This:
To this:
It's a major step back in usability but I'm not surprised.
To this:
It's a major step back in usability but I'm not surprised.
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macOS Ventura Features Redesigned 'System Settings' App
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Oh yes; with those recent System Preferences versions, at times I've had to hover the cursor around a bit while looking for the settings I want. I hope this revised System Preferences will be easier for me to work with.Man, the amount of complaints here boggles my mind. Have any of you actually used System Preferences in recent macOS versions? Settings are all over the place.
If you're a new user or don't have System Preferences memorized like crazy, why don't you guess where the Dictation settings are? Or where you'd change the default web browser? Or where you'd find the setting for changing your Mac's display name?
It'll take some getting used to, but it's clear that the old design had to go at some point. The app didn't change design in more than 20 years essentially, and it was getting extremely cluttered. I'm here for the change.
In the old System Preferences, basic stuff was easy, but I had to use the search field to find a lot of the more obscure settings.
In this new UI, it looks like basic stuff will be easy, but I'll have to use the search field to find a lot of the more obscure settings.
SSDD.
In this new UI, it looks like basic stuff will be easy, but I'll have to use the search field to find a lot of the more obscure settings.
SSDD.
I know right, I was crossing my fingers hoping this would be a bug fix and stability update like Snow Leopard/Mountain Lion/High Sierra for Monterey but nope, more half baked features 🙄. I'm starting to think those rumors of the software engineers never really using MacOS as their daily drivers consistently is true. If you used macOS every day you would know the basic features it still needs like "window snapping" for a start.
Apple today previewed macOS Ventura, its latest operating system for the Mac, and one of the new features is a redesigned and renamed System Settings app that replaces System Preferences on macOS Monterey and previous versions.
The new System Settings app looks more similar to the Settings app on the iPhone and iPad, with settings placed in a sidebar for easy access.
System Preferences had been the app's name for over 20 years, but System Settings is the new name going forward. The redesigned app is limited to macOS Ventura, which will be publicly released in the fall. The first beta of macOS Ventura was seeded to developers today for testing, and Apple said the first public beta will be released in July.
Article Link: macOS Ventura Features Redesigned 'System Settings' App
I prefer MacOS to iOS in nearly every area. But I find the windows 11 and iOS way of doing the settings superior with less head scratching trying to find settings.
You could even say that aspect of Ventura is looking to be an Ace update.
exactly. i hit my custom shortcut to bring up system prefs ( Cmd + ‘,’ ) and then Cmd + ‘F’ to focus on the search field. then type away and select the autosuggestion with cursor or arrows.
i’m visually oriented but still find it hard to locate the preference i’m looking for with the current system. that’s one reason i use the keyboard. i couldn’t tell you from memory what row or side of window that “network”, “displays”, “sound”, “keyboard shortcuts” and a bunch of others are even though i use them every day. the only ones i recall are non-apple like Wacom and Blackmagic because they live in the bottom row.
so all in all little practical change to me accept it will waste screen space with a sidebar type of design.
After just shy of 22 years of more or less unchanged System Prefs, it's going to take a bit of mental adjustment, but this is a huge improvement in terms of actual usability, and I'm really glad Apple is stealing something good from iPadOS
Having a randomly-sorted collection of icons divided into a couple categories that have some logic but also feel essentially arbitrary was, frankly, an awful design. Even after 22 years, half the time I just end up typing something in the search field and looking for the highlighted item (even if said highlight UI was, admittedly, really cool). You can sort alphabetically from the menus, but again, even after 22 years I keep forgetting that's even possible since it's not immediately visible.
It had essentially the same design concept as the Windows 7-style Control Panel, which is also awful, but at least that one the sort order is in the window so you remember it's there.
A sorted list may be iPad style, but it's better.
Having a randomly-sorted collection of icons divided into a couple categories that have some logic but also feel essentially arbitrary was, frankly, an awful design. Even after 22 years, half the time I just end up typing something in the search field and looking for the highlighted item (even if said highlight UI was, admittedly, really cool). You can sort alphabetically from the menus, but again, even after 22 years I keep forgetting that's even possible since it's not immediately visible.
It had essentially the same design concept as the Windows 7-style Control Panel, which is also awful, but at least that one the sort order is in the window so you remember it's there.
A sorted list may be iPad style, but it's better.
More than the redesign, this is the biggest offense. First OS X to just MacOs, then preferences to settings. What’s next? Renaming Safari to “Web Browser”?
“Settings” is used in most OSs. “Preferences” was used almost exclusively on the Mac. Why does Apple keep making the Mac less unique and more generic?
I had this exact same thought. At first I thought the redesign was great because at a glance it seemed to make things more easy to read and locate via a list on the left. Then I noticed it's not alphabetical. To me this is basically over-designing something. I can see what they're going for; related things grouped together, and putting what they think are the most-used features immediately visible. I just don't see how this method could possibly be faster and more efficient for finding things than listing them alphabetically, especially when the list is long enough that it requires scrolling to see everything.
I think there's another thread on here that's critical of the iOS settings menu, which laments it being a cluttered mess. I tend to agree with this assessment. I think the only thing that's improved upon here is that at least you have the entire righthand portion to view the submenus, unlike on iOS which takes you to a separate screen, so I guess it'll at least be a bit better on desktop. Still, just give me the option to toggle that list to alphabetical and I think I'd be happy.
As for the redesign, do I think it’s better and more user friendly? Absolutely. The current system preferences app is a mess and I’ve always had a hard time using it.
It looks more generic though.
It looks more generic though.
I like it’s alphabetically sorted , wish iOS was as easy to navigate , the panels are all over the shop
Wait - what?! What menus are you referring to here? If I've been mildly annoyed going through non-alphabetical system preferences icons all these years for nothing I won't know whether to be happy or sad haha.
As long as they don’t rearrange the order of the icons every OS release I’ll be happy….
View menu -- at least on Monterey, there's the default "by category" option, a sort alphabetically option, and you can have it show checkboxes to hide prefs you don't want visible by default.
That said, my "at least on Monterey" is because I literally am not sure when the alphabetical option was added, since I now have a vague memory of being aware it existed but had completely forgotten until I checked just now.
I had no idea that that was there! It's there on my 10.14 machine too.
I suppose the question is whether that option still exists in 13.
Yep, one-by-one macOS is being eroded into a glorified iPad. From random name changes to horrendous UI changes to removing most of the user's control over the computer.
Oh well, guess I'll go buy a Windows laptop. Sure MS may be spying on me and I might hate how Windows does most things, but at least then I can run all the software I need and they won't treat me like a 3 year old.
That's the problem with mature software - there's little of actual value that can be added; but the company feels it has to do something to get people excited and willing to upgrade. Unfortunately that "something" often ends up to be a sideways move at best, and an net negative change at worst.
The exact opposite. The new System Preferences is very cluttered compared to the classic one. iOS Settings are cluttered also with Mouse settings spread over different panels instead of just one ‘Mouse’ panel.
not a fan of the new System Settings at all! I was a bit disappointed by the new arrangement in Catalina, but got used to it rather quickly, since it was a minor change. But this just doesn't work for me. Someone here pointed out that the new Settings are better, because the old window was fixed in size even if you had a scroll a lot. But here's the thing: you didn't. All settings were split into tabs, and you barely had to scroll at all (at least until Big Sur's Dock & Menu Bar panel).
Also, I don't see the "consistency" argument as valid. You don't want to give up your desktop and Finder and have them replaced with Springboard and Files, just for the sake of consistency, do you? I didn't buy an iPad Pro, I bought a Mac, and I don't want oversized iOS on it.
Btw, for those worried about Ventura not having dynamic wallpapers: I think they're coming later. First developer betas never ship with dynamic wallpapers, only automatic ones.
Also, I don't see the "consistency" argument as valid. You don't want to give up your desktop and Finder and have them replaced with Springboard and Files, just for the sake of consistency, do you? I didn't buy an iPad Pro, I bought a Mac, and I don't want oversized iOS on it.
Btw, for those worried about Ventura not having dynamic wallpapers: I think they're coming later. First developer betas never ship with dynamic wallpapers, only automatic ones.
This is a step back, it’s not making full use of a Mac’s landscape orientation. Plus it appears many settings are now buried into sub-categories rather than being at the root; for instance Time Machine.
I'm no pro... but being able to take a call from my friends and say "open system preferences, click on this icon, go to that tab, and you'll see a little box to check". like when I told my color blind teacher that he could go into sys prefs to add color filters based on his color blindness while he was in the front of the class and I was sitting at my desk with no computer....
those years are over.
those years are over.
Don't like it, to go through all setting you have to scroll top to the bottom twice .Now is simple every option in a snap window.. why Apple? never will forget you about the flashlight on iPhone. half of my battery goes through that during the day
Don't worry that's all they are gonna think of for the next 9 beta. We will get a few new ones for sure!