Not Really Loving iOS 14

[sird28]

Seems like everyone is excited for widgets and the app library and I am just not that thrilled......

Widgets - I get the appeal of them, but the issue I have is spacing, the small widget doesn’t give enough info and the big widgets take up to 8 apps spots... While it is nice to have glanceable information, I’m not sure its that big of a improvement from just the ordinary today view which is an all widget page. I saw some interesting ideas with smart widget at the top and then 2x Siri suggestions widget below that, would make a always changing home screen with intelligence. I was like wow that will be awesome, but when I tried it same thing happened just like Siri Watch Face. In the end I am searching for where things are when the “intelligence” doesn’t display the app I want to use at the time.

App Library - I hate this idea, the reason is because I have already organized my apps I know where they are and muscle memory I could almost go to apps with my eyes closed. To have apple then basically do another way to organize and search for them without you being able to customize it, to me seems like a step backwards.

iOS 14 - Some people are saying this is for power users, but I almost feel like its for the non-power user that doesn’t organize anything on their homescreens and they are just a mess. This will auto-cleanup and organize that space, but for Power Users I am really not sure this is for them.

Summary - Now I know I don’t have to use these things, and right now I am probably not going to, but it just sucks when most of the big features are kinda of letdown, and I know they can’t please everyone, and this gives options which is great, but I would have rather see them do a total re-design to iOS home screen instead of just adding some android features like grabbing widgets, and an modified app drawer.

AddOn - I will say though, I am not just crapping all over iOS 14. The animations are really well done and buttery, for a first beta it is extremely smooth and not a ton of bugs which is impressive.

I'm just not sold on widgets and the app library.

 

[zorinlynx]

Remember that iOS 14 is more of a "catch-up" release like iOS 12 was. Not much in the way of groundbreaking features and more about subtle improvements and solving problems.

After the mess that was iOS 13, we need one of these. Look to iOS 15 for the "wow!" stuff.

 

[C DM]

Remember that iOS 14 is more of a "catch-up" release like iOS 12 was. Not much in the way of groundbreaking features and more about subtle improvements and solving problems.

After the mess that was iOS 13, we need one of these. Look to iOS 15 for the "wow!" stuff.

To be fair, the whole app library and home screen widgets part of it seems like a fairly big change that would be noticeable for many compared to changes in quite a few previous iOS versions.

 

[Marlon DLTH :)]

Remember that iOS 14 is more of a "catch-up" release like iOS 12 was. Not much in the way of groundbreaking features and more about subtle improvements and solving problems.

After the mess that was iOS 13, we need one of these. Look to iOS 15 for the "wow!" stuff.

Agree. I have the iOS 14 beta on my primary phone, and it feels like a refined iOS 13. Everything is more consistent and clean, and also to be the first beta is incredibly fast and stable. I think the widgets and App Library were included so people will not see it as a “boring” update.

 

[dk001]

I only have a couple of widgets on my Razer and don't see much beyond that for my ProMax.
The library .... I do a great job using folder designs I perfected long ago.
What I am really hoping for is the fixing of the ongoing bugs and see exactly what Apple allows in changing default apps.

The rest ... we'll see how it goes.
Been disappointed to many times these last few years.

 

[LFC2020]

App library needs a overhaul, apple should let users set up their app library the way they want.

I'd have my most used apps up the top, everything doesn't need to be in folders.

It's 2020 apple, stop locking down the home screen, give users more freedom.

 

[casperes1996]

App library needs a overhaul, apple should let users set up their app library the way they want.

I'd have my most used apps up the top, everything doesn't need to be in folders.

It's 2020 apple, stop locking down the home screen, give users more freedom.

I don't get this. There already is a customisable app library. It's called your home screens.

 

[Apple_Robert]

App library needs a overhaul, apple should let users set up their app library the way they want.

I'd have my most used apps up the top, everything doesn't need to be in folders.

It's 2020 apple, stop locking down the home screen, give users more freedom.

The App Library is set up the way it is, so that the search feature can be properly implemented and executed. The App Library is not currently meant for what you are wanting, which is to turn it into another home screen layout Of your own creation.

 

[PirateP]

App library needs a overhaul, apple should let users set up their app library the way they want.

I'd have my most used apps up the top, everything doesn't need to be in folders.

It's 2020 apple, stop locking down the home screen, give users more freedom.

No idea what you are talking about here. But you do you, boo.

 

[Raist3001]

I don’t understand the App library at all, or its appeal. Instead of scrolling horizontally through pages of App folders, we now get to scroll vertically through app folders which we are not able to customize. I can search for any one of my apps with the search bar, and it appears you can do the same with the App library. Like I said, I do not see the appeal at all. Maybe when I have it in my hands I may feel differently?

 

[PirateP]

I don’t understand the App library at all, or its appeal. Instead of scrolling horizontally through pages of App folders, we now get to scroll vertically through app folders which we are not able to customize. I can search for any one of my apps with the search bar, and it appears you can do the same with the App library. Like I said, I do not see the appeal at all. Maybe when I have it in my hands I may feel differently?

I love it. You can just have widgets and your most-often used apps, and the rest in the app library. To each their own, but it makes total sense to me. 🤷🏻‍♀️

 

[Raist3001]

I love it. You can just have widgets and your most-often used apps, and the rest in the app library. To each their own, but it makes total sense to me. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I already have widgets on the widget screen leaving my home screen for my most used apps. The rest are on A second page of folders which contain apps I do not use often. And I can customize my app folders. Still not seeing the appeal. At least for me

 

[tomtattoo]

App Library - I hate this idea, the reason is because I have already organized my apps I know where they are and muscle memory I could almost go to apps with my eyes closed. To have apple then basically do another way to organize and search for them without you being able to customize it, to me seems like a step backwards.

This.
You want me to get angry? Then sort MY apps the way YOU want.

 

[itsmilo]

I already have widgets on the widget screen leaving my home screen for my most used apps. The rest are on A second page of folders which contain apps I do not use often. And I can customize my app folders. Still not seeing the appeal. At least for me

same for me. I feel like App Library is for people like my mother who do not even know folders exist. On the other hand those people may have so little apps, they barely cover two screens so idk 🤷🏽‍♂️ Haha

i wish it could be disabled. I have had my rarely used apps already put into categorized folders on the second page for years and as the OP has said, I already know where every app is by heart. Why would I go in and guess where Apple has put my apps?!

also the workflow of Widgets is strange. So you add a widget on the left (as we have already done before) but now we can also move them from there to the spring board. However they end up on the widget screen first by default. I bet my ass half the people I talk to will not even know this is a thing. Just like it took many friends years to realize you can press on the keyboard to move the cursor 😅

 

[sird28]

I will say though, I am not just crapping all over iOS 14. The animations are really well done and buttery, for a first beta it is extremely smooth and not a ton of bugs which is impressive.

I'm just not sold on widgets and the app library.

 

[Kylo83]

All I wanted was to remove home bar and have split screen apps

 

[Knowlege Bomb]

I will say though, I am not just crapping all over iOS 14. The animations are really well done and buttery, for a first beta it is extremely smooth and not a ton of bugs which is impressive.

I'm just not sold on widgets and the app library.

I'm right there with ya. I've been running the beta since day one and the widgets lasted all of an hour before I reverted my home screen to how it was in iOS 13. The weather widget was wrong most of the time, you're unable to check off reminders from the widget and the Calendar widget displays "nothing more for today" or something like that instead of showing me my next event. So they're all pretty useless at this point.

The app library is Apple's poorly organized folders on my phone. It makes zero sense for someone like me who already had their apps organized into folders. I also already had the option to search by swiping down so why the mandatory additional screen?

All that aside, the iOS 14 experience is an improvement in regards to performance and I'm happy with it.

 

[AZhappyjack]

This.
You want me to get angry? Then sort MY apps the way YOU want.

Put your apps where you want, arranged how you want them. Just use the page(s) in front of the App Library. No one says you have to use the App Library - it's just there with your apps arranged in some fashion - but you can do your own thing on the home screen page(s) with as many or few apps and pages as you choose.

Apple has not taken as way your ability to set up your home screen page(s) as you see fit. IF they had done away with the home screen page(s) and left us with ONLY the App Library, then there might be cause for the wailing and gnashing of teeth and the stomping of one's angry little feet.

 

[Kylo83]

It’s a bad update, widgets is a gimmick, all my apps are on one page and widgets takes up to much space, we needed a ui refresh like macos also split screen apps we have big phones now so no reason why not, also why can’t we have option to remove the homebar it ruins the display, there’s so much more they could of done but they didnt

 

[AZhappyjack]

I'm right there with ya. I've been running the beta since day one and the widgets lasted all of an hour before I reverted my home screen to how it was in iOS 13. The weather widget was wrong most of the time, you're unable to check off reminders from the widget and the Calendar widget displays "nothing more for today" or something like that instead of showing me my next event. So they're all pretty useless at this point.

The app library is Apple's poorly organized folders on my phone. It makes zero sense for someone like me who already had their apps organized into folders. I also already had the option to search by swiping down so why the mandatory additional screen?

All that aside, the iOS 14 experience is an improvement in regards to performance and I'm happy with it.

Apple's stock apps are, for the most part, pedestrian. That is why there is such a vibrant third party library of apps in the App Store. I suspect that we will see some really good stuff in widgets from the third party app vendors when iOS 14 goes live and developers can submit their updates. I, too, and quite underwhelmed by Apple's widgets to date... but from where I sit, these are more "concept" than functional widgets. Let's give it a few months and see what actual developers give us before we reject the whole concept of widgets on iOS.

 

[FHoff]

I wasn’t that thrilled with it. Reverted back to 13.5.1
App library no big deal I use folders And search anyway. Widgets couldn’t care less.
I will say the stability of a beta 1 was pretty dang good. Broke some of my apps and battery... as to be expected.

 

[Ansath]

i wish it could be disabled. I have had my rarely used apps already put into categorized folders on the second page for years and as the OP has said, I already know where every app is by heart. Why would I go in and guess where Apple has put my apps?!

You could just not swipe right to the App Library, you're not being made to use it.Or remove the apps from the current 2nd page, and they go to the App Library, and so you just access them from there. Either/Or. Simple as.

also the workflow of Widgets is strange. So you add a widget on the left (as we have already done before) but now we can also move them from there to the spring board. However they end up on the widget screen first by default. I bet my ass half the people I talk to will not even know this is a thing. Just like it took many friends years to realize you can press on the keyboard to move the cursor 😅

The idea is, you can have better functioning widgets and your constantly used apps all on the 1 screen, without having to swipe left. Widgets can be added to the home page, you don't have to add them to the widget screen and then move it to the home screen. It's only that some default ones were added to the screen as part of the beta.

 

[gwhizkids]

Seems like everyone is excited for widgets and the app library and I am just not that thrilled......

Widgets - I get the appeal of them, but the issue I have is spacing, the small widget doesn’t give enough info and the big widgets take up to 8 apps spots... While it is nice to have glanceable information, I’m not sure its that big of a improvement from just the ordinary today view which is an all widget page. I saw some interesting ideas with smart widget at the top and then 2x Siri suggestions widget below that, would make a always changing home screen with intelligence. I was like wow that will be awesome, but when I tried it same thing happened just like Siri Watch Face. In the end I am searching for where things are when the “intelligence” doesn’t display the app I want to use at the time.

App Library - I hate this idea, the reason is because I have already organized my apps I know where they are and muscle memory I could almost go to apps with my eyes closed. To have apple then basically do another way to organize and search for them without you being able to customize it, to me seems like a step backwards.

iOS 14 - Some people are saying this is for power users, but I almost feel like its for the non-power user that doesn’t organize anything on their homescreens and they are just a mess. This will auto-cleanup and organize that space, but for Power Users I am really not sure this is for them.

Summary - Now I know I don’t have to use these things, and right now I am probably not going to, but it just sucks when most of the big features are kinda of letdown, and I know they can’t please everyone, and this gives options which is great, but I would have rather see them do a total re-design to iOS home screen instead of just adding some android features like grabbing widgets, and an modified app drawer.

You are, of course, entitled to your opinion. And the beauty of the new features is that you can ignore them. And what "big features" were you hoping for? At this point, most changes are incremental and will remain that way until we have a paradigm shift of some sort (moving to Apple Glasses, etc...). There's just only so much you can do with a phone...

 

[WiseAJ]

I really love iOS 14. The widgets and App library have really allowed me to rethink everything into a single home screen page. I sorted my most used apps into 8 folders under two widget stacks and the rest are rarely used apps that can just live in the app library and I can just use spotlight the one or two times a year I need them. The other small refinements are nice as well (no more full screen incoming call notifications finally!)

 

[Knowlege Bomb]

Apple's stock apps are, for the most part, pedestrian. That is why there is such a vibrant third party library of apps in the App Store. I suspect that we will see some really good stuff in widgets from the third party app vendors when iOS 14 goes live and developers can submit their updates. I, too, and quite underwhelmed by Apple's widgets to date... but from where I sit, these are more "concept" than functional widgets. Let's give it a few months and see what actual developers give us before we reject the whole concept of widgets on iOS.

Oh you're absolutely on the money here. I'm looking forward to seeing what developers are able to create. My app lineup has remained mostly the same for quite a few years now so I'm hoping something good will come from their developers. If not, no skin off my back as I'm happy with my phone as it is now.