Do not disturb: The best new feature in iOS 6

(MoneyWatch) You've likely heard about the problems with Apple's new mapping application in the iPhone 5 and iOS 6, the company's mobile operating system. But despite that uncharacteristic black mark, the new iPhone platform is a winner, packed with a number of incremental improvements. Without a doubt, one feature stands out: The "do not disturb" mode.

Indeed, that new feature is reason enough to upgrade, if you haven't already -- and if you did upgrade, be sure to check it out. When you turn on "do not disturb" (which you do in Settings), your phone suppresses most forms of communication -- phone calls, text messages, even Facebook and Twitter notifications.

The effect: When enabled, your phone won't light up or vibrate at all, so you can get through a meeting or go to bed without being disturbed by the outside world. But all of those notifications get captured and appear in the Notification Center when you turn on your phone's display.

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You can configure "Do not disturb" to do its thing on a schedule, or you can simply turn it on and off as needed. You can also specify certain favorite contacts -- called VIPs -- who can get through to you even if your phone is in "do not disturb" mode. (Email from VIPs also get special treatment thanks to their own inbox.)

All that is great, but there's a new, related option. When a call comes in, you can choose to answer or ignore it, as usual, or you can immediately reply with a text message. You can also ask your iPhone to remind you about the call later -- either at a specific timer, or when you leave your current location (as measured by your phone's GPS).

This is a long overdue feature, and, unlike the map app, is elegantly executed.

[Nonu123456789]

DND apple
http://www.techyclick.com/apple-working-disturb-feature-fix/

[bmschoedel]

Why don't they make an iPhone with do not disturb & call block features? This way you don't need to jailbreak or download an app to really go on DND. Obviously you could turn it off but that's not the point is it?

[KPMRidge]

The Do Not Disturb with a schedule is a great feature, and I'm glad that I don't need to install another app for this purpose, as I did on my Android phone. Odd, though, that the Do Not Disturb is in one place, but the scheduled Do Not Disturb is in another place (under Notifications). Why wouldn't the schedule be a configuration option under Do Not Disturb? I didn't know it existed for a long time until I stumbled upon it. Now my nights of being awakened by an email because I forgot to flip the switch on the side of the phone are over.

[aztec7012]

no, the DO NOT DISTURB is a request not to bother Apple techies as they try to fix the IOS6 WIFI S L O W connectivity. Unbelievable, users are fed up. Apple stocks lost $106 billion in value as consumers are wising up. As I commented before, consumers will always prevail, NOT Apple taking consumers and their $$$ hostages...in case of emergency break glass (SJ secret recipes)...

[JesperRas]

For Android users looking for a similar (or even better) solution - take a look at the app called Quiet Sleep!

Here is the link:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=akostaapps.quietsleep.free

[cmosmith]

iphone's have always had silent mode and you can turn vibrate on and off etc. What this does is stop your phone from lighting up and showing a text or whatever at 3am when it's in your clock radio charging and you are asleep. It stores all your notifications till you are ready for them. Sounds like you can't on your Android? (you said- I get the notifications but no vibrates or sound. )

The VIP feature is cool too.

[argrithmag]

Um... What's special about this? It's called silent mode. And my android phone has had it for as long as i can remember. Sound, vibrate, silent. I get the notifications but no vibrates or sound. It's not like that's revolutionary. But then, I guess if your stuck in in apple's universe, anything outside of a one button mouse is revolutionary and a must have. ;)

[the570z]

So does this mean that Google gets to sue Apple now for blatantly copying all of those features from android 4.0? I figure if apple gets 1.2 billion for rounded corners and a bounce back at the end of a scroll then google should get a couple trillion for apple "borrowing" actual key features...

[rufustel]

" ... your phone suppresses most forms of communication -- phone calls, text messages, EVEN FACEBOOK AND TWITTER NOTIFICATIONS ...{ (emphasis added).

;^)

[davejohnso]

@rufustel: Thanks for posting, but I genuinely don't understand your point. Why did you add that emphasis?

[rufustel]

@davejohnso: I just found it humorous that Facebook and Twitter have to be highlighted (and even commented upon separately), as media worthy of separate and elevated attention ...

;^)