[fonzie]

A good solution to the iPhone's mute issue would be a gasp Blackberry-like gasp 'nightstand mode'.

Though it would not have saved the day in this instance, it would be a good implementation. So many times I do not want all my apps alerting me with push messages and emails and texts; I just really want phone calls or alarms to come through.

[prodigal_erik]

That sounds about right. Hell, I should be able to drop a phone on my nightstand and have an inductive charger switch it to "do not disturb, except for alarms and calls or urgent messages from certain people". Is it the future yet?

As for this article, there seem to be conflicting expectations. Demanding attention is the point of an alarm, so I for one do not expect "mute" to imply "and cancel all my meeting reminders or let me oversleep". Another comment proposed a theater mode, and maybe that should mean "no noise whatsoever for the next N hours, warn me if it means deferring an alarm".

[epochwolf]

> Another comment proposed a theater mode, and maybe that should mean "no noise whatsoever for the next N hours, warn me if it means deferring an alarm".

It's called off. Hold the top button and the home button and you'll get a screen that lets you power off the iphone completely. To turn the phone back on just press and hold the top button for a few seconds. :)