If you're a programmer or designer, we know you love new features. The problem is that not everyone loves new features as much as you do. It's important to give the end user control over such features, so they can use them at their own discretion.
Take, for example, my 2-year old iPod Nano:
Not actually my iPod Nano
The Nano has a built-in feature that pauses audio playback if the headphones are unexpectedly ripped out of the headphone jack. All fine and dandy, except for some reason my iPod likes to think the adapter in my car pulls out the plug several times per minute. As such, I'll be driving along and the iPod will suddenly pause. I'll press play, and a few second later it will pause again. Repeat until the limit approaches insanity.
Now, the situation wouldn't be so bad if I could simply turn off this feature. But I can't. There is no way whatsoever to turn off the auto pause. The fact that I have no control over this feature is more rage inducing than the disfunctionality of the feature itself. Even though this only happens when I drive, one simple On/Off option in the settings menu would alleviate all of this trouble.
So take a lesson from Apple's failure. Give your users control over your devices and applications by making new features optional.
I would disagree with this analysis. Your case is probably rare, and companies that try to cater to every scenario often end up with bloated and confusing preference panels. The ability to change the behaviour of a feature IS a feature in itself, and Apple has been able to stay nimble and agile because it manages to keep feature creep to a minimum. This is part of the reason the software teams at Apple are so small even though they are building comparably complex operating systems and products.
Interesting post, but I would say there is probably something wrong with your adapter, not the iPod.
Posted by: Craig Knox | 03/29/2011 at 02:49 PM
Craig - first off thanks for the response.
At first I would've agreed with you, as the pausing only occurred when I used my iPod in my car. Over the last few weeks though, the pausing has started to occur both when I use headphones and when I plug it into my stereo at home. There is something wrong with the connection piece, the iPod no longer turns on when I plug 3.5 mm jacks into it as it used to.
It remains that this wouldn't be a problem if I could simply turn off the auto-pause feature, but alas I am unable to do so.
Posted by: Jack Adams | 04/11/2011 at 11:19 AM