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Do You Use Reduce Transparency or Increase Contrast in Yosemite?
- Thread starter Traverse
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I would use "Reduce Transparency" if it weren't for the graphical bugs. Hopefully 10.10.1 will fix them.
or whatever bugs this is supposed to help. I would turn the stuff back on if they figure out how to make this not bog down even the fastest macs. By the way, don't expect a .01 fix for this. They seem to be concentrating of wifi for the most part so far.
I'm using reduced transparency on my Mac Mini 2012 because otherwise the performance is very bad. I'm also using reduced transparency on my MacBook Air because the transparency drains my battery too fast.
So I really don't have a choice ;-)
So I really don't have a choice ;-)
I like the look of the UI with Reduce Transparency enabled, but the bugs on the volume and brightness indicator graphics, etc., are stopping me from using it.
The only thing I have done is enabled "Dark Mode".
I really like the default transparency though.
I really like the default transparency though.
Wow - - OK
I knew that the various accessibility settings are there, and, despite the fact that I have "no inherent disability", I continue to use some of the settings, such as screen flash (used that for years now, because I almost never have audio on, and like to know when the system provides an alert)
I do realize that those settings are designed with "abnormal" users in mind, but I choose to use some of the settings anyway - despite the fact that I am "normal"
Amazing as it may seem, the OS does not require me to use those settings, and I suspect that one who is disabled or physically challenged also is not required to use those settings.
The pane is named "Accessibility", not "Handicapped Only"
Wow - - OK
I knew that the various accessibility settings are there, and, despite the fact that I have "no inherent disability", I continue to use some of the settings, such as screen flash (used that for years now, because I almost never have audio on, and like to know when the system provides an alert)
I do realize that those settings are designed with "abnormal" users in mind, but I choose to use some of the settings anyway - despite the fact that I am "normal"
Amazing as it may seem, the OS does not require me to use those settings, and I suspect that one who is disabled or physically challenged also is not required to use those settings.
The pane is named "Accessibility", not "Handicapped Only"
I didn't mean to imply that it was handicap only, but it was like the iOS 7 issue. Users had to enable "Reduce Motion" to avoid nausea. I don't think a system should require these settings out of the box for usability. Something like a screen flash isn't necessary, but a nice addition. I mean having to reduce transparency to read menu bars or make text legible.
I do understand about the screen motion issues with iOS7 - but not everyone is sensitive to those kind of issues (I am not, for example), but it's also a setting - that you can change if needed.
You seem to believe those settings shouldn't even be there, or need to be in a different place. Not everyone needs those settings. I'm over 65, and not ideal vision, yet those transparency settings don't appeal to me. I DO have dark mode turned on, which I now prefer (I hope Apple expands what THAT does), but the default contrast/transparency are just fine for me. I, for one, have no difficulty reading menus or other text.
Just pointing out that your issues are not necessarily shared by many other users - maybe even most users. (That's why they are optional settings, and not always defaults.) Am I confused, or does that make sense to you?
No, that makes sense. I guess I'm just frustrated because Yosemite seems like a step backward from Mavericks in terms of usability to me. I can use Yosemite with it's default settings, but to me it isn't has user friendly with the thinner fonts and light grey text on blurred background.
It is good that those options are there. I think the systems looses much of it's visual appeal when you reduce transparency, but it does help with text contrast.
One thing I really wish Apple would do is add a setting to change the size of text system wide. Windows has had this for such a long time and I am sure people with difficulties with their eyesight have, at this point, no choice but to reduce their screen resolution since Apple won't, for whatever reason, add text zooming as an accessibility option. I have a 13-inch MacBook Air and I occasionally use the Screen Zoom feature (in Accessibility -> Zoom) so I can read small text comfortably, in most part due to its 1440x900 resolution.
Speaking of accessibility and vision, I'd recommend trying out f.lux. It changes the "temperature" (colour) of the screen when the sun sets (based on your region). For me, it reduces eyestrain and makes the screen feel more comfortable to look at, especially during the night. If you give it a try for a week or so, you'll notice the difference...