# What is the point of slide to unlock on an ipod? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 5, 2013, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-slide-to-unlock-on-an-ipod/652073 "2013-03-05T05:55:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![A\_Dodgy\_Dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a87d85/32.png) [@A\_Dodgy\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_Dodgy_Dude)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2013, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-slide-to-unlock-on-an-ipod/652073/1 "2013-03-05T05:55:20Z")
I recently got an iPod Touch and the point of “slide to unlock” and “slide to power off” is escaping me. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2013, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-slide-to-unlock-on-an-ipod/652073/2 "2013-03-05T06:39:28Z")
> [@A\_Dodgy\_Dude](#): > > I recently got an iPod Touch and the point of “slide to unlock” and “slide to power off” is escaping me. 😕 As opposed to what, some other gesture? A mechanical switch? ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2013, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-slide-to-unlock-on-an-ipod/652073/3 "2013-03-05T06:40:33Z")
It’s so you don’t accidentally turn it on in your bag and drain your battery. Like locking your phone. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2013, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-slide-to-unlock-on-an-ipod/652073/4 "2013-03-05T06:41:32Z")
> [@A\_Dodgy\_Dude](#): > > I recently got an iPod Touch and the point of “slide to unlock” and “slide to power off” is escaping me. 😕 Were you really trying to use it, or did you just accidentally hit the screen? Slide to confirm use. Did you really mean to turn the power off? Slide to confirm. ---
**Author:** ![A\_Dodgy\_Dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a87d85/32.png) [@A\_Dodgy\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_Dodgy_Dude)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2013, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-slide-to-unlock-on-an-ipod/652073/5 "2013-03-05T19:15:12Z")
Oh! That makes sense. Thanks guys. Now I have to figure out how to load photos and video onto the thing. ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2013, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-slide-to-unlock-on-an-ipod/652073/6 "2013-03-05T20:36:50Z")
Just use the little funnel that came in the box. They’ll slide right in. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2013, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-slide-to-unlock-on-an-ipod/652073/7 "2013-03-05T20:45:23Z")
> [@picker](#): > > Just use the little funnel that came in the box. They’ll slide right in. We ask for technical assistance, they send us a comedian. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-slide-to-unlock-on-an-ipod/652073/8 "2013-03-06T03:07:15Z")
> [@A\_Dodgy\_Dude](#): > > Oh! That makes sense. Thanks guys. > > Now I have to figure out how to load photos and video onto the thing. The built in apps for photos and videos are crap. Total rubbish. Try them for yourself. For photos I recommend photo manager pro, icon is a black background with yellow sunflower. For videos the best I’ve found is VM player, but it doesn’t have passwords or wifi transfer. ---
**Author:** ![Pitchmeister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pitchmeister/32/3459_2.png) [@Pitchmeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pitchmeister)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-slide-to-unlock-on-an-ipod/652073/9 "2013-03-06T19:19:47Z")
> [@A\_Dodgy\_Dude](#): > > Oh! That makes sense. Thanks guys. > > Now I have to figure out how to load photos and video onto the thing. Use iTunes. Don’t fight it. It knows better than you. 😉 Seriously, unless you’re looking for major headaches, try and do things the iTunes way, sometimes it seems counter-intuitive, but it is actually pretty smooth if you let it. ---
**Author:** ![A\_Dodgy\_Dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a87d85/32.png) [@A\_Dodgy\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_Dodgy_Dude)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-slide-to-unlock-on-an-ipod/652073/10 "2013-03-07T00:33:33Z")
I had been told the Apple stuff is designed specifically so people intuitively know what to do. Pity Apple didn’t extend that thinking to the user guide. I can’t make head nor tail out of those directions (a hell of statement coming from a 20-year member of Mensa.) I’m depending on YouTube videos to show me how to work iTunes.