App Library: I hate it

[AZhappyjack]

Yes but one could also reasonably argue that TestFlight apps are downloaded from the (wait for it...) TestFlight app and should be combined. Just going by the meaning of a utility, any app can be categorized as a utility, really.

So, I'd guess that it's up to Apple and the developer (in the case of the TestFligt app, that's Apple too). If you must complain, complain to them. We cannot change it.

 

[Itinj24]

So, I'd guess that it's up to Apple and the developer (in the case of the TestFligt app, that's Apple too). If you must complain, complain to them. We cannot change it.

Hey, I understand. I even mentioned that in my original post. Some things just don’t make sense though. The Remote app is in the Entertainment folder but the Nimbus controller app is in the Utilities folder when I think it should go with games. Just throwing it out there. Not trying to make too much fuss about it.

That said, I still ditched my old folders and use the App Library

 

[Abazigal]

I’m disappointed with the App Library. It could have been really good.

Most people will keep their most used apps on their home screens.
But those same commonly used apps are what get promoted in App Library.
Why suggest Phone in App Library when it’s on my first screen, for example.

I had hoped there would be a toggle in App Library to view only apps not on a screen.
Then I could use my home screens as usual for commonly used apps.
For seldom used apps I could go to App Library without also seeing all of the apps on my home screens.
Then for any given app it’s either in App Library or a Home Screen but not both.

The other customization options you folks have suggested would definitely be an improvement also.

I really wanted to like it. It just disappoints me that such a major new feature is of no value to me.

Enjoyed reading everyone’s thoughts!

I think people underestimate the number of users who simply have page after page of apps they downloaded and simply never got round to organising them. They are possibly still swiping from page to page looking for that app to launch.

In this context, App Library is a godsend. Just hide everything, and leave it to iOS to intelligently surface the apps you want to use at any one time.

It’s no panacea, but for these users, it’s a definite improvement.

 

[Paco II]

Hey, I understand. I even mentioned that in my original post. Some things just don’t make sense though. The Remote app is in the Entertainment folder but the Nimbus controller app is in the Utilities folder when I think it should go with games. Just throwing it out there. Not trying to make too much fuss about it.

That said, I still ditched my old folders and use the App Library

I see in the App store that Nimbus app is tagged Utilities. Does the developer choose their app category or does Apple do that? If it's the developer, make the request to them to change the category.

 

[Itinj24]

I see in the App store that Nimbus app is tagged Utilities. Does the developer choose their app category or does Apple do that? If it's the developer, make the request to them to change the category.

Yeah I believe the developer categorizes the app which determines what folder it’s placed into. I usually use the search feature to find the app I’m looking for unless it’s one of the main one-click apps in the folder and it’s staring at me lol. Eh, not that serious. I’m sure developers have gotten a million requests for which folder their apps belong in and well, you can’t please everyone.

 

[Paco II]

I’m sure developers have gotten a million requests for which folder their apps belong in and well, you can’t please everyone.

tbh I doubt that developers have been getting many requests to change their app category. You were just complaining/commenting about it, so clearly it's an issue for you. Why wouldn't you just email to request it?

 

[Itinj24]

tbh I doubt that developers have been getting many requests to change their app category. You were just complaining/commenting about it, so clearly it's an issue for you. Why wouldn't you just email to request it?

I just made one comment about the Test Flight app and then followed up when someone replied to it. I’m telling you, from me directly to you, it’s not that serious lol. I even mentioned so previously. I’m still learning where all my apps were placed. I can easily go back to my folders but I’m giving this App Library a shot. I think it’s mostly a great idea.

 

[madeirabhoy]

Now that the widgets can be placed anywhere on the home screen, the Today view will slowly lose its purpose. I've only got one widget there, and that's because the app in question hasn't yet been updated for iOS 14. When they update it I won't even have that one, so I'll be stuck with a useless, empty screen, which I won't be able to hide.
So why isn't anyone moaning about that? Twenty-five pages of childish complains about how people's lives have been ruined just by knowing about the App Library, even if they don't see it, while an even less useful screen in the other direction, which also cannot be hidden, doesn't bother anyone. Ironic, or what?

nah not really. I like the today view.

basically since iOS 14 came out ive tried every variation trying to like the App Library.

ive had my normal 5 pages of apps so its so far away. messy and I actually like the idea of hiding hardly used apps. just cant it be so they can be searched.

ive had for a good few days two pages of apps followed by every widget on half page. except they aren't half page which is daft but anyway... another story..

I even tried deleting all my apps from the Home Screen and just thought ill treat my App Library as Home Screen. see im trying! but that was really **** especially since you cant have no Home Screen.


so basically my setup now is today view, all the main widgets in smallest size. then two pages of most common apps. then App Library. I still hate the App Library but thats the best way of dealing with it.



I was just thinking, thank god they didnt bring App Library to ipadOS14 (other wise known as iOS 12) my iPad has been repurposed as its a bit old, air 2, and its cover fell apart and I cant be arsed buying another one. so I got a wee stand and it sits in the kitchen, and I deleted all apps except tv apps. so it neatly has one screen of apps on home page. the idea of having one page of apps in my order, followed by an App Library of one page worth of apps in apples order is just.......

 

[brentsg]

as has been pointed out repeatedly, you can run your iphone just as you did in ios 13... and have options if you want to use them (widgets, app library, etc).

Just as you could have skipped my post. But you didn’t because it bothers you. You are reading a thread you disagree with just so you can argue.

I have muscle memory that would put me on the last page. Now I accidentally go to the stupid App Library page and have to backtrack. The bottom line is that there is no reason it can’t be optional. We could all be happy. But as usual Apple is telling us what we’ll have to live with. I dumped OSX over this and will probably wind up doing the same here eventually.

If I’m going to have to learn new tricks then I’d rather do so trying a new platform altogether. It just isn’t a great time since I made the jump from 6+ to 11.

 

[C DM]

Just as you could have skipped my post. But you didn’t because it bothers you. You are reading a thread you disagree with just so you can argue.

I have muscle memory that would put me on the last page. Now I accidentally go to the stupid App Library page and have to backtrack. The bottom line is that there is no reason it can’t be optional. We could all be happy. But as usual Apple is telling us what we’ll have to live with. I dumped OSX over this and will probably wind up doing the same here eventually.

If I’m going to have to learn new tricks then I’d rather do so trying a new platform altogether. It just isn’t a great time since I made the jump from 6+ to 11.

In the end none of this is something that's really all that new or surprising (Today View being just one almost directly comparable example). It would be nice to have more controls over more things, but that's generally not the case.

 

[MiamiBeach]

I don’t mind the App Library as all my daily apps are on one screen and I never swipe all the way over. Having said that, an option to turn on/off would be useful so that folks can have a choice.

 

[fisherking]

Just as you could have skipped my post. But you didn’t because it bothers you. You are reading a thread you disagree with just so you can argue.

I have muscle memory that would put me on the last page. Now I accidentally go to the stupid App Library page and have to backtrack. The bottom line is that there is no reason it can’t be optional. We could all be happy. But as usual Apple is telling us what we’ll have to live with. I dumped OSX over this and will probably wind up doing the same here eventually.

If I’m going to have to learn new tricks then I’d rather do so trying a new platform altogether. It just isn’t a great time since I made the jump from 6+ to 11.

yeah, uh... i stand by my comment. muscle memory? so... how long should it take to adapt to things as they are? i never swipe to the today page, or the app library. and life goes on. you'll be fine.

you dumped OSX because? and you think windows doesn't have it's own conditions, quirks... things that will bother you?

NO os can be what every individual wants it to be. so, welcome to the good & bad of ios, android, windows, mac os... etc.

 

[boss.king]

The app library concept is fine, Apple just botched it a bit. The automatic organisation makes some very questionable choices and it would be a lot better if you could just make your own categories or folders instead.

 

[AZhappyjack]

The app library concept is fine, Apple just botched it a bit. The automatic organisation makes some very questionable choices and it would be a lot better if you could just make your own categories or folders instead.

*sigh*

You CAN put stuff wherever and however you want - in your own categories or folders. Why is this such a difficult concept to grasp? Just use the Home Screen folders and ignore the App Library.

If Apple allowed the constomzatiin the way y’all want it, it is absolutely NO different from the Home Screen layout/options.

 

[boss.king]

*sigh*

You CAN put stuff wherever and however you want - in your own categories or folders. Why is this such a difficult concept to grasp? Just use the Home Screen folders and ignore the App Library.

If Apple allowed the constomzatiin the way y’all want it, it is absolutely NO different from the Home Screen layout/options.

Good job missing the point entirely. The whole benefit of the app drawer is to hide away the clutter that you rarely use into easily navigable folders. Why would I want to add even more home screens on top of that when instead the app drawer could just work correctly? Simple miscategorisations would be easy to fix, which would make the whole thing a lot more useful.

Why does Overcast get put into Information & Reading, not Entertainment?
Why does LastPass go into Productivity and Finance instead of Utilities?
Why does the app for my Sony headphones go into Utilities, but the ones for my Jaybirds and my UE Boom go into Entertainment?

I shouldn't need to have to make a whole homescreen of custom folders to fix those, just let me tell my phone where to put them in the existing app library.

 

[fisherking]

Good job missing the point entirely. The whole benefit of the app drawer is to hide away the clutter that you rarely use into easily navigable folders. Why would I want to add even more home screens on top of that when instead the app drawer could just work correctly? Simple miscategorisations would be easy to fix, which would make the whole thing a lot more useful.

Why does Overcast get put into Information & Reading, not Entertainment?
Why does LastPass go into Productivity and Finance instead of Utilities?
Why does the app for my Sony headphones go into Utilities, but the ones for my Jaybirds and my UE Boom go into Entertainment?

I shouldn't need to have to make a whole homescreen of custom folders to fix those, just let me tell my phone where to put them in the existing app library.

the whole idea is to have consistency, based on the categories chosen by developers.

if you go to a book store (remember those?) and look for a specific cookbook, but find it in self-help because the publisher designates it as a self-help book, you can buy it, take it home, and put it anywhere you want.

but the book store will always have it where it's been designed to go, and all bookstores will... and that's the point.

 

[boss.king]

the whole idea is to have consistency, based on the categories chosen by developers.

if you go to a book store (remember those?) and look for a specific cookbook, but find it in self-help because the publisher designates it as a self-help book, you can buy it, take it home, and put it anywhere you want.

but the book store will always have it where it's been designed to go, and all bookstores will... and that's the point.

I'm confused, are you agreeing with me? If the App Store is the equivalent of the book store, wouldn't downloading the app be the digital version of buying it/taking it home? That would make the app library my bookshelf, the homescreen my desk. At that point, I should be able to organise my (app) library however I choose, not be stuck with whatever arbitrary category Apple or the developer think it best fits into?

 

[AZhappyjack]

I'm confused, are you agreeing with me? If the App Store is the equivalent of the book store, wouldn't downloading the app be the digital version of buying it/taking it home? That would make the app library my bookshelf, the homescreen my desk. At that point, I should be able to organise my (app) library however I choose, not be stuck with whatever arbitrary category Apple or the developer think it best fits into?

Yes... in a folder on your Home Screen.

 

[boss.king]

Yes... in a folder on your Home Screen.

Lol. So you'd rather them leave the app library partially broken than admit it could be better?

 

[AZhappyjack]

Lol. So you'd rather them leave the app library partially broken than admit it could be better?

I don’t use it. At all. I ignore it. It’s a non-issue for me.

Apple decided to go with the categories chosen by the developer. Contact the developer and ask them to change the category.

 

[Paco II]

I have absolutely no doubt that developers will be re-evaluating their app's categorization as the result of the App Library. Developers *want* you to easily find their apps.

 

[dk001]

Serious question: if Android and Nova Launcher worked for you, why are you here using and complain about iPhone? Seriously, why not stick with what works (worked?) for you?

Maybe some of us use both?

 

[dk001]

Still play around with this as part of the Beta testing thingy ....

Couple of updates;

• Still don’t understand suggestions. It frequently has apps shown that I seldom use
• Recently Added has now shrunk to 8 apps (down from 10) and three are apps I added really early on and have had for years.
• The Big Three in each folder are not always the apps I use frequently.
• Folders need a limit. Dumping 20+ apps into a folder, especially commonly used apps, makes it kind of useless.
• Adding a new app, the new app takes up to three+ days to show up in the Library. It is however usually in the Alphabetic List very quickly.

Daughter in law has an SE 2020 and recently updated to 14.0.1. from 13.7? She found the App Library and her first take was “Wow! This is so cool!” By the end of Day2 she was “What?” and “This makes no sense!” and “Why does it keep showing me this?”. She likes the idea but found it to be pretty much useless. She does however really like the alphabetic listing though. She is one of those unorganized users except for the folder where she has her work related apps.

 

[Ansath]

Why does Overcast get put into Information & Reading, not Entertainment?

Ask the developer of the app, as they chose it.

Why does LastPass go into Productivity and Finance instead of Utilities?

Ask the developer of the app, as they chose it.

Why does the app for my Sony headphones go into Utilities, but the ones for my Jaybirds and my UE Boom go into Entertainment?

Ask the developer of the app, as they chose it.

 

[boss.king]

I don’t use it. At all. I ignore it. It’s a non-issue for me.

Apple decided to go with the categories chosen by the developer. Contact the developer and ask them to change the category.

If you don't use it, why do you even care whether people want it to be better or not?

Ask the developer of the app, as they chose it.

Ask the developer of the app, as they chose it.

Ask the developer of the app, as they chose it.

Or, Apple could just let me put apps where I'd prefer to have and solve the problem altogether.