A common complaint of iOS users is it’s lack of a good notification system. I’m not talking about push notifications. Those seems ok for what they do but I mean how they pop up and interrupt anything you’re doing no matter what app you’re in. SMS does the same. If you don’t have sound on, with it’s relatively weak vibrate you can barely tell when you get an email. Apple, we know you like to innovate, so with iOS 5 can you please do something to fix the notification system?

Yes, we know this has been talked about a million times before but this time we have a few suggestions…

First, customized vibrates for different notifications. This is self explanatory. Maybe I want two quick vibrates for emails and one long vibrate for texts. Simple enough.

Second, when you swipe left on your home screen you are taken to a search area (yeah we almost forgot too). Why not incorporate a similar version of the SBSettings jailbreak app there combined with the apps that have notifications. I have to admit, Android’s one touch on and off from the home screen seems like a no brainer. Why should I have to go two menus deep to turn my Wifi and Bluetooth on? With mobile hotspot capability coming it should be instant. Things like vibrate, airplane mode, location services, should all have this type of instant on but have the ability to choose whether you want them there or not.

Lastly, The notifications themselves should have a preview on the status bar and in the search area with the one touch buttons, the apps that have notifications should be listed there for easy access.

If you actually use the search capability, then tap the same spot it’s already in and have the keyboard pop up and the other options fade to the back.

Apple has never changed it’s system since the first version of iOS, I think it’s about time.

Any better ideas? Let’s hear it.