App Library: I hate it

[nickdalzell1]

I wish Today view could be a default screen. That way I could just delete my main screen and use it and App Library and save swipes. App Library has gotten so smart lately that I never have to scroll down. When I go hiking, my YouTube Music and Apple Music icons are in 'Suggestions', and when I go for groceries, my 'Kroger' and 'Walmart' apps are under 'Food & Shopping' literally below the Suggestions folder.

I doubt Today view will be replaced though. It has a singular advantage over App Library, and that's where you can view it from the lock screen. It's handy to just quickly glance at Weather, or Batteries widgets or resume a podcast without unlocking your phone. Unless the App Library gains that ability, allowing widgets, or replaces the swipe right for camera from lockscreen, it won't happen yet.

 

[BigMcGuire]

I wish Today view could be a default screen. That way I could just delete my main screen and use it and App Library and save swipes. App Library has gotten so smart lately that I never have to scroll down. When I go hiking, my YouTube Music and Apple Music icons are in 'Suggestions', and when I go for groceries, my 'Kroger' and 'Walmart' apps are under 'Food & Shopping' literally below the Suggestions folder.

I too have noticed the intelligence - it’s accurately guessing what I want to run when I want to run it at various times in the day. Agreed, too bad we can’t make it Home Screen.

 

[nickdalzell1]

You can keep App Libary as your default technically. Just remove or hide all your other screens. It will be the default once you unlock your phone.

I was referring to Today view. I want that to be my new 'widget screen' but I keep one home screen for that reason, to save a swipe to view it. If only Siri Suggestions widget could work it'd be a perfect supplement to App Library.

 

[BigMcGuire]

You can keep App Libary as your default technically. Just remove or hide all your other screens. It will be the default once you unlock your phone.

I was referring to Today view. I want that to be my new 'widget screen' but I keep one home screen for that reason, to save a swipe to view it. If only Siri Suggestions widget could work it'd be a perfect supplement to App Library.

Ah yeah you're right, I mistook that for App Library. I've been using the Today View and App Library more than ever. I find even just pulling down from top has Siri suggestions that are pretty spot on as well. Never thought I'd see the day where I got rid of my all folders home screen lol.

 

[nickdalzell1]

I treat Today view more like a classic and long-gone Android feature--lockscreen widgets. It's still a thing on my old Galaxy Tab, so it's nice to have a similar feature on the iPhone.

Still, I find App Library a great thing. This will of course be my last update (I really really don't take chances with updates--After iOS 7 I simply don't believe in them--takes a lot to convince me to do it these days) since iOS 14 introduced some great features and so did WatchOS 7, such as AirPods switching actually working, and my Series 5 finally works for workout detection (was entirely broken since I bought it!).

App Library, improved widgets, alerts when your Watch is charged fully, connection banners, AirPod alerts when battery is low, etc all those wonderful quality of life improvements. Haven't actually liked an update since my iPad 3 updated to iOS 6 and got Siri.

 

[dk001]

It's getting where App Library might be my new default screen. It seems to have all the apps I need in that moment available in giant-size one-tap form.

Siri Suggestions (widget) is broken or I'm doing it wrong. I figured it'd figure out what app I use in specific locations or times, or by how often I open a specific app, but for some reason, it still can't figure out I open Kroger app at Kroger, or Walmart app at Walmart. It had 'Google Assistant' and 'Microsoft Edge' there for no real discernable reason. I installed the Google Assistant app last weekend, and used MS Edge to download some classic Samsung wallpapers to add to my theme. Never once at a Kroger or Walmart or anywhere else except a forest I hike in.

App Library is basic looking, but gets it right each time! It's getting where I might just use the Today view for widgets, delete my main screen, and use App Library.

Problem for me with the App Library is the folders. I have a number of special folders which have no place in AL.
Work 1
Work 2
School
Financial vs Investments

I do like the Alphabetic listing and wish there was a way to make that the default.

Till then, it is a pita I try to ignore.

 

[nickdalzell1]

See, my folders are spot on. But I don't use many of the apps you all do. My needs are simple. Music, ebooks, podcasts, remote control, banking and shopping apps, that's pretty much it. My smartphone isn't a mini-tablet like most folks use one for these days. I treat it more like how folks treated the original iPhone.

So far the parts of App Library I've used are Suggestions, which are pretty much spot on, Recently Added, which also shows my latest installed apps (as of 2019--I don't need to install more than I have now), and my American Express app is under Finance & Investment, which is accurate, Walmart and Kroger are accurately under Food & Shopping, and my Apple Music and YouTube Music, and YouTube itself are correctly in a folder called 'Entertainment'.

I don't do Weebly, Uber, Twitter, or the like. In fact, most of my apps have been around in my 'purchased' list since my iPhone 3GS and later 4.

 

[madeirabhoy]

ive got used to it. id rather not have it but, and this annoys me, ive basically changed my way of working to fit in with apple's insistence.

and its been a long journey.
since the App Library appeared ive:
had pages and pages of widgets
had pages and pages of apps so the App Library was so far away
then a few pages of apps and a page of widgets


eventually I settled.
the today view has a widget for every app pretty much that has widgets. its very useful for quick things, seeing my AirPods battery, share price, weather etc...

then one page of my most used apps. but the only way I could get that to one page was to not have any app that has a useable widget.

everything else is in the App Library. but I notice I dont actually use it unless the app is either in suggestions or recently added. or some apps I know where they are. actually only the App Store one. anything else I dont bother to look in the App Store, I swipe and search for it. much quicker than scrolling down folders hoping to see it.

its all fine. it works. but its not what I would choose if I could.

 

[dk001]

ive got used to it. id rather not have it but, and this annoys me, ive basically changed my way of working to fit in with apple's insistence.

and its been a long journey.
since the App Library appeared ive:
had pages and pages of widgets
had pages and pages of apps so the App Library was so far away
then a few pages of apps and a page of widgets


eventually I settled.
the today view has a widget for every app pretty much that has widgets. its very useful for quick things, seeing my AirPods battery, share price, weather etc...

then one page of my most used apps. but the only way I could get that to one page was to not have any app that has a useable widget.

everything else is in the App Library. but I notice I dont actually use it unless the app is either in suggestions or recently added. or some apps I know where they are. actually only the App Store one. anything else I dont bother to look in the App Store, I swipe and search for it. much quicker than scrolling down folders hoping to see it.

its all fine. it works. but its not what I would choose if I could.

The single thing I dislike most about the App Library, is when I compare it to the layout and setup on my Razer (Android). App Library comes across as a poor implimentation of Androids drawer with some attempt at smart folders.
App Library is far too static. I appreciate the concept however it is missing a lot of functionality. That applies to the current Home screen version of widgets. Don’t get me started on that.
I tried to set it up as some using widgets and the App Library. It just does not work for me. Thankfully Apple left the old style available or I would be dumping iOS.

 

[nickdalzell1]

Going by my Galaxy S5, the Android implementation is worse. I'd have to swipe even more because it's either in an A-Z sorting method, or sorted by app type (I seperated by Google, Samsung, and Third-Party)

I kept my most recent stuff available but it ended up spanning 6 home screens with icons and widgets. In contrast, the Apple implementation is far superior. Android doesn't even have 'smart folders' and the lockscreen widgets died off long ago (even WidgetLocker doesn't work today on later versions)

 

[dk001]

Going by my Galaxy S5, the Android implementation is worse. I'd have to swipe even more because it's either in an A-Z sorting method, or sorted by app type (I seperated by Google, Samsung, and Third-Party)

I kept my most recent stuff available but it ended up spanning 6 home screens with icons and widgets. In contrast, the Apple implementation is far superior. Android doesn't even have 'smart folders' and the lockscreen widgets died off long ago (even WidgetLocker doesn't work today on later versions)

Sounds more like you never took the time to setup your S5.
Razer using Nova.

If you like the AL, enjoy it. Many do.

 

[Biro]

At the end of the day, whether people like or hate the App Library has more to do with whether Apple's collective thinking generally matches their own way of internalizing and organizing information. If it does, great - it's helpful. If it doesn't - you're out of luck. Which is why we should have the choice to delete or hide it. But Apple always knows best - even if it doesn't.

 

[IowaLynn]

This from Sammobile -

The Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 series continue to run Android 7.0 Nougat, and interestingly enough, they also retain the September 2018 security patch that was last released over two years ago. ...Nov 17, 2020

Time to let out to pasture. I’m firm in keeping current. And a lot of improvement changes now with One UI 3.1 / Android 11.

Really.

 

[nickdalzell1]

Not for me. One UI looks like a Playskool device. TouchWiz Nature UX fit me perfectly. Besides, nothing wrong with using older software if it fits your personality better. I'm not a fan of current UI design. Besides, why toss out a perfectly functional phone that still works? such a mindset isn't sustainable.

Android 10 was hell, tried too hard to protect me from myself, and took some of the worst cues from Apple (that annoying unintuitive gesture navigation system ripped right from the iPhone X, rounded corners, iOS 7 UI, etc). I can't imagine how annoying Android 11 would be. I tried very hard (Samsung Galaxy A01) to un-idiot-proof and de-annoy it (many notifications can't be disabled and serve no purpose but to nag the user).

Sorry, but Android was far superior when it didn't treat its users like idiots and offered tons of features, and even more after you root. Google has broken tons of apps via SafetyNet if you root today, and custom ROMs don't offer nearly the level of customization they used to. Android has sucked more and more once Gingerbread (Android 2.3) became unsupported--that was the last true Android. That was the era of CyanogenMod 7.1, perhaps one of the most feature-rich ROMs out there.

At one time, AOSP was the best way to use Android totally de-googled. But today, most of the apps don't work without Play Services and AOSP apps are pretty gone (stock AOSP doesn't even include a music, browser, or the Android Market, none of which depended on Play Services in 2011) and AOSP-based builds without Google don't seem capable of running many apps even if you sideload them. Google is systematically ruining Android to appeal to those who would just go and buy an iPhone. At one time, long ago, Android fans would cry 'blasphemy' at the idea of dumbing it down to appeal to Apple fans.

 

[MBAir2010]

iOSX 14 was supposed to export or move files-pictures-art etc to a hard drive or computer without the use of iCloud.
even the iPads with lightning ports, so they claimed
did this happen?
on the  iPad site, they have a pic of a thumb-drive (maybe sandisk) and states in handwriting: "even with this"

 

[dk001]

iOSX 14 was supposed to export or move files-pictures-art etc to a hard drive or computer without the use of iCloud.
even the iPads with lightning ports, so they claimed
did this happen?
on the  iPad site, they have a pic of a thumb-drive (maybe sandisk) and states in handwriting: "even with this"

It works kind of sort of.
I use a dongle and a mSD card.
I also access an external wifi SSD.

Doesn’t work for all things but is usable.

 

[IowaLynn]

Large 959MB Samsung April security update today. To me, staying current is #1 that outweighs minor issues. I voted for Blackberry and Essential - but they disappeared. So its iphone and S21 Ultra (a stylus is my must have feature).

 

[zakarhino]

I suspect someone in this thread has said this already but here's my take:

The point of the App Library is to get users used to the idea of apps (or more specifically, App Clips) being added to their library that they didn't explicitly add by downloading it from the app store. Home pages are fixed pages and folders created by users whereas the App Library is a dynamic folder created by Apple so adding App Clips into the App Library is a lot less irritating to the user vs. adding them to their home screen and messing up their chosen layout. If you've used an App Clip before you'll notice it gets added as an app icon into the App Library.

I think Apple's intention is to move toward a system where you don't necessarily need to download entire apps anymore, you just utilize and interact with micro-app style App Clips that dynamically present themselves depending on the user's context (in line at Starbucks? The Starbucks order app clip appears in your App Library without you needing to download anything. This makes a lot more sense for their AR platform where location and context based digital integration will be ubiquitous.) Apps will still be there but many of their functions will be split off into App Clips. I suspect there will be a great deal of people in the future that have a businesses' App Clip on their phone rather than the full app. This is similar to how web apps work and why they're so successful, e.g Google Docs, you don't necessarily need to download the Google Doc app and create an account, you just visit the URL and start collaborating on someone else's doc.

I believe this is also why they chose to create Sign In With Apple. Today it's for making app signups easier, tomorrow it's for creating a global "user identity" (your name, phone number, payment info via Apple Pay, address, etc.) that App Clips can draw from without the need for account creation.

 

[nickdalzell1]

I don't see that at all. I'm assuming you're referring to another Android feature from the past (Instant Apps) which I always found annoying as it'd install itself and update itself whenever it felt like it so like with Play Store, I removed both.

From what I saw on the Apple page, App Clips show up on the lockscreen similar to the music player controls. I've seen 'interactable notifications' similar to those in Android 8 Oreo, but nothing functional beyond that.

If anyone thinks the cloud will ever replace local storage, forget it. I always keep all my music on my phone too. I feel sorry for those around me at work with their Pandora full of ads cutting out every few steps they walk. Until 4G or LTE exists everywhere including rural areas, and there's enough bandwidth for every person on the planet, that's a pipe dream, like with tablets replacing laptops.

 

[Irishappleuser]

I don’t hate the app library, it’s that I’m bemused as to what actual good it does. I mean I know where all my apps are already on my phone without a library to help me. It seems like an unnecessary feature just included so apple can say they have it.

 

[nickdalzell1]

For me it just saves swipes and clicks. I had my home screens organized just how I liked them, but sometime launching an app meant swiping to page 3, opening a folder, and clicking the icon.

With App Library, it's at best a swipe from the first home screen, and the app I need is often up top just one tap away.

Here's an example:

Wanted to open YouTube. On iOS 13, that meant swiping a total of three times to my 'third party app page', a tap to open up the 'Google' folder, then tapping the YouTube icon.

On iOS 14, it's a single swipe (I deleted all but one home screen), and the YouTube icon is one of the 'giant' sized icons under 'Entertainment' which is just one level below the top, no scrolling or opening a folder needed. Just a lot less hunting and pecking, or screen time needed.

 

[bushman4]

Not my favorite feature. It’s basically a waste as it serves little function to me
My question is what was Apple trying to do when they added this feature

 

[nickdalzell1]

Not my favorite feature. It’s basically a waste as it serves little function to me
My question is what was Apple trying to do when they added this feature

I suspect to save swipes and clicks, and prevent the issue my mom's phone has--scattered icons with zero organization to them.

I just wish a similar feature would come to Windows 10--I can't stand the folks who litter their desktop full of like 30 or so icons because they hate the Start menu, or know nothing about how to pin to taskbar. The work PC, and my grandparents' PCs when I have to use or fix them it annoys me all to heck. It's an annoyance that dates back to Windows 95, which I had great hope Windows 8 would finally save us all from.

 

[AZhappyjack]

I suspect to save swipes and clicks, and prevent the issue my mom's phone has--scattered icons with zero organization to them.

I just wish a similar feature would come to Windows 10--I can't stand the folks who litter their desktop full of like 30 or so icons because they hate the Start menu, or know nothing about how to pin to taskbar. The work PC, and my grandparents' PCs when I have to use or fix them it annoys me all to heck. It's an annoyance that dates back to Windows 95, which I had great hope Windows 8 would finally save us all from.

The ability to scatter icons everywhere is really the "personal" in "personal computer"... do whatever floats your boat. If you want to buy me a new computer, then you can tell me how to organize it.

 

[nickdalzell1]

I grew up with DOS/CP-M and later got into Windows 3.1. NOW THAT was a great OS. (or rather, Desktop Environment). It was the best organized with a Program Manager and groups, and icons in those groups by subject, much like how iOS does folders. When Windows 95 came along, people DESPISED the Start Menu. It might have become more beloved during XP's heyday (which I missed out on, as I hated XP and stuck with Windows 98 SE for a considerable time) but in that launch it angered so many. The Start Menu is admittedly an inferior way to find apps. What was once a simple glance in Program Manager followed by a single double-click (especially in tiled view) of a program in the proper group, is now a nested mess. Windows 95's implemetation was too easy to mess up. Want to play the iconic Solitaire? that's a click of Start, mouse over to Programs, then Accessories, Games, Solitaire--that is, unless you mouse happens to hover just enough outside the menu to dismiss it! Then you start over. I hated it, too. Which was why I hoped Windows 8 would bring a modern take on Program Manager back, but it never came to pass. People wanted their Start Menu back, but still hated to use it, so now Windows 10 is just as bad as Windows 95 was, with the desktop so littered with icons and redundant website icons for favorite sites (my Grandmother has Edge icons all littered for each website she visits--she's 94 and can't understand how to enter a URL or use 'the Google' and the worst part is I had to make those redundant icons for her--she certainly would never figure it out) that the wallpaper isn't even visible. At least pinning to taskbar is cleaner. I dunno, I just hate clutter.

A desktop littered with icons all over the place brings images of the workstation from Jurassic Park that Dennis Nedry had