Apple has released a new push-to-talk framework for PTT applications, for providing transparency and uniform PTT user experience. While the advantages can’t be ignored, we had multiple users asking for removing it. In the following article we’ll learn about the new framework, and discuss its advantages and disadvantages.
The Apple push-to-talk framework provides users with better clarity when PTT apps are running in the background, quick access to PTT, power efficiency, uniform PTT user experience. It includes standard sounds, standard UX when PTT is played while another app is running, and more.
Now, when Synch is open in the background, a blue button will appear in the time area at the top of the iPhone screen. It serves as an indication that Synch is working in the background. Clicking on it brings up Synch if it is open in the background, and if Synch is closed – clicking brings up Apple’s own interface that knows how to activate Synch. This interface will also appear for quick response when entering PTT:
iPhone’s New PTT framework
An iPhone user will see a new icon in the dynamic island, or in the status bar at the top of the screen. The icon indicates that the new PTT infrastructure is working and is serving as a shortcut to the Synch app.
On an iPhone without the dynamic island, there is not enough space in the status bar to always display the PTT icon, so it will be replaced by a blue indication behind the clock. Clicking on the icon will bring the apple PTT UI forward. Pressing it again opens the Synch application (we noticed some inconsistencies – where some Apple devices without dynamic island opened the framework UI in full screen).
Note that the start and end sounds of PTT transmissions are controlled by Apple and you need to set the volume of these sounds in the app by first clicking on the PTT button and then adjusting the volume using the volume keys on your phone.
Important: The “Exit” (the red button) switches the app to a kind of mute. If you need to continue to be active in the system and receive PTT calls – do not use the red “exit” button in the pop-up, as this will stop Synch from playing the PTT until you open it again.
Click on the red button only if you want to mute Synch and stop being available to your peers on PTT. Our advice is to use Synch itself for that – by switching it to offline or using Synch’s exit button- both are easier to switch back to active mode than this interface.
Advantages
- It is easy to see when the PTT app is working in the background (using the top blue button),
- You can quickly answer any PTT in this mode using the Apple UX, with response buttons even on the device’s lock screen – without opening the app itself.
Disadvantages
Along with the advantages of a unified PTT framework, we have identified significant problems after testing and operating it in real life with Synch iPhone users:
- Users are tapping the exit button without understanding the implications – – loss of availability and communication.
- The blue indicator at the top of the device – indicates that the application is opened in the background all the time. It uses the same color as the location application activity indication. This bothers users (they think battery is drained with that state) and they tend to close the app and lose communication and availability as a result.
The result: Apple users’ satisfaction downgraded As a result of these shortcomings, we have found an increase in dissatisfaction among iOS users that have used the Apple PTT framework.
Currently, this framework is available to PTT apps, but is not defined as a mandatory framework on iPhone devices. It is possible that Apple will eventually require PTT app developers to use it, and we hope that there will be improvements to the user experience.
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