When I first got my iPad, other than the gorgeous screen and improved CPU performance, the switch on the side of the iPad for locking screen rotation is another notable feature. It’s a minor feature but very handy to lock the screen orientation to portrait mode.
With the upcoming release of iOS 4.2 for iPad, the screen-orientation lock switch will become history.
As reported by 9to5Mac, Apple has confirmed the switch would be transformed into a mute switch, same as that on iPhone. Here is the confirmation they got from Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO:
In IOS 4.2 for iPad is the switch on the side going to be the mute and not screen orientation lock from now on?
After getting a classic thumbs up from Jobs:
Yep. Sent from my iPhone
Steve Jobs also responded that there will be no option to customize the switch. That means you can’t change it back to screen-orientation lock via Settings. The switch will stay as a mute switch from iOS 4.2 onwards.
So how do you lock the screen orientation without the switch on iPad? The same way as you used to lock the screen rotation on iPhone. The iOS 4.2 will come with a software-based screen orientation lock that you can access it via the multitask bar. You may check out our earlier post about locking the screen orientation for details.
Personally, I prefer to keep the switch as a screen-orientation lock. What do you think? Do you like the way it is now or are you a proponent of the mute switch? Leave us comment and share your thought.
Why force us to change what we might like? I think that is a terrible idea Jobs.
more iphone ,ipad apps and games:
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All seems great, but why is there no USB ports on an iPad?
The ePad available at http://www.UltimateStore.com.au seems the way to go and is far cheaper than an iPad too.
Once Mac, others CRAP!
Hi Simon I have an ipad 3.2.2 i can’t sync with itune. can you tell me what i did wrong>? thank
What version of iTunes are you using? I suggest you to upgrade it to 10.0.1. In case you still have the problem, try to uninstall iTunes and re-install it again.
I’m still surprised at the change. Why was that such an important topic to change for Apple? I rather like having the screen orientation lock do exactly what it is planned for, since I use that way more often than a ‘mute’.
And even if they felt strongly of changing it, why not make it customizable to the users preferences?
It seems one might have to wait for an update to SBSettings to take care of the button becoming customizable…
I think Apple will not offer any customization to control the switch. That’s why we still need jailbreaking. I believe there will be a hack to control how the switch works (screen orientation lock or mute).
Will we be able to lock the iPad in portrait orientation, unlike the iPhone?
@Bob,
With the upcoming release of iOS 4.2, iPad will use the same control to lock the screen orientation. Just like iPhone, you’ll find the “Lock Portrait Orientation” lock button in the multitasking bar.
Silly me. What I meant to ask was: will it let us lock the screen in *landscape* mode. Because that’s what we can’t do on the iPhone.
I think the change from screen orientation lock to mute is not a good one. The mute button is basically an unnecessary redundancy to what the volume control already does. To mute it I simply leave the volume button pressed for just over a second and it mutes. I updated my iPad not knowing about this and I’m upset with the change. Now I have another button that does the same as the one just below it, that doesn’t make sense to me at all. I tried accessing the orientation lock through the multitask dock and it’s not a difficult thing to do, just annoying considering I could do it instantly with a switch.
I love the orientation switch, it was one of the best features for quick use it gets very annoying when screen keeps rotating when you’re reading the newspaper etc, I can’t believe the arrogance of apple to do this I haven’t had an iPad long i am a Windows convert but I’m beginning to think now apple are becoming more like Microsoft They tell us what we want rather than the other way around!
I guess Apple is thinking that people want the option to just hit a definitive switch to go into stealth mode, so at a meeting or on a plane you could just reach into your bag, feel for it, hit the switch and you KNOW it’s muted, rather than having to take it out of your bag, turn it on, put in your passcode, and then hit the volume button. Since personally I don’t need to be in stealth mode EVER, I’m going to really miss the orientation switch and I’m already thinking of jailbreaking my iPad just to get the feature back. It would be nice if Apple would give us the OPTION of how to use the switch – I mean I’m sure there was some debate over this in Cupertino! I respectfully disagree with john above that Apple is becoming Microsoft, since Apple has always been about simplicity and intuitive UIs – just compare Mac “System Preferences” to Windows “Control Panel”. I used to spend weeks tweaking Windows – it was my k-hole. I ended up switching to Mac because I wasn’t actually getting any work done on my PC. My point is that Apple have always limited customizability to a reasonable level – way more than Microsoft. But I COMPLETELY agree with john that this switch should be customizable.
But I would also like to add that I will NOT be exchanging my iPad, which I LOVE and has changed my life, for that above SPAM abuse piece of CRAP PLAGIARIST ePAD JUNK.
Just upgraded and I really don’t want a mute button. Give me back my screen lock please…..
I will really miss the switch doing what I want it to. Why they could not have let it be multi-purpose I do not know. I guess all the smart people in the world work for Apple or Microsoft and everyone else is just to dumb to be able to have a choice offered to them. “Life is like a box of chocolates …” except from Apple.
I hate new upgrade. I loved the orientation lock, and it was the only ready I was enjoying my ipad, especially reading books and online articles. I admire Apple what they design and bring our life, but now they pissing me off since they do not give us any option in Setting to change the function of the switch. There is MUTE function already, if you hold the volume button more than a second.
Anyway, I have founded a way to lock the screen, so I want to share if you are pissed customer like myself:
Double hit the HOME button, so multi tasking menu appears. Then flip ir to the right, iPod menu comes. The very first icon is for locking and unlocking the screen. I know it is not as convinient as the switch but I hope it helps until stupid Apple designers gives us option in settings at least.
absolutely hate the new mute button. it was just great before. now i have to type in the password upside down… click and slide…. just stupid STUPID STUPID. apple is turning into a real a**hole
Really don’t understand why I need a mute button. Lock is far more useful the slightest move turns the screen and this drives me insane
This is simply a horrible idea. We already have the ability to mute using hard keys by simply hitting the down volume several times. I use the screen lock button all the time and dont want to lose it to a function that is already being served by the volume controls. I love Apple and this product but this is simply just a horrible idea. At least give us the option to choose.
unfortunately Apple are turning into the next Microsoft, where arrogance and greed rule all their decisions! I have defected from the PC because of this knowing what apple were like, the only reason I did this is because I was so impressed with the iPad, but it looks like we are all heading down the slippery slope! it will be interesting to see what Apple decides we can and cannot do with the new iPad 2 I am sure they will find new things to restrict us from doing. Apple are like a really nice desert but with a cigarette stubbed out in it.
If I had known the new update would leave me unable to control the screen from spinning, I would not have done it!!
Muting my iPad was as simple as holding down the volume button!! Now what am I suppose to do??
I want it back! Any ideas anyone?????
Help
I, too, prefer the Rotation Lock function over the Mute function of the switch. This was not a well conceived plan on Apple’s part.
Alas, this was so much a source of frustration, that after less than 24 hours I restore iOS3.2.2 to my iPad and will wait until I either Jailbreak my iPad or Apple corrects the poorly conceived function change.
I agree with MJ and Zino. I want my rotation lock back!!
Just ask Mr Jobs to log in upside-down once… I bet he’d be so upset he’d change it back instantly. Except he’s shown time and again that arrogance beats intelligence.
I get it now, although I still don’t like it.
We can still lock our screens everyone!! Quickly double click the round button
At the bottom, a task bar will show up!! There is the icon to lock and unlock
The rotation.
They changed everything with that last update!! Now we can operate more than
One program at a time!!
But why they changed our lock button is BEYOND ME!!
I really detest the removal of this feature, it took a day to figure out why my iPad was constantly rotating around in circles while I was trying to read in bed on my side. I hate this, completely hate the change, I threw my iPad across the room actually. Around in circles, muted sound, unmuted sound.
Try reading book in the dark on an iPad while shifting around in bed without that switch — I don’t use my iPad anymore, I gave up. I now use my notebook computer again, which is a PC.
The iPad’s going in the trash, that’s how strongly I feel about Apple’s removal of this function they sold me on.
The removal of screen lock switch is annoying. But you can still the software lock to disable screen rotation for book reading. You can further check out this post about how to use the software lock.
Simon, I really don’t think you understand. I don’t want the software lock solution, I want the solution I was sold, the switch on the side is to lock rotation. I rotate the screen frequently, I don’t rotate it once then leave it for an hour, I might rotate and lock several times in 10 minutes. The software solution isn’t annoying, it’s frustrating and absolutely stupid and confusing.
Annoying is being hungry when I can go get food to satisfy it, frustrating and is when I am hungry and can’t afford to go get food, dumb is when I am hungry and won’t go get food. So you see, this isn’t annoying, it’s frustrating because I can’t get the stupid switch to do what it was sold to me to do.
Give me my switch back.
PS: Yes, I’m ticked off, sorry, but I am really ticked off at Apple’s arrogance and it keeps getting worse and worse every year.
Frustration is warranted at this change, but you threw your iPad across the room? And now have completely given up on it and are throwing it away? Does it still work after you threw it? Can I have it? since you are planning to throw it away? It would make a great xmas present. I’ll send you my address and pay for shipping if you are that fed up.
I hate this change, this makes my iPad very unfriendly. If anyone in Apple uses it should understand why. Or maybe Apple staff are too afraid of Jobs to change.
Bring back the orientation lock! It was simple to mute with the volume switch. Now I have two switches that do the same thing, but no way to read comfortably in bad like I used to. Bad change.
I never ever, considered Jailbreak until now, and I will do it in order to have my orientation swich back.
Just upgraded. Couldn’t figure out why my screen was swirling around. Thanks for the article to explain. I don’t need the Mute button. Loved the screen lock since I use the iPad as a reader in bed. Damn.
Who’s the retard that decided the screen orientation switch should become a mute button?? I had no problem muting my iPad by simply holding down the volume button. Why take away my screen lock so I can have 2 buttons that do the same damn thing?? I hate it that they have taken away one of my favorite features. Maybe next time they should actually think before making any more “improvements”.
@Apple – Thanks for the update!
Thanks for the tip.
The steps are quiet easy. Follow the simple steps in the site and you are there. But it works only on iOS4+.
How to lock iphone / ipad / ipad screen rotation