Notifications in iOS 5 (photos)

The way you get your messages and alerts has dramatically changed in iOS 5. We take you on a step-by-step of some of the new features.

Jessica Dolcourt

Jessica Dolcourt is a passionate content strategist and veteran leader of CNET coverage. As Senior Director of Content Operations, she leads a number of teams, including Thought Leadership, Speed Desk and How-To. Her CNET career began in 2006, testing desktop and mobile software for Download.com and CNET, including the first iPhone and Android apps and operating systems. She continued to review, report on and write a wide range of commentary and analysis on all things phones, with an emphasis on iPhone and Samsung. Jessica was one of the first people in the world to test, review and report on foldable phones and 5G wireless speeds. Jessica led CNET's How-To section for tips and FAQs in 2019, guiding coverage of topics ranging from personal finance to phones and home. She holds an MA with Distinction from the University of Warwick (UK).

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Jessica Dolcourt

Oct. 14, 2011 3:35 p.m. PT

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Notifications Center

It's new day for iOS! Version 5 of the operating system for iPhone, iPad, and iPod is brimming with new features, including this handy pull-down notifications menu that shows you everything from the weather to missed calls, reminders, and incoming e-mail messages. Sound familiar? Apple definitely borrows from Android on this one.

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Choose your own alert

Unobtrusive banner notifications are another Android influence, but Apple has wisely let you choose your pop-up style rather than foist one on you. You can find that and much, much more in the new Notifications segment of the Settings menu.

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Banner alert

Here's a closer look at how banner alerts appear. Tap them to open the alert, or do nothing and watch them fade away.

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Lock screen messages

Notifications on the lock screen have also changed for the better. You can respond immediately or let it sit and unlock the screen as usual.

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Message multitasker

If you get multiple notifications while the phone is locked, you'll see them all at once, newest message first (so read this from bottom to top). Before, you saw one message at a time, and had to deal with them in order.

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Customize it

There's plenty of customizing to be had in the new Notifications submenu.

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As you like it

Apple's Notification Center is all about options. One of the first things you'll decide is if you want to see your alerts as they come or prioritized by type.

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What's hot, what's not

Within the notifications subsettings, you can reorder the alerts you see in the pull-down message center by dragging and dropping them.

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An easier way

An easier way than dragging and dropping to manage what shows up is simply swiping the toggle to "on" or "off."

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You're out

Just because it can notify you, doesn't mean you want to see it. You can pick and choose what makes it into the drop-down.

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More customizing

On top of that, you have control over sound, icons, and whether you're notified of an event in the lock screen.

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How many?

It's nice that Apple lets you pick how many of each item you want to see in the pull-down menu. But why so stringent? Five e-mails (for instance) are too many for our tastes, and one is too few. Why not two or three?