Things Missing From the iPod Touch
A to-do list for Apple of much needed features on the iPod Touch
(and presumably its iPhone cousin)
Because, as beautiful as they are, there are just a couple of things that (I think) could make it even better. The iPod Touch is a wonderfully sophisticated and beautifully crafted device. I hope that the acclaimed -- for good reason -- and obviously quite brilliant Apple designers don't mind me making these few suggestions.
Because the physical machine and its software function are so closely intertwined these are really all about software function. Some are closer to the operating system level and some are clearly within particular applications but most have to do with either the operation of the device or standard approaches to situations so that users can depend on the Touch to do what they need in the manner in which they expect it.
- Cut-and-Paste
- To copy bits from one place and paste them into another. Right now that "another" place would only be a form field or a search field in one of the Google apps, but my goodness would it be useful to be able to copy from one field to another or to copy from a webpage to a form field. Please!
- Sound Alerts
- "Sound Effects" settings on the iPod Touch are limited to "On" or "Off" (with options to hear them in the earphones or from the Touch or both.) This one setting effects all sounds that the Touch makes except for playing music including keyboard clicks (irritating as heck when you're trying to be quiet in bed.) and calendar alarms. Major bummer that to quiet the darn keyboard clicks you have to also loose the calendar alarms.
It would so handy to have separate volume settings and options for a set of different functional sounds. A set of options for calendar alarms and another, separate set for keyclicks and another for system alerts and application sounds. And maybe a choice of sounds for alerts too -- different people hear different things. And they hear them different ways.
- Application Jump
- Let the user move from application to application (virtually) without having to first leave an application to go out to the home screen and then select the next application from the homescreen.
This functions as when selecting "Maps" in "Contacts" data entry or selecting contact information from a target on the "Maps" screen. The difference here is that the user decides which apps to jump to. (Like the Touch works for the user. Cool.)
- Two-finger tap for context menu
- This should be on all applications please. A standard feature of the interface that would, among other things, facilitate cut-&-paste and the jump to other applications. (And it would be awesome.)
- Forms Data
- Option to remember forms data in Safari. A security issue, to be sure; and perhaps irrevocably tied to a password for the iPod.
- Password Vault
- Urgently need a secure database for carrying little bits of personal information. Passwords are most likely, but allow flexibility please.
- Save Webpage
- Option to save a webpage complete as a recallable file on the Touch. This is for when the data is needed but the internet is not available. E.g., a map w/ directions, a movie schedule, an address listing, an advertisement.
- Dictionary "Learn Mode"
- It's wearying and time-wasting to have to fight with the typing dictionary over a word. Need a mode that says "do as I say and learn" and perhaps another that is simply "do as I say".
- Library edits
- The "On the Go" playlist is swell. The Touch's GUI makes it so easy -- actually fun -- to do things in it, like manipulating this playlist. It would be swell to extend the fun to the media libraries. So when I see a typo on the screen o the Touch, I can go ahead and fix it there and then have it synch back to the computer library whenever it gets connected. Ditto for the photo and video libraries.
- Sideways view for Everything!
- I haven't come across an application or feature on the Touch, yet, that I haven't wanted to see or access in the landscape mode. Some may say that, "well 'this' app doesn't need it and so doesn't do it". To that I say, "I want it because I find it useful, easier to read and, sometimes, just easier to hold the the iPod Touch that way." The iPod Touch should allow twisting every screen any time and all of the apps should support it. Period.
- "Exclude" from Slideshow
- Slideshow allows selecting one folder or all, but it would be swell to be able to go with a sort of "show all except" on the fly and without needing to change what is stored on the Touch. Perhaps a list of folders with checkboxes, then uncheck what is not wanted in the slideshow.
- Contacts search
- Please provide a way to search the contacts database and in the search permit/support searching in alternate fields (e.g., first name, last name, company name, category).
- "Find-on-page" in Safari
- The web browser needs a way to find specific items on the web page, please. This would be helpful in the extreme when viewing large and/or elaborately formatted pages.
- Apple; Please visit your user support forums.
- Dear Apple, Please check the user support forums (including those for Windows users) on the Apple.com website. Your presence there is definitely something that is "missing" from the iPod Touch and its relationship with the iTunes software. There is a lot of stuff there on the fourms that needs a solution &/or workaround and that may be useful for you to know about as you move forward. Thanks.
