instead of just the ones that are today or really soon and show them on the lock screen ALL the time, instead of just when there is a notification. That is the ONLY thing I miss from Windows Mobile. A home screen that always gave me information. With iOS I have to open an app to view my week or next week. I’m forgetful…I forget to open it. With IntelliscreenX, my appointments are right in my face every time I press the power or home button. I love it. So my list would be this;

    1. IntelliscreenX like lock screen. And/or some sort of calendar widget on my home and lock screens.
    2.Quick toggles for settings.
    3. Quick reply for SMS like BiteSMS/etc.
    4. Weather widget would be nice.

    But honestly, if I could get the notification center to display my calendar like IntelliscreenX, I don’t think I would jailbreak again. (well, maybe, I do also like My3G, makes face timing the family easy when I’m not in Wifi range.)
    Ok, move SMS and weather widget down the list to 4 and 5.

    3, The new number 3 is FaceTime over 3G.

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