Hurts to see Apple become what they set out to destroy

[planteater]

Thanks for your reply! I would appreciate if you could share some details how you do it. What apps to use… Thank you 🙏

I used Apple Notes for a long time and had a hundreds of notes. At that point I started getting concerned due to Apple not having a backup or export process for it. I did a fair amount of research given how important my data was to me, realizing that I needed to find a better home for my data.

I learned that exporting between various note taking apps is not always straight forward, but most products have options, but Apple had none. I ended up moving my notes manually to Bear, due to it having a good mixture of features and usability, and most importantly a good backup/export mechanism. It was a real pain moving to Bear from Apple Notes, having to copy and past each note separately. But when it was complete, I then had the ability to easily export out of Bear in the future if need be, into 11 different formats making any future migrations easy. I've now tripled my notes and it all that much more important, and I'm glad I got out of Apple Notes when I did. My data is now very transportable.

It's been a few years, but if you look around, there might be some export options available now. If not you may have to it like many of us had to do, manually one note at a time. It's a pain to do, but a relief once done. I now don't keep any of my data in Apple specific formats other than Numbers, I just can't give that up because I like it so much.

Good luck.

 

[CrazyForCashews]

Anybody that thinks a for profit company is somehow a savior to the masses is highly delusional. Not sure where the narrative came from that companies such as Apple or Tesla are here to save the world come from. Companies, like politicians, will tell you what you want to hear then blur the lines down the road while still trying to maintain your support. How long they can sustain it for is a different story.

Damn, this post is deep, and it was the second one too. Spooky.

 

[ndouglas]

I used Apple Notes for a long time and had a hundreds of notes. At that point I started getting concerned due to Apple not having a backup or export process for it. I did a fair amount of research given how important my data was to me, realizing that I needed to find a better home for my data.

I learned that exporting between various note taking apps is not always straight forward, but most products have options, but Apple had none. I ended up moving my notes manually to Bear, due to it having a good mixture of features and usability, and most importantly a good backup/export mechanism. It was a real pain moving to Bear from Apple Notes, having to copy and past each note separately. But when it was complete, I then had the ability to easily export out of Bear in the future if need be, into 11 different formats making any future migrations easy. I've now tripled my notes and it all that much more important, and I'm glad I got out of Apple Notes when I did. My data is now very transportable.

It's been a few years, but if you look around, there might be some export options available now. If not you may have to it like many of us had to do, manually one note at a time. It's a pain to do, but a relief once done. I now don't keep any of my data in Apple specific formats other than Numbers, I just can't give that up because I like it so much.

Good luck.

I’d love to find some export options for Apple Notes, I have looked some but have yet to find anything. My (tedious) process periodically is to highlight all the text of a note, copy it, create and new Text Edit file, paste the note there, save it with a meaningful to me title of the note, than keep those in a folder for archiving. Very time consuming so I do that only ~10 at a time, maybe more if possible, once a year or so. Someday I’ll try to use Good Notes, Bear, or others, but for now it’s just too accessible and convenient to use the Notes apps built in to all my apple gizmos.

Back on topic, perhaps if/when Apple offers us an export method for Notes, that’ll indicate they are less off track toward becoming “what they set out to destroy.” 🤗one can dream!

 

[IconDRT]

I think the “magic” wasn’t just the company, but also the customers/community. In a PC world, having a Mac made you feel part underdog, part ahead of the curve and not going with the herd (that 1984 commercial really cemented that idea), and later with iPod and iPhone, seeing Apple products out in the wild 10-12 years ago wasn’t nearly as common as now. And if you did see someone else with an Apple product in those days, how often was it a catalyst for a conversation in a store or coffee shop or club?

Despite premium pricing relative to alternatives, Apple became mainstream and rising from taking a loan from Microsoft and near bankruptcy to a $2-trillion-dollar company sort of takes away the feisty upstart veneer. Apple products are generally best-in-class, most-expensive, and yet somehow ubiquitous. Nothing special or unique about an iPhone or iPad anymore. And that’s probably a good thing since I don’t have to worry about the tech I prefer just being abandoned out of the blue or the company folding (and there were quite a few times in the past serious questions about Apple’s future).

I don’t think the 1984 commercial’s message was “we don’t ever want to be as big as IBM aka computing establishment.” And it wasn’t a rally cry to “destroy” the status quo. It was a “Hey you (consumers)! Wake up! There’s a better computing alternative!” and “there’s a different and better way to compute, create, think.” In that respect, they’ve stayed true to form. And I do believe the 1984 ad as well as the 1981 full page “Welcome, IBM. Seriously.” ad was a public proclamation of Apple’s position as the forward thinking (and later, Think Different) company. Interestingly, IBM’s founder’s motto for the company was “Think” and from that ThinkPad, etc. Apple’s “Think Different” was not only a continued shot at IBM and the computing status quo, but also a statement about how the company would operate going forward (ditching Intel for Apple Silicon not just to be different but also because it is a markedly better product/solution).

Just because more people are aware of and on Team Apple doesn’t mean the magic has gone. It’s just that the upstart with the feisty attitude is now a mainstream corporate behemoth, but the original vision is still there, mostly.

 

[planteater]

I’d love to find some export options for Apple Notes, I have looked some but have yet to find anything. My (tedious) process periodically is to highlight all the text of a note, copy it, create and new Text Edit file, paste the note there, save it with a meaningful to me title of the note, than keep those in a folder for archiving. Very time consuming so I do that only ~10 at a time, maybe more if possible, once a year or so. Someday I’ll try to use Good Notes, Bear, or others, but for now it’s just too accessible and convenient to use the Notes apps built in to all my apple gizmos.

Back on topic, perhaps if/when Apple offers us an export method for Notes, that’ll indicate they are less off track toward becoming “what they set out to destroy.” 🤗one can dream!

All the backup and export options of Bear give plenty of options. I back it up two ways. First using their proprietary method that creates a single compressed archive file, and then also by exporting each note as a separate RTF file which is a fast easy process. I choose RTF but many other formats are available. For me Bear is a pleasure using its markup to specify highlights, bold selections, titles, etc. Easy syncing between macOS and iOS. Love it.

In absolute terms Apple Notes can be backed up by going into the system area and backing up the hierarchy where its database and files are located, but in practical terms it’s not a proper solution. Restore is all or nothing, and most users wouldn’t understand there complexities of how to do it without creating issues, especially if iCloud sync comes into play. I can’t imagine any serious note taking apps being so limiting with important data.

 

[Kaptajn Haddock]

What did they set out to destroy?

Well, by protecting their users from the tracking used in advertising, and thereby "destroying" Google, Facebook and the likes revenue from advertising, most got the impression that Apple was on the consumers side, "protecting" us against the evil tech companies (which some might argue they are a part of themselves), so when they now use their massive customer base to advertise themselves, having "eliminated" their competitors, that seems like a very cynical move.

 

[planteater]

Well, by protecting their users from the tracking used in advertising, and thereby "destroying" Google, Facebook and the likes revenue from advertising, most got the impression that Apple was on the consumers side, "protecting" us against the evil tech companies (which some might argue they are a part of themselves), so when they now use their massive customer base to advertise themselves, having "eliminated" their competitors, that seems like a very cynical move.

How has Apple protected users from Google tracking?

Google or a Google owned subsidiary has trackers embedded in almost every app on your iPhone. By default Safari has the setting “fraudulent website warning” enabled. It sends every URL you open to Google for processing. That’s just the touching the surface.

 

[moons_mooniverse]

I used Apple Notes for a long time and had a hundreds of notes. At that point I started getting concerned due to Apple not having a backup or export process for it. I did a fair amount of research given how important my data was to me, realizing that I needed to find a better home for my data.

I learned that exporting between various note taking apps is not always straight forward, but most products have options, but Apple had none. I ended up moving my notes manually to Bear, due to it having a good mixture of features and usability, and most importantly a good backup/export mechanism. It was a real pain moving to Bear from Apple Notes, having to copy and past each note separately. But when it was complete, I then had the ability to easily export out of Bear in the future if need be, into 11 different formats making any future migrations easy. I've now tripled my notes and it all that much more important, and I'm glad I got out of Apple Notes when I did. My data is now very transportable.

It's been a few years, but if you look around, there might be some export options available now. If not you may have to it like many of us had to do, manually one note at a time. It's a pain to do, but a relief once done. I now don't keep any of my data in Apple specific formats other than Numbers, I just can't give that up because I like it so much.

Good luck.

Thanks for your reply 🙏
Unfortunately I have more than 9000 notes… 🤪

 

[MysticCow]

It’s painful to watch Apple lose touch and become a profit-obsessed monopoly just like the rest of Big Tech. What happened to the magic?

Do you seriously think ANY company goes into their meetings saying, "Hey, look at how many people we helped today"?
Do you think your health insurance company (including government-run ones) go into a meetiing saying "Hey, look at how many people we helped today"?

NO

They go in with spreadsheets, looking at data, and seeing what they can cut, what needs increased, and how to at least not operate at a loss all the time.

 

[neuropsychguy]

What did they set out to destroy?

Some people's delusions?

 

[neuropsychguy]

Do you seriously think ANY company goes into their meetings saying, "Hey, look at how many people we helped today"?

Yes, I know several, although most are small businesses. I also had the opportunity to talk with one of the founders of what became a major company (I can't say which one because this was a discussion in confidence); it is still a fairly large company. The company was established to not only make money but also to help people. He made customer service and helping customers a priority, even when it hurt the company financially. The company was later purchased by another one that was much more profit-focused and not customer-focused, much to his chagrin. At that point he had no say in the company because he retired early to spend the rest of his life doing unpaid volunteer work, but it hurt him to see the company turn from people-focused to profit-focused.

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

It’s painful to watch Apple lose touch and become a profit-obsessed monopoly just like the rest of Big Tech. What happened to the magic?

Is it really that bad?

I know far from everything is roses. I have a long list of bugs and annoyances that I can't believe Apple refuses to fix asap.

But with all this in mind, I still don't see a company offering better smartphones or personal computers out there.

Yes, the upfront costs are often quite extreme by comparison to most other brands. But for my personal use-case, I still don't see anything come close to what Apple offers.

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

I think the “magic” wasn’t just the company, but also the customers/community. In a PC world, having a Mac made you feel part underdog, part ahead of the curve and not going with the herd (that 1984 commercial really cemented that idea), and later with iPod and iPhone, seeing Apple products out in the wild 10-12 years ago wasn’t nearly as common as now. And if you did see someone else with an Apple product in those days, how often was it a catalyst for a conversation in a store or coffee shop or club?

Despite premium pricing relative to alternatives, Apple became mainstream and rising from taking a loan from Microsoft and near bankruptcy to a $2-trillion-dollar company sort of takes away the feisty upstart veneer. Apple products are generally best-in-class, most-expensive, and yet somehow ubiquitous. Nothing special or unique about an iPhone or iPad anymore. And that’s probably a good thing since I don’t have to worry about the tech I prefer just being abandoned out of the blue or the company folding (and there were quite a few times in the past serious questions about Apple’s future).

I don’t think the 1984 commercial’s message was “we don’t ever want to be as big as IBM aka computing establishment.” And it wasn’t a rally cry to “destroy” the status quo. It was a “Hey you (consumers)! Wake up! There’s a better computing alternative!” and “there’s a different and better way to compute, create, think.” In that respect, they’ve stayed true to form. And I do believe the 1984 ad as well as the 1981 full page “Welcome, IBM. Seriously.” ad was a public proclamation of Apple’s position as the forward thinking (and later, Think Different) company. Interestingly, IBM’s founder’s motto for the company was “Think” and from that ThinkPad, etc. Apple’s “Think Different” was not only a continued shot at IBM and the computing status quo, but also a statement about how the company would operate going forward (ditching Intel for Apple Silicon not just to be different but also because it is a markedly better product/solution).

Just because more people are aware of and on Team Apple doesn’t mean the magic has gone. It’s just that the upstart with the feisty attitude is now a mainstream corporate behemoth, but the original vision is still there, mostly.

Very well said.

It's also kind of a paradox to both say that Apple would be better if it was smaller and had less power, but also wanting it to thrive.

Yes, Apple has never been more mainstream and powerful. But I'm also sure its products have never been as affordable/accessible and reliable as now.

-Most of us tend to forget all the failed, one-off products that Apple put out back when it was smaller, products that were nowhere near as reliable as the ones we see today with many annoyances or small bugs that can never be fixed as these devices can't be updated.

I'd argue that Apple is better than ever and I'm excited to see what they will do next. Apple has accumulated mountains of capital and it seems like they have some "secret" plans for some really exciting products that are not just another new smartphone, tablet or audio device.

If Apple ever drops their VR headset(glasses?) or the Apple Car then you know it'll be a unique product, or at the very least, one that does what the others do but much more reliably.

For me, at least, that's how I view Apple.

 

[planteater]

Thanks for your reply 🙏
Unfortunately I have more than 9000 notes… 🤪

Take a look at the below method. Back when I exported, it wasn’t available or known to me, so I haven’t used it. But it might be worth taking a look at. Even if you aren’t going to OneNote, the method might be useful.

How to migrate from Apple Notes to Microsoft OneNote.

Escaping Apple’s walled garden isn’t impossible if you are motivated enough!

medium.com

 

[Allyance]

They aren’t legally obligated to maximize profits for the shareholders, I don’t know why people keep spreading that lie.

"A shareholder of a corporation bought into that particular corporation by purchasing that corporation’s stock. Although a shareholder may be part owner of a corporation, he generally has no control over the day-to-day management of the corporation. The board of the directors and the officers have direct control over the corporation, and therefore they owe fiduciary duties to the owners, who are the shareholders."

As a shareholder, along with Warren Buffet ($147 billion), it is our expectation that the directors and officers will do their fiduciary duties to run the company in a profitable manor and certainly not destroy it.

 

[LD517]

As a shareholder, along with Warren Buffet ($147 billion), it is our expectation that the directors and officers will do their fiduciary duties to run the company in a profitable manor and certainly not destroy it.

Does not matter what you EXPECT them to do, you’re still wrong.

Corporations Don't Have to Maximize Profits - NYTimes.com

www.nytimes.com

 

[ndouglas]

…But with all this in mind, I still don't see a company offering better smartphones or personal computers out there.

Yes, the upfront costs are often quite extreme by comparison to most other brands. But for my personal use-case, I still don't see anything come close to what Apple offers.

Definitely, that is what it boils down to for me, too.

 

[Allyance]

Does not matter what you EXPECT them to do, you’re still wrong.

Corporations Don't Have to Maximize Profits - NYTimes.com

www.nytimes.com

If they don't, we will sell our stock. Semantics, all hinges on the word 'have' to, I know plenty of "non-profit" corporations have other goals.

 

[lambertjohn]

It’s painful to watch Apple lose touch and become a profit-obsessed monopoly just like the rest of Big Tech. What happened to the magic?

But think of all the people they employ around the globe. Because of this, these people get to eat and buy houses and pay bills and go on vacations and live life as they see fit. I say the bigger Apple gets the better for all of us. Long live the gainfully employed!!

Edit: I also own Apple stock, hundreds of shares of it, and because Apple has grown so profitably, that will be my retirement someday. Thanks for all your hard work, Apple!! Because of you, I can enjoy my twilight years.

 

[jdb8167]

Thanks for your reply 🙏
Unfortunately I have more than 9000 notes… 🤪

You can do it with Shortcuts albeit it isn't easy since by default Shortcuts limits you to 26 files (a very weird limitation). Here is a shortcut file that should work for up to 125,000 notes. It will only export text and any locked note you just get the title.

Edit: It puts each note into a separate file so make sure you create a folder to export to. If you have over 25, 50 or 150 notes, it will keep asking if you want to continue, just keep pressing always allow. After 150 it just gives up and lets you create as many files as you want. You might also have to change the Preferences to Allow Sharing Large Amounts of Data under the Advanced tab.

 

[purgatorio]

What prompted this? Ads coming to Apple Maps? I agree that that’s disappointing.

Yep. I was a bit drunk too.

 

[russell_314]

Anybody that thinks a for profit company is somehow a savior to the masses is highly delusional. Not sure where the narrative came from that companies such as Apple or Tesla are here to save the world come from. Companies, like politicians, will tell you what you want to hear then blur the lines down the road while still trying to maintain your support. How long they can sustain it for is a different story.

This! It’s a corporation. I love Apple products but I’m not delusional enough to think it’s not about money

 

[mmomega]

It’s painful to watch Apple lose touch and become a profit-obsessed monopoly just like the rest of Big Tech. What happened to the magic?

When their founder was the best salesman ever, there was no other option.

And they aren't doing anything differently than probably from before most people here were born. Jobs had his 'on-stage presence emotion blanket' over most peoples eyes. He knew emotional purchases would make people buy more expensive 'things'. It's sales tactics.

 

[HDFan]

What happened to the magic?

Reminds me of Peter Paul & Marys' "Puff the Magic Dragon". Kids and companies grow up. The secret is to maintain as much of that original magic as you can as you get older.

Jobs was notoriously selfish and money driven. Look up Daniel Kottke's story.

Selfish is probably too mild a word. Don't know what one to use but here is one possibility:

“He is a charismatic leader who inspires people to follow him. A strategic thinker who can master the details. A tireless worker with incredible focus and problem-solving skills. He is well-liked by his employees but is also able to make and execute unpopular decisions. Above all, he is an exceptional communicator who can convey a vision to any audience, from Wall Street to the most junior employee.”

The quote above could describe an ideal CEO. But it’s actually a portrait of a corporate psychopath, provided by a law enforcement official who declined to be identified because they weren’t authorized to publicly comment.

Estimates of how many CEOS are psychopaths run from 4% 12%.

The Psychopathic CEO

When it comes to the corporate world, non-violent, corporate psychopaths are not running from the law, but instead, rushing to the executive suite.

www.forbes.com

It is been a while since going through a couple of his biographies but as I recollect he wasn't that interested that much in money. Constantly in arguments with marketing about pricing. He wanted it priced low, they wanted to avoid going bankrupt.

As for Kottke I don't think it was a money thing. More the inability at times to understand or care about the needs of the people around him. Apple was his baby and very few things else mattered. Giving up any portion of Apple was like cutting chunks of his own flesh.

The glimpses that we have of Apple Management deliberations isn't about raising more money, as such, but how to grow Apple as a company. Let's not support Android messaging as it might dilute our sales. It is a fine point, distinguishing between growing the company when that growth also increases profits. Their purchases are selective, ones that will improve the quality of their products and company as a whole.

Compare with AT&T. They just wanted to get bigger and make more money so made disastrous acquisitions. Their emphasis has always been on getting bigger, more profitable rather than emphasizing the services that they could be providing their customers. Took something great like HBO and turned it into just another streaming service. Having no clue about how to run a production shop they fired the people who made it great. $ comes first with AT&T.

Seems like a lot of people are just projecting their own personal focus on money (which right now is certainly quite reasonable) onto Apple. I am not saying that Apple does't look at money issues, but that it isn't their primary focus. Fine distinction.

 

[I7guy]

Damn, this post is deep, and it was the second one too. Spooky.

Horses for courses, I found it snarky. Make no mistake corporations and companies are not your friend, like your BFF is.

Corporations in the course of providing a service or product to you, can offer great customer service, want to make things right and good, to the best they can, when there is a wrong. I think that confuses people into saying corporations are your friends.

Additionally, corporations, like individuals may want to do right. They may want to do right, by corporate matching programs and donations to credible causes. And with Apple there are some stories about making things right that make one wonder why?

Apples public veneer is a friendly and approachable, the opposite of a traditional "car salesman". One sees this veneer in all presentations and the Apple Store.

I believe all in all, all of the above can trick your mind into believing apple is your "friend", when in fact to Apple you are one or more of the following: observer, customer, shareholder, management, or board.