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iOS 5: How to Use Notification Center
Apple’s iOS 5 release date is finally here today. I’m really excited to see how the new Notification Center will change one of the worst elements in iOS 5.
Android handles Notifications better than iOS 4, but Apple seems to have caught up with Notification Center – the place where you see all of your reminders, alarms, email notifications, and more.
On both the iPad and iPhone, you will see a small bar across the top of the screen when you get a notification called alerts. You can swipe down from the top and it will reveal a list with all of your notifications categorized by kind.
For example, you will see To Do reminders in one section, appointment notifications in another, and email messages in a third. Other kinds of notifications will include text messages or app messages, like We Rule reminding you that your beans are ready to harvest.
iPhone iOS 5 Notification Drawer
You won’t be interrupted by a notification, which would previously pop-up and interrupt whatever you were doing with iOS 4. On iOS 5 the notification flashes at the top of the screen but lets you keep working. You can later swipe down to get more information or do it immediately.
The Notification Center lets you tap each notification to go to that item. Hit the calendar entry to open the iOS calendar or the text message to open Messages.
In addition to notifications you can see weather and stocks too.
On the iOS 5 lock screen you will also see your notifications. If you get a voice mail, hit the home button and your phone will wake up. Slide the Phone app icon to quickly go to your voice mail. Swipe other notifications to quickly deal with them as well. This way you don’t have to slide the unlock button, open the app, and then deal with the notification.
The new Notification Center saves you time and actions making it simpler.
Set which apps can use Notification Center in Settings
Fortunately, Apple included some user customization in the iOS 5 Settings page. If you tap Settings you can find them. The Notifications screen lets you pick which apps can use the new feature.
Change how Notifications Center behaves in Settings
You can also turn the feature on or off, tell it how many times to show and whether to include Badge Icons, Previews, and how many times to repeat the Alert. If you don’t want them on your Lock Screen you can turn that off too.
The style of Alerts can be changed to show them as a banner at the top, a pop-up alert like similar to the old system, or no alerts at all. To turn any of these features on or off just tapp on the On/Off icons like you see above from the iPad version.
The video below shows you how the iOS 5 Notification center works, allowing you to get subtle notifications and swipe down to view notifications when you are ready.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_profilepage&v=LLJIef-e-7g#t=47s
This new Notification Center catches iOS up to Android. Users will find it a welcome upgrade whether you are upgrading your iPad or older iPhone or getting a new iPhone 4S when it launches Friday.
DynamicDholi
10/12/2011 at 1:38 pm
Omfg
Joe Sixgig
10/13/2011 at 4:53 am
I’m probably being dense here, but is it possible to show a few upcoming appointments on the lock screen by default, even if the reminders for those appointments have not arrived yet?
I was hoping iOS 5 would allow me to ‘put my calendar on my lock screen’ but doesn’t seem to work like that.
Scott
10/13/2011 at 6:00 am
I was hoping to see this too, but have not found it yet
Joe Sixgig
10/13/2011 at 7:53 am
That would be incredible. They took the time to write a weather widget, but didn’t include a calendar widget? I’m still hoping this can be done, but I fear the worst. Still eyeing WP7.5..
Iaindb
10/17/2011 at 2:56 pm
Exactly. “catches iOS up to Android”? You’re kidding right?
Rkcampbell
11/27/2011 at 10:09 pm
Apparently you guys don’t spend enough time digging around. Use the new “Reminders” app and you can program reminders based on time, location, etc. For example, my phone reminds me when I leave the house that I need to pick up contacts. It will also remind me when I drive near a Best Buy that I need to pick up a present on my list! Android can suck it.
Becakbee1981
10/13/2011 at 4:53 am
I updated to iOS5 last night and I am missing some of the “key” updates such as camera from lock screen and notification center. How to do I get these features on my phone without doing a factory setting reset?
Scott
10/13/2011 at 5:59 am
I found this, you have to double push the home button to get it to come up.
Benfigueroa
10/14/2011 at 12:56 pm
You double tap home from it being locked and wala
Iaindb
10/17/2011 at 2:58 pm
It’s voila, not wala.
Chinche
11/14/2011 at 11:50 am
No, it’s huallæ
Nello
10/13/2011 at 6:36 am
I updated, and can’t see the notification centre in any way. I suppose I have to stand on my head or something.
Allanestrella
10/13/2011 at 7:02 am
Google Macworld’s iSoS 5 article & it explains all features in details
judy
10/13/2011 at 6:50 am
Having trouble with iMessage. Went to settings and there is no option for Sms or mms. I keep getting error that the number isn’t registered. It is a iPhone that I am trying to use
Mauchan
10/13/2011 at 10:56 am
Where can you find the Icon for reminders? I saw a post earlier that said it is in the double home key but I deleted all the apps in there and it is gone now. Any ideas?
Djyanks320
10/13/2011 at 10:58 am
My reminders won’t show up in the notification center. How do I fix it? I wanna swipe down and see my reminders
DynamicDholi
10/15/2011 at 2:57 am
Just when u thought it couldn’t get any better
Judethedude82
10/29/2011 at 3:46 am
I hit clear x button accidentally on notification screen and now I don’t get email notification despite it being turned on
Mo
11/12/2011 at 9:36 pm
Bu**er, I just did the same. Did you find a solution?
Jth22mlh31
01/17/2012 at 2:55 pm
Did you ever get notifications to show up on a lock screen again? If so, how???
Louise Copeland
01/30/2012 at 1:09 pm
Hi,I think I have the same problem as you. I set a couple of reminders and received an e mail and an alert which is what I wanted. Now I do exactly the same but only get an alert…I want an e mail! Have checked all settings & getting nowhere.did you find a solution
Stef Papenfuss
10/29/2011 at 3:27 pm
Notification Center don’t work the way we the iGadget owners expected it to work. No pull down from the lock screen.
Earthmanangement83
10/30/2011 at 7:18 am
Pull down from running iPad/iPhone/IPT, not from lock screen. Notifications show up on lock screen automatically. If you aren’t getting notifications, it may be because of offensive tweets and such. Just sayin. I kid, I kid.
Stef Papenfuss
10/30/2011 at 7:34 am
Everyone expected NC to work with the lock screen. Everyone wanted the jailbroken version of NC. Apple didn’t explain clear enough the difference between NC and Notifications on lock screen. Then or now.
Or … I am getting enough notifications, despite of my offensive tweets and such. Such as this email notification I just received from Disqus with your comment!! Just sayin….
Consultant
11/21/2011 at 11:20 pm
To get the DATE on the iPhone notification center (dashboard), check out the “Dashboard Calendar” app in the app store. It’s a super handy utility app.
Kaauxudh
01/10/2012 at 11:44 am
For something Apple stole from Android they found a way to screw this up. What a joke. They complicate things when there’s no need for that. I thought Iphone was supposed to be simple.
Fdtym
01/16/2012 at 11:30 am
i have my notifications on but when i get tweets for echofon twitter it wont alert me at all
amaranth
01/19/2012 at 3:33 pm
Is there any way to turn this POC off completely, every time I try to scroll pu a page it comes down. Any responsible person should already have any special appointments anticipated!
Pmadren976
01/20/2012 at 6:40 am
How go I change my email setting in the function. It is bringing up my other email address which is not my default
moncre
03/11/2012 at 2:02 pm
for those trying to put your different apps in your notication to appear.. it only lets you put the top 3 apps to show up in there so u go to setting, notification, edit and then click and hold on the 3 bars to the side of app and then slide up to what ever postion u wish..
Ernest mackey
06/05/2012 at 10:55 pm
Please notify me of all events, birthdays of all my friends on facebook a
CourtneyEngle
11/06/2012 at 9:37 am
I have a lot of calendars and would like to disable some – like Birthdays – from showing on the alerts screen but still be able to see them in Calendar mode.