IPhone Developers: We use our iPhones in bed, allow us to disable landscape

#1

Post by cwilson » Thu, Sep 24, 2009, 9:49 PM UTC

I know I can't be the only person who uses their iPhone in bed, specifically to read news, books, and various social networks; because of this I end up using applications that allow me to disable landscape mode because if you have tried this you know how frustrating it is to turn over to your side and suddenly the screen flips and it's impossible to read.

Certain wonderful apps like Stanza (e-reader), Byline (RSS Reader / Google Reader Sync), and Tweetie provide this option. I love them for it.

Some apps do not provide this functionality however (Facebook, NetNewsWire, and even Safari) and I hate them for it. I absolutely can't stand using an application which frustrates me in bed. Maybe I'm crazy.

or

Maybe developers should offer this simple switch in their options to turn this off. It may just be that I'm the only person yelling about this but I know other users get frustrated by this as well, it's simply overlooked at times.

So, join me in asking developers to kindly provide this option for us. I'm looking at Apple as well, Safari is a huge pain in the ass while laying in bed.

Re: IPhone Developers: We use our iPhones in bed, allow us to disable landscape

#2

Post by petercooper » Thu, Sep 24, 2009, 10:02 PM UTC

Yep, this has driven me bonkers since day one. In fact, if I could easily tear out the accelerometer(s) totally I'd be the first to do it (I find games that use them next to unplayable).

I listen to podcasts every night going to sleep and if I want to find a different podcast to listen to, it dives into Coverflow (which I can't imagine anyone ever finding productive, but weirder things have happened!)

Re: IPhone Developers: We use our iPhones in bed, allow us to disable landscape

#3

Post by yesimahuman » Thu, Sep 24, 2009, 10:03 PM UTC

I am totally with you. When I open my mail in bed and I turn on my side, suddenly the whole screen flips over and I just hate it.

However, I really don't see a way to differentiate between bedtime landscape and normal landscape. Honestly, the initial annoyance and having to reorient my brain for the landscape change is less annoying than possibly having to go into a setting and disable it before it happens. Once it switches I get used to it I just don't like it at first.

Re: IPhone Developers: We use our iPhones in bed, allow us to disable landscape

#4

Post by gojomo » Thu, Sep 24, 2009, 10:07 PM UTC

For apps whose interface can spare the space, a simple 'orientation lock' toggle button could do the trick. Is there a existing/obvious default icon to use for such a button?

Re: IPhone Developers: We use our iPhones in bed, allow us to disable landscape

#5

Post by cwilson » Thu, Sep 24, 2009, 10:11 PM UTC

yesimahuman wrote: post #3

I am totally with you. When I open my mail in bed and I turn on my side, suddenly the whole screen flips over and I just hate it. However, I really don't see a way to differentiate between bedtime landscape and normal landscape. Honestly, the initial annoyance and having to reorient my brain for the landscape change is less annoying than possibly having to go into a setting and disable it before it happens. Once it s…

There are two solutions that I see, possibly three:

1. A simple option in the applications settings that allows you to turn it off completely (obviously certain games would never have this option however).

2. A toggle somewhere in the UI, I've seen a few apps do this actually. It's a temporary switch and can be done without digging through any settings.

3. Global option in Apples settings. The problem here is that many apps are built with landscape in mind so this would cause tons of issues.

Re: IPhone Developers: We use our iPhones in bed, allow us to disable landscape

#6

Post by cwilson » Thu, Sep 24, 2009, 10:13 PM UTC

gojomo wrote: post #4

For apps whose interface can spare the space, a simple 'orientation lock' toggle button could do the trick. Is there a existing/obvious default icon to use for such a button?

This is what I'd love to see people do. There are certain (but very rare) times when I want to use landscape.

Even in Apples Mail and Messages app however I'd love for their to be a toggle. Texting or emailing in bed is just as frustrating as any other app doing this (should have added those to the OP).

Re: IPhone Developers: We use our iPhones in bed, allow us to disable landscape

#7

Post by jpeterson » Thu, Sep 24, 2009, 10:15 PM UTC

There's a joke in there somewhere...

Re: IPhone Developers: We use our iPhones in bed, allow us to disable landscape

#8

Post by cwilson » Thu, Sep 24, 2009, 10:18 PM UTC

jpeterson wrote: post #7

There's a joke in there somewhere...

Well, for those of us who use our 3GS video cameras in bed, we definitely don't want landscape turned off!

Re: IPhone Developers: We use our iPhones in bed, allow us to disable landscape

#9

Post by davidroe » Thu, Sep 24, 2009, 10:21 PM UTC

petercooper wrote: post #2

Yep, this has driven me bonkers since day one. In fact, if I could easily tear out the accelerometer(s) totally I'd be the first to do it (I find games that use them next to unplayable). I listen to podcasts every night going to sleep and if I want to find a different podcast to listen to, it dives into Coverflow (which I can't imagine anyone ever finding productive, but weirder things have happened!)

if you are willing to jail-break, RotationInhibitor does the trick.

Re: IPhone Developers: We use our iPhones in bed, allow us to disable landscape

#10

Post by Poiesis » Thu, Sep 24, 2009, 10:23 PM UTC

Adding yet another option is something that a good developer will do only after careful consideration.

That said, let me say that I do like GoodReader's (an iPhone PDF reader) orientation lock. And of course the fact that it doesn't flail on large PDFs like other apps.