More often than not, I don't think it's a bad thing when companies copy one another. In most cases, it's usually a great idea that should be on more devices, or more platforms. And we usually get a tweaked version, slightly different per device or mobile OS. So if companies want to copy Google, or want to copy Microsoft, or take from Apple, that's fine. Just make it your own in some way or another.
In most cases. I still think the notch situation is ridiculous and out of hand now.
Switching to the Galaxy S9 made me realize I would miss a feature that I took for granted, something you probably discerned from the title of the article. That's right, the physical mute switch that Apple has featured on the iPhone for years now. It's something that I've used a lot, especially as someone who goes to a lot of movies, but you never really know what you had until you've lost it, right?
This isn't the first time I've run into this, of course. I've switched to other non-iOS devices in the past, and I can remember it's usually one of the first things I notice is missing. Don't get me wrong here, it's not like it's a slow process to turn an Android phone to vibrate, but none of them are as fast as just shifting a switch.
Apple probably has that feature patented like nobody's business, and maybe that's why we haven't seen it pop up on other smartphones. Or maybe it's just something Android manufacturers don't want to adopt. Either way, it is what it is. Android has gone without it for so long it might feel strange to suddenly throw it in now. I don't see Samsung doing it, or even LG, or Motorola. This appears to be one feature the other companies don't want to copy.
Seriously though. I'd much rather see physical mute switches getting tossed on every phone rather than a notch. But that might just be me. So I'm just tossing it out there: Android OEMs, let's start seeing some physical mute switches on your phones.
What do you think? Is this something you'd welcome on a new smartphone? Or is this a feature you can continue to live without on your Android phones? Let me know!
