Getting Sick of Apple

[iMi]

Well, I'm here to vent...

I'm getting sick of Apple. Just in the past few months they released an update to the iOS that installed the Apple Watch app which I cannot remove and do not want. Then came the Photos app... Poorly executed "money funnel" intended to take more of your money (iCloud is pretty much required to really enjoy the software). Now the new iTunes, which again, requires a subscription to really enjoy. Everything is becoming a subscription based service designed to take more of your money but returning limited functionality. Apple has become intrusive and presumptuous with their software. Greed, at it's best...

Along the way we've got the ugly OS X interface (looks like it's been designed by an 11 year old). Hardware is declining in quality - Macbook Air is a great example. We have one that is a year old and one that is just about brand new - the old one is rock solid. The new one, same model, feels much thinner and more flimsy. The bottom clicks when placed on a flat surface. Software has been a complete garbage compared to the kind of work we've seen from Apple in the past. The new iWorks fades in comparison to iWorks 09 and the new Photos App is far worse than iPhoto and doesn't even come closet Aperture. Apple made it clear that Photos was to replace both platforms - what a joke...

These are my own impressions... I'm sure many will disagree and I respect that. But, after 13 years of exclusively being in the Apple ecosystem, I'm just about ready to give it up... Apple is deviating from the famous motto of their founder - to do few things, and to do them extremely well.

 

[The Game 161]

Come on over my friend....

Come live on the edge

 

[iMi]

Come on over my friend....

Come live on the edge

LOL... Thank you. Good to be among the tech rebels again

 

[The Game 161]

LOL... Thank you. Good to be among the tech rebels again

In all seriousness maybe it's time to try something different. Apple is all you have used then least trying something different you will know if it's for you and how much you would miss apple.

I was apple mad once but know I'm all about Samsung. So you never know what suits you

 

[2984839]

There is nothing technology related I detest more than subscription based services.

 

[iMi]

In all seriousness maybe it's time to try something different. Apple is all you have used then least trying something different you will know if it's for you and how much you would miss apple.

I was apple mad once but know I'm all about Samsung. So you never know what suits you

Good point. I did try the Kindle and had it returned in favor of the iPad Mini, which I still believe to be the absolute best portable tablet ever made. Absolutely love it. We're getting the Amazon Fire phone because we're a Prime household already and they had it on sale yesterday for $159 with one year of prime. Our membership is coming up do in a month anyway... so, how do you pass up on $60 smart phone

We'll see... it's for my wife, but she still thinks she'll want the iPhone 6s. I may tried if she doesn't want it... I'm really interested in seeing Windows 10. I currently run Windows 8.1 on the iMac for gaming and don't mind it.

 

[The Game 161]

Good point. I did try the Kindle and had it returned in favor of the iPad Mini, which I still believe to be the absolute best portable tablet ever made. Absolutely love it. We're getting the Amazon Fire phone because we're a Prime household already and they had it on sale yesterday for $159 with one year of prime. Our membership is coming up do in a month anyway... so, how do you pass up on $60 smart phone

We'll see... it's for my wife, but she still thinks she'll want the iPhone 6s. I may tried if she doesn't want it... I'm really interested in seeing Windows 10. I currently run Windows 8.1 on the iMac for gaming and don't mind it.

Fair enough

My mom and sister have had iPhone for years but after seeing my edge really want one. It's what you think looks the best and fills a need.

Certainly didn't expect the day to come that they thought Samsung phones have a better look than I phones.

 

[epicrayban]

Same here. A lot of friends and family are getting the s6 because of my s6.

 

[Cromulent]

I was a Mac fan. Had a Mac Pro, iPhone, iPad. Did programming on all of them and then when I bought a new computer I couldn't resist the temptation of more power for cheaper prices of a custom built PC. Once I had a PC it seemed silly to continue with an iPhone so I got a Nexus 4 phone and a Nexus 10 tablet and couldn't be happier.

One of these days I'll probably get a new Mac for iOS programming but not for the time being.

(Btw I run Linux on my custom PC and it runs blazingly fast on it).

 

[Savor]

Windows fan since 98 although I also used 95 before it. I used XP for nearly 14 YEARS until my current PC/tablet offered 8.1. I had a rough ride with Windows but I just feel too comfortable with it to keep using it. Windows PC fan for 17 years now.

Now Macs seem wonderful and stable. My brother seems to love his MacBook Pro from four years ago. But I grew up on Windows as a teen. Old habits are hard to break. With mobile OSes, it seems a little easier to switch back and forth since I didn't get used to a smartphone until 7 years ago with Symbian S60. But Android phones and obviously WP seem the most PC to me right now. So that is what I stick with.

They all have their flaws. You might end up getting sick of Android or whatever just the same. But so far, I haven't got sick of Google services even if they add a ton of bloatware apps I don't need like Google+. Apple deals with HARDWARE and SOFTWARE with a Nintendo-Sony proprietary standard price gouging control. I usually want to steer clear away from control freaks since I prefer to be one myself when it comes to my gadgets.

 

[maflynn]

I've said this before and I'll say it again. You need to find value in your purchase, if you cannot find value in a MBP after spending over 2,000 dollars then why buy it. Likewise the  watch is great but like other apple products, its over priced.

I still find value in using my iPhone and I still have a Mac though when its time to upgrade the Mac, I'll be seriously looking at other products.

 

[TurboJobo]

Have you guys look at the new music app from the iphone?
way over done, i dont want itunes subscription and the lay out sucks
making me think of going android

 

[LadyX]

My mom and sister have had iPhone for years but after seeing my edge really want one. It's what you think looks the best and fills a need.

Certainly didn't expect the day to come that they thought Samsung phones have a better look than I phones.

Same here. A lot of friends and family are getting the s6 because of my s6.

Oh my gosh here too! My S6 edge has been getting a lot of attention from iPhone users. Kind of surprised but I don't mind

 

[iMi]

Have you guys look at the new music app from the iphone?
way over done, i dont want itunes subscription and the lay out sucks
making me think of going android

Yes, that''s precisely the kind of intrusive, shameless new way Apple does software. Apple used to exemplify the idea of putting the user experience front and center. Now they put their profits front and center with every app becoming a subscription service with stripped down features.

Just think about all the people who complained about the addition of the Watch app to every iOS device. Apple claims they care about the user experience but has completely ignored requests from the tech press and everyday users for a way to remove it if you don't want it.

Apple's new motto, to borrow from Good Fellas, should be "Wanna music app? F... you, pay me. Wanna photo app? F... you, pay me!"

 

[Razeus]

Well, I'm here to vent...

I'm getting sick of Apple. Just in the past few months they released an update to the iOS that installed the Apple Watch app which I cannot remove and do not want. Then came the Photos app... Poorly executed "money funnel" intended to take more of your money (iCloud is pretty much required to really enjoy the software). Now the new iTunes, which again, requires a subscription to really enjoy. Everything is becoming a subscription based service designed to take more of your money but returning limited functionality. Apple has become intrusive and presumptuous with their software. Greed, at it's best...

Along the way we've got the ugly OS X interface (looks like it's been designed by an 11 year old). Hardware is declining in quality - Macbook Air is a great example. We have one that is a year old and one that is just about brand new - the old one is rock solid. The new one, same model, feels much thinner and more flimsy. The bottom clicks when placed on a flat surface. Software has been a complete garbage compared to the kind of work we've seen from Apple in the past. The new iWorks fades in comparison to iWorks 09 and the new Photos App is far worse than iPhoto and doesn't even come closet Aperture. Apple made it clear that Photos was to replace both platforms - what a joke...

These are my own impressions... I'm sure many will disagree and I respect that. But, after 13 years of exclusively being in the Apple ecosystem, I'm just about ready to give it up... Apple is deviating from the famous motto of their founder - to do few things, and to do them extremely well.

My sentiment as well. I was primed to get a new rMBP to replace my 2012 iMac, but only to find out they are still using 2 year old processors. But I guess that's Intel's fault so I'm waiting for Skylake.

My solution is to use Apple hardware, with Google services, and Microsoft software. I have yet to find a Google phone design that I like.

 

[tbayrgs]

Yes, that''s precisely the kind of intrusive, shameless new way Apple does software. Apple used to exemplify the idea of putting the user experience front and center. Now they put their profits front and center with every app becoming a subscription service with stripped down features.

Just think about all the people who complained about the addition of the Watch app to every iOS device. Apple claims they care about the user experience but has completely ignored requests from the tech press and everyday users for a way to remove it if you don't want it.

Apple's new motto, to borrow from Good Fellas, should be "Wanna music app? F... you, pay me. Wanna photo app? F... you, pay me!"

I hear what you're saying but I think you're also being a little melodramatic.

Yes, I don't find the new Music app optimally designed but nothing's forcing you to use the streaming service. You can continue to store your music locally and listen too it through the app without issue. Same goes for the Photos app. You can transfer photos as you always did via wired connection to your Mac, in both directions. And as you pointed out, you're perfectly within your rights and means to use a third party solution, such as Flickr or Google Photos (I use both for additional backups of my photo library). The Photos app is certainly no replacement for Aperture but I think Apple decided to get out of that prosumer level area a while ago. We can disagree but I think it's a marked improvement over iPhoto--that application would grind to a near halt, Photos is much faster has better editing tools than iPhoto. The Faces implementation on iPhoto was much better and I hope Apple updates Photos to adopt this function fully.

And upset about the presence of an Apple Watch app that you don't use? I think Apple's logic here was to avoid customer service nightmares from thousands (or more) consumers unable to figure out how to set up their Apple Watch if the app wasn't already present on the phone.

And you're saying you've used EVERY single app that's been present on the iPhone to date? Apple includes a bunch of apps I personally don't use. Sure it might be nice to delete them but I seriously doubt they impact phone performance significantly so yes, while it's a minor nuisance to have to shove them away in a folder, it's certainly not the end of the world. And I have yet to have one of these apps automatically activate itself and ask if I want to use it. Have you every actually used an Android phone? Every phone has what somebody will consider unnecessary apps or bloatware...even Nexus devices (i.e. don't like Hangouts---can't delete it either). OEM branded phones will come with all sorts of their proprietary apps and carrier branded phones will be chock full of even more garbage apps. So if you think leaving Apple and the iPhone will alleviate this issue, you're in for a rude awakening.

I'm not trying to convince you to stay with Apple. We all have different needs and preferences in our tech--Android/Windows/Chrome OS/etc may certainly fit your needs better. Only way to find out is try something new--heck, that's have the fun of playing with tech.

 

[Surface3User]

I'm using an iPhone 6 (from work and for Facetime), but I would prefer not to. I have a folder of "Apple Junk" which resides on a second screen containing more apps than I actually downloaded from the App Store. It looks nice, but who cares when I cover it up with a bulky case anyways.

 

[iMi]

I hear what you're saying but I think you're also being a little melodramatic.

Yes, I don't find the new Music app optimally designed but nothing's forcing you to use the streaming service. You can continue to store your music locally and listen too it through the app without issue. Same goes for the Photos app. You can transfer photos as you always did via wired connection to your Mac, in both directions. And as you pointed out, you're perfectly within your rights and means to use a third party solution, such as Flickr or Google Photos (I use both for additional backups of my photo library). The Photos app is certainly no replacement for Aperture but I think Apple decided to get out of that prosumer level area a while ago. We can disagree but I think it's a marked improvement over iPhoto--that application would grind to a near halt, Photos is much faster has better editing tools than iPhoto. The Faces implementation on iPhoto was much better and I hope Apple updates Photos to adopt this function fully.

And upset about the presence of an Apple Watch app that you don't use? I think Apple's logic here was to avoid customer service nightmares from thousands (or more) consumers unable to figure out how to set up their Apple Watch if the app wasn't already present on the phone.

And you're saying you've used EVERY single app that's been present on the iPhone to date? Apple includes a bunch of apps I personally don't use. Sure it might be nice to delete them but I seriously doubt they impact phone performance significantly so yes, while it's a minor nuisance to have to shove them away in a folder, it's certainly not the end of the world. And I have yet to have one of these apps automatically activate itself and ask if I want to use it. Have you every actually used an Android phone? Every phone has what somebody will consider unnecessary apps or bloatware...even Nexus devices (i.e. don't like Hangouts---can't delete it either). OEM branded phones will come with all sorts of their proprietary apps and carrier branded phones will be chock full of even more garbage apps. So if you think leaving Apple and the iPhone will alleviate this issue, you're in for a rude awakening.

I'm not trying to convince you to stay with Apple. We all have different needs and preferences in our tech--Android/Windows/Chrome OS/etc may certainly fit your needs better. Only way to find out is try something new--heck, that's have the fun of playing with tech.

You make some competing points. I understand that I can simply ignore the front and center subscription service and store my own music in the new Music app. I can of course ignore the iCloud integration in Photos but that's not the point. The point is that those are the services that are front and center and they are designed with Apple's profit center in mind - not with my user experience being the vocal focus. That's where Apple has changed in my opinion. Features are disappearing. Just take a look at the Photos or the iWork apps. They legitimatley offer FEWER options/features. Whether that is good or bad is subjective, I get that...

Apple is doing too much, too quickly.

It's not just about an app here and there being a problem. It's about a fundamental shift if the way they think. That's what is turning me off... We can see it in the latest products (the new macbook has less than stellar reviews) and in the software. There are still many things Apple does very well, no doubt. I still have all Apple devices - every single one of them except the watch (two were purchased in the past 6 months). But I'm getting tired of the new Apple. It's not the same company it used to be... I used to get excited for new software releases. Now I just think... "oh, geez... let's see what they did to this." That's honestly the perception I now have. I am absolutely sure I'm not the only one.

 

[SuperNova2150]

One of these days I'll probably get a new Mac for iOS programming but not for the time being.

Get MacInCloud and B4i + Hosted Builder. With that combination, no Mac needed!

 

[Razeus]

You make some competing points. I understand that I can simply ignore the front and center subscription service and store my own music in the new Music app. I can of course ignore the iCloud integration in Photos but that's not the point. The point is that those are the services that are front and center and they are designed with Apple's profit center in mind - not with my user experience being the vocal focus. That's where Apple has changed in my opinion. Features are disappearing. Just take a look at the Photos or the iWork apps. They legitimatley offer FEWER options/features. Whether that is good or bad is subjective, I get that...

Apple is doing too much, too quickly.

It's not just about an app here and there being a problem. It's about a fundamental shift if the way they think. That's what is turning me off... We can see it in the latest products (the new macbook has less than stellar reviews) and in the software. There are still many things Apple does very well, no doubt. I still have all Apple devices - every single one of them except the watch (two were purchased in the past 6 months). But I'm getting tired of the new Apple. It's not the same company it used to be... I used to get excited for new software releases. Now I just think... "oh, geez... let's see what they did to this." That's honestly the perception I now have. I am absolutely sure I'm not the only one.

This is what happens when you let a bottom line numbers guy run the show. Tim Cook certainly isn't a visionary. I've never so many launches with buggy software. iWork has been gutted, only to add back a few features. iPhoto/Aperture was reworked as Photos and was a mess and doesn't work with 3rd party apps very well. iWork is a joke. Their Pro software was basically abandoned only to get gutted for the people that kept them alive in the first place. iOS 8 was a complete disaster. Now the Apple Music launch was haphazard.

It never ends with Tim Cook's Apple because he really doesn't understand software, only the supply chain side of things. This is why the software is a mess - too many cooks (not Tim Cook) in the kitchen fighting for their version of the software. All of their software feels like it's just slapped together. The feel of Apple software is gone. Tim is not a software guy and probably doesn't look at "the little things" like Steve did. If he WAS a software guy that paid attention to the details, he would have seen that the keyboard didn't have proper casing in the virtual keyboard to denote lowercase or capital letters. It's little things like that that Apple is lacking these days.

 

[epicrayban]

There truly is no greater time to try Android than now. Plenty of good-to-great options, some of which, in my opinion, best Apple on a variety of fronts. Plenty of tiers if pricing is an issue, too.

And then you have the base Android software. The freedom it grants you goes beyond just customizing home screens, icons, aesthetics, etc. It goes much deeper. Customization means way more than one would think. It translates to real world gains in daily use functions. Things are easier, quicker to access, easier to navigate (hello Back button), and more. Once set up to your liking, the phone accommodates to your needs and preferences and usage patterns. Not the other way around as it can often feel with iOS.

All this adds to the usability of your phone. A device truly personal. Your Android.

The smartphone is a device you use everyday. Putting in a little time to make it cater to you is worth it. And again, that's if you want to. You don't have to. A lot of Android devices come out of the box ready to go, too.

And like others have said, if it turns out you don't enjoy Android, you can always go back. iOS and the iPhone isn't going anywhere soon.

EDIT: And another thing: trying Android doesn't mean you can't continue using an iPad to keep to some of iOS' advantages, nor does it mean you can't continue using Macs. My entire house is nothing but Macs (desktops and laptops. Plural on both). And my Android device exists perfectly within this family.

 

[tbayrgs]

You make some competing points. I understand that I can simply ignore the front and center subscription service and store my own music in the new Music app. I can of course ignore the iCloud integration in Photos but that's not the point. The point is that those are the services that are front and center and they are designed with Apple's profit center in mind - not with my user experience being the vocal focus. That's where Apple has changed in my opinion. Features are disappearing. Just take a look at the Photos or the iWork apps. They legitimatley offer FEWER options/features. Whether that is good or bad is subjective, I get that...

Apple is doing too much, too quickly.

It's not just about an app here and there being a problem. It's about a fundamental shift if the way they think. That's what is turning me off... We can see it in the latest products (the new macbook has less than stellar reviews) and in the software. There are still many things Apple does very well, no doubt. I still have all Apple devices - every single one of them except the watch (two were purchased in the past 6 months). But I'm getting tired of the new Apple. It's not the same company it used to be... I used to get excited for new software releases. Now I just think... "oh, geez... let's see what they did to this." That's honestly the perception I now have. I am absolutely sure I'm not the only one.

That's certainly fair...I won't disagree with much of your sentiment, though maybe don't feel quite as strongly as you. Through both iOS 8 and Yosemite, I also thought Apple was trying to take on a little too much at the expense of some polish, fluidity, and efficiency. I'm happy to see that much of iOS9 and El Cap seem to be focusing on under the hood performance. IMO, the annual OS upgrade cycle expectation is ridiculous--I'd much rather the software work better before rushing out features for the sake of saying 'Here's what's new!!'

We'll have to just agree to disagree on some points--specifically Apple's motivation to make profit and how it pertains to the Music and Photos apps/services. By all accounts, Apple is late to the music streaming game. And of course they're going to have it front and center--it's a service intended to make money for Apple. Do you fault Spotify, Rdo, Google Play Music, etc for trying to have you subscribe to their service? Samsung put their own service Milk front and center on their devices last year. And yes, Photos is not Aperture (and as I mentioned, I don't think it's intended to replace Aperture) but it's far better than iPhoto. Apple was in desperate need of some sort of cloud syncing solution as maintaining a library via iPhoto was an exercise in futility, changes to a photo didn't sync across devices, Photostream was severely limited, and the software itself was doggedly slow. Yes, you have to pay for additional storage but you have to pay for comparable storage on Google Drive or Dropbox as well. Sure, Google Photos is free...if you use the option that doesn't maintain photos in their original state. If you want to do that, it'll cost you nearly, if not, the same $ for the same amount of Google Drive storage.

When it comes down to it, Apple's a large, multinational corporation who's shareholders expect performance and profit. It's no different from Google, Samsung, Microsoft--any of the other tech giants. Apple does it better than just about anyone and some people see it as greed. Maybe, but any of the aforementioned companies are striving for exactly the same end goal and would be ecstatic to have the same results.

And I believe I saw you purchased Amazon Fire phones---there likely isn't a phone out now that a company uses to tout it's own services more than Amazon's offering. Their phone and tablets are basically giant advertisements for their services. Hell, its Prime program is part of the initial sale.

 

[tbayrgs]

Tim is not a software guy and probably doesn't look at "the little things" like Steve did. If he WAS a software guy that paid attention to the details, he would have seen that the keyboard didn't have proper casing in the virtual keyboard to denote lowercase or capital letters. It's little things like that that Apple is lacking these days.

I'm sorry but this example is just pure rubbish.

Tell me Razeus, who was in charge of Apple for the first 4 versions of the iPhone and first 5 versions of iOS, all of which came with a native keyboard that did EXACTLY what you just described?

I haven't dug deep into the what's new in iOS 9 but I believe I recall reading this change to the keyboard is upcoming.

 

[Nueve]

Bye Felicia

 

[epicrayban]

I'm sorry but this example is just pure rubbish.

Tell me Razeus, who was in charge of Apple for the first 4 versions of the iPhone and first 5 versions of iOS, all of which came with a native keyboard that did EXACTLY what you just described?

I haven't dug deep into the what's new in iOS 9 but I believe I recall reading this change to the keyboard is upcoming.

Yup. Tim Cook definitely has the power to right the few things Jobs did wrong, including the keyboard.

Cook can do even more. Allow customizable Control Center (ala TW). Allow even more third party defaults. Etc.