Apple Changes iPhone/iPad Gesture for Notification Center Access
Apple's upcoming iOS 17 update reassigns a familiar swipe gesture on iPhone and iPad, previously used to access Notification Center, to invoke its new AI assistant. Users can still access notifications via a smaller area, requiring an adjustment to 15 years of established usage patterns.
Key points
- iOS 17 alters the swipe gesture from the top-center of the iPhone and iPad screen, previously used to open Notification Center.
- This gesture will now be primarily used to activate Apple's new AI assistant.
- Users can still access Notification Center by swiping down from the top-left corner of the screen.
- The change affects a gesture users have relied on since iOS 5 in 2011, potentially impacting long-standing user habits.
- The top edge of the display is now largely dedicated to the AI assistant's activation.
Apple is set to change a long-standing gesture on iPhones and iPads with the release of iOS 17. For over 15 years, a swipe down from the top-center of the screen has been the primary method for accessing Notification Center, where users view app alerts.
With the introduction of enhanced AI capabilities in iOS 17, this familiar gesture will now be repurposed to activate the new AI assistant. While users can still access Notification Center, they will need to perform a swipe from the top-left corner of the display, a significantly smaller designated area. This adjustment aims to prioritize access to the AI features, potentially requiring users to adapt to a change that disrupts deeply ingrained usage patterns established since iOS 5.
Sources
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