New Apple hires suggest improvements coming to iOS Notification Center

Posted:
in iPhone edited January 2014
A number of recent hires at Apple suggest the company is looking to make further improvements to the Notification Center feature that debuted with the launch of iOS 5.



Jan-Michael Cart, a student at the University of Georgia and specialist in video and graphic design, was recently hired by Apple as a paid intern for the next seven months. That new addition, as noted by Ars Technica, is the latest in a series of hires that could signal further changes to the iOS Notification Center.



Cart gained fame for a series of Apple-style videos in which he created mockup demos for suggested improvements he would make to the Notification Center user interface. They include a persistent badge in the iPhone status bar showing the number of notifications, third-party widgets, and collapsible lists of notifications.



The hiring of Cart for an internship comes only months after Apple added software programmer Peter Hajas, who created his own notification user interface for jailbroken iPhones known as MobileNotifier. The MobileNotifier application, which was only available on hacked iPhones through the Cydia storefront, was downloaded nearly a quarter-million times.



And a year earlier, Apple bolstered its team by hiring Rich Dellinger, who worked as the user interface design architect at Palm for nearly four years. During his time there, he invented the webOS notification system and co-developed the application framework for the Palm Pre operating system.







Notification Center is one of the hallmark features of the iOS 5 mobile operating system update released by Apple in October. It allows users to replace the intrusive "alerts" that were used for notifications in previous versions of iOS, and replace them with a "banner" notification that appears at the top of the screen. Users can also swipe down from the top of the screen to access the Notification Center and see all of their notifications.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 33
    Unfortunately the demo video does nothing to address Notification Center's biggest shortcoming: that it's app-centric rather than time-centric. If it worked the same way the lock screen notifications do, with notifications sorted by most to least recent rather than grouped by app, it might actually be useful.
  • Reply 2 of 33
    For all the flak given to Android, there is no denying that this was taken directly from Android.
  • Reply 3 of 33
    Jan-Michael Cart has some excellent ideas that you can see here http://janmichaelcart.com/wp/portfolio-items/536/



    I would like to see the following in the next version of iOS:



    I like virtually everything Jan-Michael Cart has demonstrated so virtually anything he recommends seems likely to be advantageous



    Add movies to iCloud



    3D Maps integrated with Siri and including dynamic turn-by-turn navigation (see Placebase, Poly9 and C3 Technologies)



    Automatic Settings profiles based on geolocation (Home: Wi-Fi enabled, 3G/4G disabled, low brightness, Bluetooth disabled)



    Settings access from any screen (3G/4G data, Airplane Mode, Bluetooth, Brightness, Location Services, Usage, Wi-Fi) perhaps in the Notification Center



    Settings access via Siri (3G/4G data, Airplane Mode, Bluetooth, Brightness, Location Services, Usage, Volume, Wi-Fi)



    Siri voice recognition log-in (Me: "Good Morning, Siri" Siri: "Good Morning, MacBook Pro. Logging in for you."



    Siri integration iTunes Movie Trailers



    Siri integration with many more services such as OpenTable, TaxiMagic, etc. Essentially everything that Apple removed.



    Siri API for third party apps (improved Yelp integration, Evernote, Facebook, Twitter, Waze, WhatsApp, etc.)





    I would like improved workflow for the following:



    adding contacts (see Evernote Hello and BC Reader)

    exchanging contacts (see Bump)

    I would like to be able use the Camera to identify a long forgotten acquaintance (search Contacts and perhaps Facebook and Twitter images as well)



    improved Weather (see TheWeatherChannel app)

    improved Stocks



    Improve Ping and add apps, books, movies, TV Shows, websites, etc.

    Allow me to customize Ping (ala iWeb?)

    Add Photos to Ping

    Add "groups" to Ping

    Allow me to "Find my Friends" on Ping



    Add sports scores and results to Notification Center (UFC!)
  • Reply 4 of 33
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Shidell View Post


    For all the flak given to Android, there is no denying that this was taken directly from Android.



    Actually there is.



    There are only a few limited ways to do notifications in the UI and the Android one, while first, uses the same obvious methods used by iOS. The kicker however is that the same "obvious" methods were also used by Palm before either iOS or Android which was a copy of an almost identical system used in the Newton. So it's sort of a copy, but it wasn't original or non-obvious in the first place and the first original examples of similar systems actually go back to an Apple product.



    Also, if you look into the timing, you will see that it would be impossible for Apple to have copied the Android system directly and that they must have had their design almost finished before the Android one even came out. So it's more like parallel development of a very obvious idea than a copy.



    So ... the whole meme about how this was "stolen" from Android is really a bunch of BS but it's so widely believed now that it might as well be true for most people.



    It's not like the average person even knows about the Newton and of course the study of history (arguably the most important part of any education curriculum), has fallen into disrepute in the last 20 years anyway, so people are generally extra-ignorant nowadays.
  • Reply 5 of 33
    solipsismxsolipsismx Posts: 19,566member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Prof. Peabody View Post


    Actually there is.



    There are only a few limited ways to do notifications in the UI and the Android one, while first, uses the same obvious methods used by iOS. The kicker however is that the same "obvious" methods were also used by Palm before either iOS or Android which was a copy of an almost identical system used in the Newton. So it's sort of a copy, but it wasn't original or non-obvious in the first place and the first original examples of similar systems actually go back to an Apple product.



    Also, if you look into the timing, you will see that it would be impossible for Apple to have copied the Android system directly and that they must have had their design almost finished before the Android one even came out. So it's more like parallel development of a very obvious idea than a copy.



    So ... the whole meme about how this was "stolen" from Android is really a bunch of BS but it's so widely believed now that it might as well be true for most people.



    It's not like the average person even knows about the Newton and of course the study of history (arguably the most important part of any education curriculum), has fallen into disrepute in the last 20 years anyway, so people are generally extra-ignorant nowadays.



    WebOS is the best I've seen. I don't use iOS Notifications much on the iPhone, find that it can get in the way, and really hate it on the iPad.



    I also wish there was a method for adjusting the brightness without being able to see what's on the screen. I'd make a demo video for my solution if I knew how to create such a video but I have zero skills in that area.
  • Reply 6 of 33
    I don't want to sound like an apple apologist...1. I like the notifications in iOS 5 and 2. Knowing Apple, they will only improve upon it.



    Steve said, the key to being a successful tech company is one has to be 5-10 years ahead of the competition. In all but a few areas, apple, indeed, is.



  • Reply 7 of 33
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Shidell View Post


    For all the flak given to Android, there is no denying that this was taken directly from Android.



    trust me...there is denying...especially here.
  • Reply 8 of 33
    I love the drop down notification bar. Only Apple can create something as innovative as that.
  • Reply 9 of 33
    solipsismxsolipsismx Posts: 19,566member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by christopher126 View Post


    I don't want to sound like an apple apologist...1. I like the notifications in iOS 5 and 2. Knowing Apple, they will only improve upon it.



    Steve said, the key to being a successful tech company is one has to be 5-10 years ahead of the competition. In all but a few areas, apple, indeed, is.







    I agree with a recent article Gruber linked to about how the linen look should be only used at the back/bottom of a page, not for something that's coming over other pages.
  • Reply 10 of 33
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by AbsoluteDesignz View Post


    trust me...there is denying...especially here.



    lol that made me laugh.
  • Reply 11 of 33
    Palm's WebOS was the first smartphone OS with a modern notification system that we're now used to. Both Android and iOS borrowed very heavily from the WebOS ideas.
  • Reply 12 of 33
    My fiancee has an Android phone and hates the notifications. For some reason when the phone is locked and something happens...like I send a text or call her...it only sits in the status bar when she unlocks it rather than showing in a list right in front of her the moment she unlocks the phone. I'm not sure if there's a setting for that but she wishes she could see notices immediately rather than having to drag (unresponsively half the time) the status bar down to see what she missed. Most of the time I see her try at least 5 or 6 times to get that list to drag down. Kind of sad.



    So, Apple got something right...whether Cupertino fired up the copy machine or not...it at least works.
  • Reply 13 of 33
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by brianus View Post


    Unfortunately the demo video does nothing to address Notification Center's biggest shortcoming: that it's app-centric rather than time-centric. If it worked the same way the lock screen notifications do, with notifications sorted by most to least recent rather than grouped by app, it might actually be useful.



    Notification Center settings has an option to display the notifications by time





  • Reply 14 of 33
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by sessamoid View Post


    Palm's WebOS was the first smartphone OS with a modern notification system that we're now used to. Both Android and iOS borrowed very heavily from the WebOS ideas.



    Before android 4.0 what android smartphone notification borrowed heavily from WebOS?
  • Reply 15 of 33
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by carmelapple View Post


    My fiancee has an Android phone and hates the notifications. For some reason when the phone is locked and something happens...like I send a text or call her...it only sits in the status bar when she unlocks it rather than showing in a list right in front of her the moment she unlocks the phone. I'm not sure if there's a setting for that but she wishes she could see notices immediately rather than having to drag (unresponsively half the time) the status bar down to see what she missed. Most of the time I see her try at least 5 or 6 times to get that list to drag down. Kind of sad.



    So, Apple got something right...whether Cupertino fired up the copy machine or not...it at least works.



    Of all the things I've heard that allegedly lag to the point of unusability on Android the notification tray has never been one.



    I think you're bullshitting. Had you said the homescreen I'd be inclined to agree.
  • Reply 16 of 33
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by kohelet View Post






    And because your image is broken, here's the fixed version.
  • Reply 17 of 33
    All this fuss over notification is just beyond me.



    In a way, it's all about developing and optimizing the best ways to distract people from driving, eating and otherwise functioning. It's like making sure the phone scream "use me!" as loudly as possible when it is not being used.
  • Reply 18 of 33
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by stelligent View Post


    All this fuss over notification is just beyond me.



    In a way, it's all about developing and optimizing the best ways to distract people from driving, eating and otherwise functioning. It's like making sure the phone scream "use me!" as loudly as possible when it is not being used.



    *slow clap*
  • Reply 19 of 33
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by stelligent View Post


    All this fuss over notification is just beyond me.



    In a way, it's all about developing and optimizing the best ways to distract people from driving, eating and otherwise functioning. It's like making sure the phone scream "use me!" as loudly as possible when it is not being used.



    The funniest thing is that I often put my iPhone into Airplane Mode when I drive.



    There is a much greater sense of calm knowing that I won't be interrupted for a certain time.



    95%+ of my apps capable of notifying me have notifications turned off. I've removed alerts and sounds from most of the others, with only badges turned on.



    There are only a handful of apps that have full alerts, sounds, badges, plus notification center presence and viewable in the lock screen.



    You can whittle notifications to something not intrusive and manageable, but you need to be judicious about what you consider important.
  • Reply 20 of 33
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by cvaldes1831 View Post


    The funniest thing is that I often put my iPhone into Airplane Mode when I drive.



    There is a much greater sense of calm knowing that I won't be interrupted for a certain time.



    95%+ of my apps capable of notifying me have notifications turned off. I've removed alerts and sounds from most of the others, with only badges turned on.



    There are only a handful of apps that have full alerts, sounds, badges, plus notification center presence and viewable in the lock screen.



    You can whittle notifications to something not intrusive and manageable, but you need to be judicious about what you consider important.



    The future could have BT4.0 or even NFC that will auto-disable/enable certain features when they within range of certain items.
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