Apple is slipping!

[grahamie]

I've been using and owning Macs since 1991 and currently use a 2010 Macbook Pro i7 and an iphone 4S..These are probably my last Apple products. I've just about had it with the buggy software they've come out with in the past 1-2 years.

I think some other people have probably written about this same thing, but I don't feel like sifting through thousands of threads. I just want to ask if anyone else gets this feeling. It seems every software they make is loaded with bugs or is just annoying...

For example:

Siri: Rarely works, does not understand 'tasks'. As a dictation software, it is OK, but the idea of it being my assistant is just ridiculous. It can't comprehend anything it seems.

iCloud: This also has been a complete disaster. Does not even sync properly with my Macbook and iPhone. Constantly making duplicates, messing up document versions, and just flat out sucking. Dropbox beats the crap out of it, hands down.

iOS 6: Yes, I will be the 5 millionth person to say it: Maps are TERRIBLE. It is nowhere even close to workable and can't even find my own house.."No Records Found" What the hell? You can't be serious, Apple. Plus, after installing it, my battery now gets like 2 hours of life before the phone needs to be re-charged. Phone is constantly running warm. This is ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE. Way to go, Apple!

Mountain Lion: Caused non-stop crashing of critical apps that I use for work...Unacceptable. Notification Center, LaunchPad, Mission Control: All these things are stupid and pointless.

iMessage: Does not work nearly as well as advertised. How am I supposed to even know who has iMessage without a Buddy List, or at least some indication that they also have it? Same thing for FaceTime...Apple has tried too so to make these applications 'invisible' and part of the OS that they end up being unusable since it's impossible to know who else is using them. What a dumb idea. That's why applications like Skype and Whatsapp are used by way more people, and you don't have to always wonder whether they have it also. If they have it, they show up in your buddy list and you can chat!

iWork: Who in their right mind is going to use this over MS Word? Apple shouldn't even try. Just focus on making the OS and basic apps work well, and let MS handle these applications.

---

My main point is that I have been heavily biased to favor Apple for over 20 years, but they are just making a bunch of crap these days, and I don't know when it's going to change..All I want is bug-free reliable software, but everything they've release post-Steve Jobs has been one disaster after another in my view.

Apple still does a lot of things right: their hardware is still the most slick looking, and there are several apps that I like, such as Safari, iTunes (others hate it, i know), iPhoto, and Mail. But these aren't so special and can easily be replaced by alternatives.

I am certain that my next phone will be either a Nexus or Galaxy. My next laptop will probably still be a Mac, but I will strongly consider a Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon or some other high-end ultrabook.

Anyone else feel the same way and also just as fed up?

 

[maflynn]

Siri - I'm still getting used to it coming from an iPhone 4 but so far its working as I want it too
iCloud - its ok, though I only use it for email
iOS6 - a minor update to be sure.
Mountain Lion - very stable, great features a welcome update.
iMessage - like ML, its very stable, great features works as advertised (for me).
iWork - is long overdue for an update.

My point is your list is largely subjective and not indicative of apple slipping. The iPhone 5 is Apple's fastest selling product ever, Mountain Lion is one of the best selling operating systems from apple. iMessage is solid. Apple is not perfect, just look at the Maps but you conveniently forgot about the Retina MBP, and the MBA both products are shaping the industry. These things are not the result of a company slipping but continuing to innovate.

 

[LostSoul80]

All I want is bug-free reliable software, but everything they've release post-Steve Jobs has been one disaster after another in my view.

I disagree. ML is reliable and mostly bug free from my experience. Some applications are not ML-ready, and even Lion-ready, but this doesn't make the OS unreliable or anything. It's the developers' fault.

I don't see any disaster really, you're free to like or dislike some features such as Notification Center or Mission Control. Many others find them useful, so to speak.

As for software, iWork is great for me. Some iOS features have room to improve, and Apple is putting constant effort in that direction.

I think your analysis is quite superficial, and the conclusion you're drawing is quite far from reality, no offence intended of course, so I won't reply to every point of yours.

 

[boss.king]

I've been using and owning Macs since 1991 and currently use a 2010 Macbook Pro i7 and an iphone 4S..These are probably my last Apple products. I've just about had it with the buggy software they've come out with in the past 1-2 years.

I think some other people have probably written about this same thing, but I don't feel like sifting through thousands of threads. I just want to ask if anyone else gets this feeling. It seems every software they make is loaded with bugs or is just annoying...

They released a bunch of crap products under Steve as well, Ping being the most obvious example. Seriously, nothing has changed, Apple is running the same as it did with Jobs in charge.

 

[KnightWRX]

Apple isn't slipping. Apple has always been hit and miss on software and services. They're a hardware maker that specialises in vertically integrated solutions, but some of their pure software and mostly their services offerings are always pretty lacking in my eyes. It either takes time to get up to speed or sometimes it's released and abandoned (without telling users) as they move the ressources to other projects instead of fixing issues and maintaining/updating what they shipped.

But it's always been like this. Apple is pretty much still Apple.

iMessage - like ML, its very stable, great features works as advertised (for me).

The only issue I can find with iMessage is that it doesn't "Activate" cleanly at all. You're left there disabling/enabling and all it says is "iMessage failed to activate" with no hint whatsoever of what you could do to fix it. It works fine on some devices, on others it takes quite a few tries.

Heck, sometimes, it works, but the settings screen is stuck at "waiting for activation...". What gives ?

 

[maflynn]

The only issue I can find with iMessage is that it doesn't "Activate" cleanly at all. You're left there disabling/enabling and all it says is "iMessage failed to activate" with no hint whatsoever of what you could do to fix it. It works fine on some devices, on others it takes quite a few tries.

Heck, sometimes, it works, but the settings screen is stuck at "waiting for activation...". What gives ?

I've not ever gotten that message or problem. I find it a great tool to txt while on my MBP.

 

[SpyderBite]

If iCloud doesn't work for you, you aren't using it correctly or you are expecting more from it than it was designed to do. With 4 different Apple products, my contacts, calendar, reminders & notes sync flawlessly in real time on all of them. The only people I know who have issues with iCloud are those who didn't have enough foresight to create a separate apple id for everybody in their household and wind up with a cluster flux of shared information.

 

[pommie82]

I agree OS6 is not very good a lot of bugs in it and needs fixing as soon as possible there is so many problems.Map app should of never been released with all these problems that are going on with it and it going to take a lot of time to do all these fixes for the OS6.If apple don't sort this out soon maybe in time they could lose some sales because people wont put up with it they will just look for other product that are cheaper and will do the job maybe not as good as apple but it would do.If Steve was still around this map issue problem wouldn't of happened it would of been perfect before release date and we wouldn't of had all this problems that we are haven now.Ive read his biography and its very good and it clearly states that he was very fussy about releasing a product and it had to be 110% right before it was releasing he believed in putting the best on the market. I am finding mountain lion ok at the moment i don't have a up to date mac so mine running a little slow mine a 2008 model dionsaur very old in technology terms.Lets hope that apple sort out the map app out soon so that people can use it correctly

 

[rillrill]

if you want a real indicator about apple's popularity, poll teenagers. i work in a high school and 2-3 years ago all the kids wanted apple products. it's a big status symbol. 7 out 10 phones i have to take from kids are iphones. after the iphone 5 came out a lot of kids criticized it. one kid placed an order, then a week later told me he canceled it. personally, i think apple was really trendy these past 10 years thanks to ipods with the kids, but now it's getting old for a lot of them. and really, those new ipods are butt-ugly. it'll probably be a couple of years before apple really has to compete again, but i think the crest of their trendiness was last year.

 

[macuser1232]

I've been using and owning Macs since 1991 and currently use a 2010 Macbook Pro i7 and an iphone 4S..These are probably my last Apple products. I've just about had it with the buggy software they've come out with in the past 1-2 years.

I think some other people have probably written about this same thing, but I don't feel like sifting through thousands of threads. I just want to ask if anyone else gets this feeling. It seems every software they make is loaded with bugs or is just annoying...

For example:

Siri: Rarely works, does not understand 'tasks'. As a dictation software, it is OK, but the idea of it being my assistant is just ridiculous. It can't comprehend anything it seems.

iCloud: This also has been a complete disaster. Does not even sync properly with my Macbook and iPhone. Constantly making duplicates, messing up document versions, and just flat out sucking. Dropbox beats the crap out of it, hands down.

iOS 6: Yes, I will be the 5 millionth person to say it: Maps are TERRIBLE. It is nowhere even close to workable and can't even find my own house.."No Records Found" What the hell? You can't be serious, Apple. Plus, after installing it, my battery now gets like 2 hours of life before the phone needs to be re-charged. Phone is constantly running warm. This is ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE. Way to go, Apple!

Mountain Lion: Caused non-stop crashing of critical apps that I use for work...Unacceptable. Notification Center, LaunchPad, Mission Control: All these things are stupid and pointless.

iMessage: Does not work nearly as well as advertised. How am I supposed to even know who has iMessage without a Buddy List, or at least some indication that they also have it? Same thing for FaceTime...Apple has tried too so to make these applications 'invisible' and part of the OS that they end up being unusable since it's impossible to know who else is using them. What a dumb idea. That's why applications like Skype and Whatsapp are used by way more people, and you don't have to always wonder whether they have it also. If they have it, they show up in your buddy list and you can chat!

iWork: Who in their right mind is going to use this over MS Word? Apple shouldn't even try. Just focus on making the OS and basic apps work well, and let MS handle these applications.

---

My main point is that I have been heavily biased to favor Apple for over 20 years, but they are just making a bunch of crap these days, and I don't know when it's going to change..All I want is bug-free reliable software, but everything they've release post-Steve Jobs has been one disaster after another in my view.

Apple still does a lot of things right: their hardware is still the most slick looking, and there are several apps that I like, such as Safari, iTunes (others hate it, i know), iPhoto, and Mail. But these aren't so special and can easily be replaced by alternatives.

I am certain that my next phone will be either a Nexus or Galaxy. My next laptop will probably still be a Mac, but I will strongly consider a Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon or some other high-end ultrabook.

Anyone else feel the same way and also just as fed up?

Have you ever had freezing problems on your Macbook Pro?

 

[Blackberryroid]

I dare use Pages over MS Word.

There you go. MS Word suck for page layouting. Try replicating the templates of Pages on MS Word, I double dare you.

Want something easier? Sure. Try changing the typface of Helvetica to Ultralight or Semibold or Semibold Extended on MS Word. You can't since all it has is Bold, Italic, Regular and Underlined.

MS WORD SUCKS A LOT!

 

[gallianp]

It is time for you to move on to a product that meets your expectations -- good luck with that. I am sure that their beer would love to have your tears. You should join the "Apple hater" forum and be an active participant.