Apple iOS 4.2.1: Steve Jobs a 'geek'?

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Saturday, 27 November 2010 15:03

Your IT - Mobility

Steve Jobs, who leads Apple and makes the decisions that matter, has clearly decided that the iPad mute-lock switch is simpler and easier when delivered in a consistent manner with his other iOS devices, but does this mean he's a geek?

As everyone knows, not only shall the geek inherit the Earth, but they already have.

Earlier today I pointed out that the anonymous Beatweek writer (who could be male, female, outer space alien or something else, for they are anonymous) who is complaining about the loss of the iPad's mute-button in a hypish 'beat-up' manner.

I pointed out that the mute switch, which actually started out life as a mute-switch but then changed to a screen orientation lock, before in iOS 4.2.1 then changing back to a mute-switch, wasn't some big scandal, but a harmonisation of iOS across the lines that actually made it easier to do a screen-orientation lock, instead of more difficult.

No more looking for that button, or feeling for it in the dark if you're reading at night, no more mistakenly pressing the volume up button instead of flicking that switch - the move to make the iPad's side switch a mute switch is plain common sense.

Just double tap the home button, as we've all been super accustomed to on our iPhones and iPod Touches, swipe to the right, choose your preferred orientation and tap that on-screen orientation lock.

Sure, this is 'more steps' as Beatweek puts it, but it is actually consistent and far easier to get to when you're in the midst of your iPad use - your finger or hand stays on the front of the iPad, not inelegantly reaching for the side, which might actually turn out to be on the other side if you aren't holding your iPad the way you thought you were holding it.

So, after making this obvious observation, Beatweek came out with an article 'attacking' not only me, but clearly also Steve Jobs himself!

The article is here, (we're not afraid of links here at iTWire) and the anonymous, no-comments-allowed writer basically says that I am a geek for thinking that 'more steps equals easier', and while I'd usually agree, in this case you'd have to look at things on a case-by-case basis.

Still, if that's what Beatweek is really saying, and they think the "extra steps" to now screen-lock is some "geeky" thing, then Steve Jobs and his team of designers, coders and more, who made this change (and who are clearly the coolest people on planet Earth right now), are clearly geeks. But iOS 4.2.1 is not the geek edition, it's the everyman edition, and both record sales for the iPad and undoubtedly record download rates for the new iOS clearly agree!

Hey, if I'm also a supposed geek alongside the very people whose iCreation has changed the face of computing, the tablet industry, retail tablet sales, Apple's user base and the incredible number of people who visit Apple stores worldwide on a daily basis to buy its products, then hey, yes! Awesome!

I am a geek, and am honoured to be so alongside Steve Jobs and his team, who are, as we know, the coolest people on the planet.

 

Continued on page two, please read on!