On the iPod Touch
Wednesday, August 12th, 2009Typing this on the iPod right now as I wait for sleep to overtake me, I feel the urge to point out a few things that really hack me off about it lately (that’s New Zealand vernacular in case you’re wondering).
- Mobile Safari is not very predictable in its tendency to reload tabs when switching between them. I lost a substantial chunk of text last night when I switched away from the page for a moment and switched back, and when composing a post is exactly the time I might need to switch between tabs to copy text, links, image URLs etc.
- The lack of multitasking in general is starting to get really irritating. I understand the idea of not wanting to leave apps running, but would it be so freakin hard to at least leave them suspended? I’d really like it if when I opened an app it could pick up exactly where I left off. It’s kind of weird that OS X annoys me by leaving apps running even when I’ve closed all windows, and yet iPhone OS shuts down an app the moment you switch away. It looks as though apps have the option of saving some state data before they are closed like this, but I don’t really see why the option can’t be built into the OS itself.
- The lack of proper distinction between running on an iPod and an iPhone. I am really really sick of apps asking me if they can use my location settings when
I DON’T HAVE ANY. Update: actually I do, I was just too thick to realize this. The setting does virtually nothing useful but at least it stops the apps asking all the time. - The fact that the only time I am presented with the opportunity to rate an app is when I am deleting it, so basically I think the ratings are probably skewed badly downwards.
- The stylish convex back-plate which prevents the thing being used comfortably on a flat surface. The first generation didn’t have this problem.
- …
I was sure I had another gripe but it has slipped my mind for the moment. In general I still think it’s a great toy, but could be so easily improved by addressing the points above.
August 13th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
The lack of tab caching sucks pretty bad. I can only see some of this stuff improving as the devices get more RAM, though.
Don’t iPod Touches run CoreLocation via known wifi hotspots? Incredibly limited, and I’m not sure whether Apple’s databases reach any further than the States, but I think the framework is there, thus the apps have to ask you.
August 13th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Which then leads to the question: do you have a Location Services checkbox in your Settings > General pane?
August 13th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
You kids nowadays are so spoiled…I remember when we had to hit bones against rocks for music and write our checklists in the sand with sticks.
August 13th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
Ah thanks Ben, I didn’t realize that the fact that it was off was why these apps were prompting me every time I opened them. (they should still respect the choice, but hey at least that’s something)