Apple to redesign iOS notification system
Cult of Mac is reporting that Apple is planning a revamp to its iOS notification system. iOS's current notification system, which is used for everything from text messages to push notifications, has remained virtually unchanged since the introduction of the original iPhone in 2007. The current notification system uses a series of pop-up bezels that are sometimes cramped with information or, worse, fail to display adequate information in an easy to view manner. A good example of this is when you receive two text messages: you are only notified that you have two texts, and you can't see the content of the text message without entering the Messages app.
If Apple is indeed overhauling its notification system, it may not be doing it entirely using in-house resources. Sources are reporting that Apple may be purchasing (or may already have purchased) a small iOS development company that offers their own type of notification system through the App Store. While the company has not been specifically identified, Cult of Mac suggests it could be Appremix, which makes a very popular free app called Boxcar that allows users to receive push notifications from a variety of sources including Facebook, Twitter and Google Voice. You can read our review of Boxcar here.
While iOS is largely considered the best mobile OS available, its notification system has been a point of criticism for a while. When the Palm Pre debuted with webOS, one of the strong points of its operating system was its banner notifications, which were designed by ex-Apple employee Rich Dellinger. Dellinger has since returned to Apple and may very well be leading the charge in revamping iOS's notification system.
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Cult of Mac is reporting that Apple is planning a revamp to its iOS notification system. iOS's current notification system, which is used...
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If you want a good read on iOS notifications problems, you might want to get there:
http://www.buildingiphoneapps.com/2011/02/ios-notifications-what-are-problems.html
I think a "Quick Reply" for text messages would be AWESOME where you don't have to leave an app or whatever you're doing when you get a message, just reply within the notification. I used something similar when I jailbroke my phone, but it'd be awesome if this was native!
February 12 2011 at 3:09 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI hope they make it so calendar event notifications have a kind of "snooze" option or "remind me later" feature like iCal and WebOS already have.
February 12 2011 at 2:06 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyOh my God, about time. Please, please, please... improve it already!
February 12 2011 at 9:40 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI hate seeing notices, enter the phone's passcode and then just seeing the home page or whatever app was loaded.
Where did the notices go? Now I have to go find the apps that may have triggered the notices. Lousy user experience.
if you double tap on the push notification then unlock it takes you to the app.
:))
thanks. I'd have never guessed that.
February 12 2011 at 12:23 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI too would like Apple to start using a system more like biteSMS for their notifications (I impressed my wife the other night by showing it to her as she has a non-jb iPod touch and hadn't seen it before). As far as the "pull down shade/tray" idea, I think it has potential, but I'm afraid of how it would play out for us jailbreak types with Activator opening things like SBSettings and qtweeter with similar motions. If Apple changes this I hope it doesn't play merry hob with my jailbreak hacks.
February 11 2011 at 10:51 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replyi have been waiting for this for ages :))
can not wait, i love webOS notification system but there are somethings that need to be fixed.
apple could be the one to fix they void. oh please :)
HA! I didn't see your comment, but 100% agree.
February 11 2011 at 11:14 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyThey should implement LockInfo and BiteSMS style. I don't think I could love this phone without those two apps
February 11 2011 at 7:33 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyJust allow the status bar to be pulled down like a shade revealing a tray-like list of notifications. Have new notifications briefly show a little caption bubble if desired kind of like the current popups, and put a notification icon next to the clock if there are any waiting. Seems like that would be pretty straightforward, and it wouldn't break "tap the status bar to scroll to the top" that most stuff does now.
February 11 2011 at 6:42 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replythey are not going to copy android -.-
February 11 2011 at 11:21 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI want to get excited about this, because I love Boxcar. But I loved Siri too, and was excited when Apple bought them, and…well, it's been a while since then, and nothing's happened.
February 11 2011 at 6:22 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyThe good news is that Apple already had hired WebOS's notification guy. So he's been plugging away on it.
The best reason I've heard for buying Boxcar wasn't for their employees and the resources they'll bring, but for their IP to allow what Apple has already developed to be legally brought to market.
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TUAW (or The Unofficial Apple Weblog) is a website devoted to tips, reviews, news, analysis and opinion on everything Apple.
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