Does iPad 4.2 mute switch make more sense for iPad 2 with FaceTime?

By Rene Ritchie
last updated

The godfather of iOS development, Craig Hockenberry wondered out loud on Twitter about just why Apple would change the iPad's hardware orientation lock to a mute switch in iOS 4.2, and if it could be related to future, FaceTime-equipped iPad 2 hardware:

When (not if) an iPad has FaceTime, will silencing the alerts be more important than orientation? Depends on the person and how they use it…

If iPad 2 is shown off in January and ships in April, it will certainly still be running iOS 4.x.. So when it makes FaceTime calls, does an iPhone-like mute switch make more sense?

[@chockenberry]

Rene Ritchie
Rene Ritchie
Contributor

Rene Ritchie is one of the most respected Apple analysts in the business, reaching a combined audience of over 40 million readers a month. His YouTube channel, Vector, has over 90 thousand subscribers and 14 million views and his podcasts, including Debug, have been downloaded over 20 million times. He also regularly co-hosts MacBreak Weekly for the TWiT network and co-hosted CES Live! and Talk Mobile. Based in Montreal, Rene is a former director of product marketing, web developer, and graphic designer. He's authored several books and appeared on numerous television and radio segments to discuss Apple and the technology industry. When not working, he likes to cook, grapple, and spend time with his friends and family.