My theories on why Apple's software quality has degraded so much.

[crococarbs]

This is a good writeup, but it’s not considering the state of the competition/alternatives. The truth is that the others (Windows and Android) have been also suffering from en********ation, I’d argue to a higher degree, especially Windows. So all in all, even if Apple software seems not as good as it used to be, it is still better in important ways than the others.

 

[chmania]

This is a good writeup, but it’s not considering the state of the competition/alternatives. The truth is that the others (Windows and Android) ...

It's not just Windows and Android these days as competition or alternatives; the world out there is vast and full of options, with new operating systems and chips emerging rapidly.

 

[Basic75]

So fast that tasks were taking under 30 seconds on the M1. The M5 is about 50% faster than that, or 15 seconds.

If the M1 takes 30 seconds and the M5 takes 15 seconds then the M5 is 200% as fast as the M1 which is 100% faster. It takes 50% of the time for the same task.

 

[Basic75]

It's not just Windows and Android these days as competition or alternatives; the world out there is vast and full of options, with new operating systems and chips emerging rapidly.

There used to be two operating systems called Windows, now there's one. There used to be many Unix operating systems, now most of them are dead, the BSDs are in a niche, and nearly everything else is Linux. Mobile has consolidated to Android and iOS. Desktop has consolidated to Windows and some macOS. Servers have consolidated to Linux and some Windows. SteamOS is Linux. Raspberry Pi is Linux. Even Android and Chrome OS are half Linux. What are the new operating systems you are referring to?

 

[Basic75]

Its because the OS's are getting bigger and more complex

/thread

This is Apple, like it or not, they favour removing things over keeping backwards compatibility. They removed 32bit support. They removed Carbon support. Just two name two big ones. The "bigger and more complex" is in peripheral areas like AI.

 

[Basic75]

using number 26 simplifies things

How does referring to the version that is presented and released in 2025 as "macOS 26" simplify things?

 

[chmania]

Even Android and Chrome OS are half Linux.

Linux is a kernel, not an operating system. GNU is the OS behind it. A long time ago, it used to be called GNU/Linux. Android is not "half-Linux"; it runs on a Linux kernel, while the OS behind it is derived from Gentoo. All Linux distributions use a modified Linux kernel tailored to suit their specific distributions.

What are the new operating systems you are referring to?

Those that don't use either the Windows kernel, Linux kernel, Mach microkernel, or even a modified BSD Unix kernel XNU, or Darwin, such as Harmony OS, are written specifically for their own chip(s). There are a few such kernels and chips out there, supported by large, wealthy companies.

 

[MBAir2010]

seems me that everything is downgraded as far as service,
ever notice how workers have gotten so lackadaisical in work ethics this century?
why should  make a perfect OS or even a better one?
as how many Mac users will get a M5 for half the value of an m1 so Tahoe will function?

then again this degradation is effecting search engines.
this week I am searching for a
road bike wheel-700c-rim brake-135mm-11 speed-presta-23,25 mm tire under $200 USD.
nothing, not on Amazon, performance bike, trek, Jenson or other site that sell road bike tires.
also the specs change on some sites as I select an item that changes to 8 speed only.

since these lackadaisical designers or SEO are behind that cheap DELL
using adequate web designer software adding lame keywords they are infecting these sites.

perhaps  has a higher quality compared to what I have witnessed this week
and really do not have to develop that "awesome" OS!
since I can turn my MacBook Air off


then on again

Progress!

 

[Basic75]

Linux is a kernel, not an operating system. GNU is the OS behind it. A long time ago, it used to be called GNU/Linux.

Well, you can subscribe to the "it's GNU/Linux" terminology but not everybody does -- and not everybody did.

Android is not "half-Linux"; it runs on a Linux kernel, while the OS behind it is derived from Gentoo.

You are arguing that Android is not (even half) Linux by telling me it's derived from a Linux distribution?

All Linux distributions use a modified Linux kernel tailored to suit their specific distributions.

Over the years I've used Linux distributions with vanilla kernels. Made updating the kernel upon upstream release easier and/or faster.

Those that don't use either the Windows kernel, Linux kernel, Mach microkernel, or even a modified BSD Unix kernel XNU, or Darwin, such as Harmony OS, are written specifically for their own chip(s). There are a few such kernels and chips out there, supported by large, wealthy companies.

Harmony OS runs on ARM64 and not much else?

Anyhow, I'm not saying there isn't a bunch of operating systems around, just that for mobile, servers and desktop none of them matter much, at least for now. Harmony OS might become more important, we'll have to see how it plays out.

 

[MBAir2010]

"HarmonyOS multi-device design guide and key feature specifications provide you with targeted design suggestions for hanging scenarios and full-end side."

umm....... what are they really suggesting?

 

[chmania]

Harmony OS runs on ARM64 and not much else?

Well, it runs on my watch, HarmonyOS 5.1.0.211, which is not Android. It's generally referred to as HarmonyOS NEXT. However, it hasn't arrived on my tablet yet. There’s a whole bunch of videos on YouTube about HarmonyOS NEXT.