Users Petition Apple To Add Auto-Correction Off-Switch

Edward Kirk · September 17th, 2008, 12:37 PM

The virtual keyboard's auto-correction feature on the iPhone has a tendency to be more annoying then useful in certain occasions, especially since there's no way to turn it off. In an attempt to get Apple's attention, one user has decided to start a petition, asking them to create an on/off switch.

The petition's creator included the following open letter to Steve Jobs:

Hi Steve Jobs. We now updated to the new iPhone Firmware 2.1 and it definitely made things go much smoother! But we all still miss one feature: We’d like to be able to disable the annoying autocorrection! At the time it is really not Apple-like. Please let your developers make a simple switch button to turn autocorrection off (they probably will do that in 20 seconds, right?). Thank you very much!

So far they have gained 3,000 signatures. They will continue accepting them until September 30th, at which time the letter and signatures will be sent to Steve Jobs.

[via MacNN]

wba6464 · September 17th, 2008, 01:57 PM

This petition is a great idea.

In fact I'd like to see a few other petitions started.

My pet peeve? I wish the start button worked as a sleep button as well. (It already works as a "wake" button) I find myself frequently only using one hand when working the iphone. I'll gently tap the start button to see the time or check for any new messages. However I then have to reach all the way up to the top of the phone to hit the sleep/wake button to turn the screen back off. Why not just have some sequence on the start button that puts it back to sleep? Maybe an extended push?

Pearldrm7 · September 17th, 2008, 02:44 PM #3

While this is a good idea, shouldn't we all be much more interested in getting a petition started that will solve our Copy/Paste nightmare?!?!?!?!

Personally, I love the auto-correction feature, but I can understand how people would want to turn it off. Seems like a quick simple fix.

wba6464 · September 17th, 2008, 03:31 PM #4

Copy/Paste would be marvelous. Only... I see that as a security issue. Not something that Apple is likey to change simply because of a petition. And... I know that they've heard enough screams about it... that I'm sure a petition isn't needed to bring it to their attention.

thelarster · September 17th, 2008, 04:02 PM #5

Agreed, I love this feature and don't see them turning it off b/c of a petition.

Now Copy/Paste would rock! Especially since we can't get MMS and have to use that dang viewmymessage.com website with long logins.

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Edward Kirk WrAdminterizer Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Illinois, USA Posts: 3,084 Thanks: 19 Thanked 26 Times in 25 Posts	Users Petition Apple To Add Auto-Correction Off-Switch - September 17th, 2008, 12:37 PM #1
	<script language="JavaScript" src="http://adserver1.backbeatmedia.com/servlet/ajrotator/13894/222/viewJScript?pool=13886&type=3158&pos=20&zone=5000"></script> The virtual keyboard's auto-correction feature on the iPhone has a tendency to be more annoying then useful in certain occasions, especially since there's no way to turn it off. In an attempt to get Apple's attention, one user has decided to start a petition, asking them to create an on/off switch. The petition's creator included the following open letter to Steve Jobs: Hi Steve Jobs. We now updated to the new iPhone Firmware 2.1 and it definitely made things go much smoother! But we all still miss one feature: We’d like to be able to disable the annoying autocorrection! At the time it is really not Apple-like. Please let your developers make a simple switch button to turn autocorrection off (they probably will do that in 20 seconds, right?). Thank you very much! So far they have gained 3,000 signatures. They will continue accepting them until September 30th, at which time the letter and signatures will be sent to Steve Jobs. [via MacNN] __________________ About my iPhone: iPhone & Color: iPhone 3G 16GB White iPhone Version: 3.0 Computer & OS: MacBook Pro 15", Mac OS X 10.5.4 Twitter

wba6464 Forum Lurker Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	This petition is a great idea. - September 17th, 2008, 01:57 PM #2
	This petition is a great idea. In fact I'd like to see a few other petitions started. My pet peeve? I wish the start button worked as a sleep button as well. (It already works as a "wake" button) I find myself frequently only using one hand when working the iphone. I'll gently tap the start button to see the time or check for any new messages. However I then have to reach all the way up to the top of the phone to hit the sleep/wake button to turn the screen back off. Why not just have some sequence on the start button that puts it back to sleep? Maybe an extended push?

Pearldrm7 iPA Regular Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 29 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	September 17th, 2008, 02:44 PM #3
	While this is a good idea, shouldn't we all be much more interested in getting a petition started that will solve our Copy/Paste nightmare?!?!?!?! Personally, I love the auto-correction feature, but I can understand how people would want to turn it off. Seems like a quick simple fix.

wba6464 Forum Lurker Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	September 17th, 2008, 03:31 PM #4
	Copy/Paste would be marvelous. Only... I see that as a security issue. Not something that Apple is likey to change simply because of a petition. And... I know that they've heard enough screams about it... that I'm sure a petition isn't needed to bring it to their attention.

thelarster Forum Ninja Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 108 Thanks: 6 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	September 17th, 2008, 04:02 PM #5
	Agreed, I love this feature and don't see them turning it off b/c of a petition. Now Copy/Paste would rock! Especially since we can't get MMS and have to use that dang viewmymessage.com website with long logins.