Notes Downgrade

[jimboshoe]

I've been an Apple consultant for about 20 years. Things just seem to be getting worse and worse at Apple.
Case in point: After updating my iphone to ios 10, I can no longer access all the text I had written into the Notes app. Instead, I'm presented with a screen with one button: "Upgrade Now."
I don't want to "upgrade," I just want to see my notes and type new ones, as before.

So, I search Apple discussions for a solution. I come across the following page:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7719983

User Ziatron says he doesn't use iCloud, nor does he want to; he only wants to be able to use the app, as before. He says he can find no option besides "upgrade."

"Community specialist" sarah_s1 responds, but does not answer Ziatron's question. She begins by trying to act as if she cares about a customer who just wants to "have control over your apps" so is "happy to help." Then she says, "It's important to know that even if you don't use iCloud...." The she says there are new features, but doesn't say why it's important that she point that out. After all, most new version of programs have new features. Is she trying to answer the person's question, or is she trying to sell them on using iCloud?

Though she never explicitly says it, she strongly implies that there is no alternative to clicking the "Upgrade" button. In other words: Apple is has now hobbled Notes and is forcing former users to click "Upgrade" to continue using the app at all.

I get that Apple wants people to use their cloud services. (You'd have to be blind not to understand that.) When Mavericks was released, they had the gall to force people to use the cloud to sync Contacts and Calendars, instead of using a USB cable to a Mac. People complained loudly enough that eventually that decision was reversed. Now they pull a stunt like this.

I'll be looking at Linux alternatives to Apple hardware and software. But until I find an alternate solution, could you please stop trying to force your cloud service on people with underhanded tactics and "alternate reality" communications such as these?

 

[gsmornot]

So did you press the upgrade button? If not, that is what you will need to do to move forward. You do not have to use the cloud for your notes, the option will be available to keep the notes on your device.

 

[jimboshoe]

If the button said "Continue," or "No thanks," I might click it. I'm not interested in "Upgrading."

 

[Mlrollin91]

I get that Apple wants people to use their cloud services. (You'd have to be blind not to understand that.) When Mavericks was released, they had the gall to force people to use the cloud to sync Contacts and Calendars, instead of using a USB cable to a Mac. People complained loudly enough that eventually that decision was reversed. Now they pull a stunt like this.

Why don't you want to upgrade? It doesn't mean you have to use iCloud, it only means you are getting newer features for Notes that were added in iOS 10. Has nothing to do with being forced to use the cloud.

 

[LizKat]

So did you press the upgrade button? If not, that is what you will need to do to move forward. You do not have to use the cloud for your notes, the option will be available to keep the notes on your device.

True, although that may seem unclear at the time one encounters the upgrade button...

Apple could do better at offering what I think of as click-to-illuminate links that provide more info on stuff that otherwise can surprise or confuse regarding "what's next" in a process.

Apple is good at doing that sometimes, and not so good other times, perhaps leading one incorrectly to think stuff like "Apple always.." or "Apple never..." -- so a little more QA in the human interface review of updates/upgrades would be nice.

 

[gsmornot]

If the button said "Continue," or "No thanks," I might click it. I'm not interested in "Upgrading."

Then you have come to an impasse with the notes app. You are now in a position to press the button or forget the notes in the app.

 

[jimboshoe]

Because I don't want to play their game. I assume many apps are updated/upgraded when a new ios is released. Only Notes seems to require you to press Upgrade. Why? It's because they want to suck people into the cloud. I realize I don't have to use the cloud. They should have made the button say Continue, not Upgrade.

 

[Mlrollin91]

Because I don't want to play their game. I assume many apps are updated/upgraded when a new ios is released. Only Notes seems to require you to press Upgrade. Why? It's because they want to suck people into the cloud. I realize I don't have to use the cloud. They should have made the button say Continue, not Upgrade.

Not true, I had to do it for Calendar as well. Both on macOS and iOS. Notes had to be upgraded on macOS as well. Again, it has nothing to do with the cloud. iCloud notes has been available for years. You are merely getting new features for Notes.

 

[jimboshoe]

I certainly don't recall *having to* press an "Upgrade" button in order to use any app other than Notes. Of course, the only thing I use the cloud for is my .mac email account.

 

[Mlrollin91]

Very bizarre if you didn't get the update for calendar screen. I did on both my iPhone and iPad. I believe I always got it for iOS 9 as well. But this is besides the point. You don't want to upgrade because it's forcing you to use iCloud which is not true. Just click upgrade and enjoy the new features.

 

[jimboshoe]

Well, I finally pressed the stupid button. Got this message:

Of course, I pressed "Not Now." Why couldn't they have put that option on the first screen?

 

[Mlrollin91]

Well, I finally pressed the stupid button. Got this message:

View attachment 688550

Of course, I pressed "Not Now." Why couldn't they have put that option on the first screen?

You will not get new features though. If you are not using iCloud, then you are not using "syncing" in the first place. Why not just upgrade and take advantage of the new features?

 

[StonewallBrown]

Well, I finally pressed the stupid button. Got this message:

View attachment 688550

Of course, I pressed "Not Now." Why couldn't they have put that option on the first screen?

This seems like a silly argument. You are not updating for iCloud. You are updating your currently saved notes. You are upgrading them, so they can take advantage of the new features. that's why it's giving you this message. Think about it. If you upgrade your notes, but don't upgrade you other devices to the proper OS version, then syncing would be impossible.
It's your device. Use it how you like. That said,this wringing of the hands, seems a bit melodramatic. You are upset, because you don't want extra features?? Extra features that will not require you to change any of your use habits? There are legitimate reasons to complain about iOS, iPhones, or Apple. This is not one of them.

 

[CTHarrryH]

The message and option are there because you must have all the versions IOS and MacOS in sync to use notes and to sync across devices.
As someone who has been an Apple consultant for 20 years this is probably one of the least intrusive and least harmful of updates and yet you seem surprised that Apple does things the way Apple has done things for more than 20 years.

 

[Julien]

...Only Notes seems to require you to press Upgrade. Why? It's because they want to suck people into the cloud. I realize I don't have to use the cloud. They should have made the button say Continue, not Upgrade.

Looks like you are still using IMAP Notes. What a primitive and outdated method. IMAP was an ad hoc unsecured method of piggybacking Notes though your email server that has been deprecated (as it should be).

The only reason this was done is Notes syncing started before iCloud and Apple didn't have a way to do it so they came up with this method. It is a clunky method that is based a past technology. Get with today OP.

So you would rather have your Notes passed unsecured through your email server as an email than have them passed securely through Apple's iCloud server?

 

[Shirasaki]

For the sake of not upgrading, what I am worrying about is whether Apple will prompt to upgrade or not next time opening notes app when phone is restarted.
Just like pushing software updates, which is already annoying.

 

[jimboshoe]

I have no interest in any of the new features. "Notes" was something I opened when I wanted to write something down, they way you might using a pencil and paper in the pre-digital era. I have no interesting in having what I wrote transmitted to any cloud service or other device.
"The Cloud" is a marketer's dream. Sounds so soft and fluffy. If you like it and it works for you, fine. About half the time these days, however, I spend trying to extricate clients from the messes they end up in with various cloud services. Of course, if they're aware of exactly which aspects of which cloud services they're opting into, turn them on selectively, and are happy with the result, that's one thing. But the way they're marketed, it's as if, with the press of a button, all their problems will be solved. What they're really about is trying to get users dependent on a provider's ecosystem so they can start marketing to them. I'd much rather control my data locally and only use off site solutions selectively.

 

[Mlrollin91]

I have no interest in any of the new features. "Notes" was something I opened when I wanted to write something down, they way you might using a pencil and paper in the pre-digital era. I have no interesting in having what I wrote transmitted to any cloud service or other device.
"The Cloud" is a marketer's dream. Sounds so soft and fluffy. If you like it and it works for you, fine. About half the time these days, however, I spend trying to extricate clients from the messes they end up in with various cloud services. Of course, if they're aware of exactly which aspects of which cloud services they're opting into, turn them on selectively, and are happy with the result, that's one thing. But the way they're marketed, it's as if, with the press of a button, all their problems will be solved. What they're really about is trying to get users dependent on a provider's ecosystem so they can start marketing to them. I'd much rather control my data locally and only use off site solutions selectively.

You are still clearly not understanding. The new features, again, have nothing to do with the cloud and syncing. The new features include checklist, pictures and sketching. Why do you keep insisting it has to do with iCloud when in reality it does not. I will repeat again because its not getting across: Upgrading does not have anything to do with iCloud syncing.

 

[C DM]

I have no interest in any of the new features. "Notes" was something I opened when I wanted to write something down, they way you might using a pencil and paper in the pre-digital era. I have no interesting in having what I wrote transmitted to any cloud service or other device.
"The Cloud" is a marketer's dream. Sounds so soft and fluffy. If you like it and it works for you, fine. About half the time these days, however, I spend trying to extricate clients from the messes they end up in with various cloud services. Of course, if they're aware of exactly which aspects of which cloud services they're opting into, turn them on selectively, and are happy with the result, that's one thing. But the way they're marketed, it's as if, with the press of a button, all their problems will be solved. What they're really about is trying to get users dependent on a provider's ecosystem so they can start marketing to them. I'd much rather control my data locally and only use off site solutions selectively.

What's the point of bringing up essentially the same things over and over about "the cloud" when it has been pointed out time and time again that it has nothing to do with this?

 

[blasto2236]

As countless other posters have said, the Upgrade prompt has zero to do with iCloud. If you're an Apple "consultant", I feel sorry for your clients because you have a clear misunderstanding of Apple's products/services and refuse to be educated on the subject.

 

[NewdestinyX]

You are still clearly not understanding. The new features, again, have nothing to do with the cloud and syncing. The new features include checklist, pictures and sketching. Why do you keep insisting it has to do with iCloud when in reality it does not. I will repeat again because its not getting across: Upgrading does not have anything to do with iCloud syncing.

This actually isn't entirely accurate.. At least not in 2018. When you click on the upgrade button it actually auto connects to your free 5GB of cloud storage and syncs your notes there. There also is no longer even the NOT NOW button. You're forced to do it. And it will PREVENT syncing from happening if you happen to be on HIGH SIERRA.. uggggh.. Unlike the Original Poster here.. I LOVE the cloud.. but I hate that Apple requires both your MAC and iPhone to be on the newest Firmwares for everything to work together. My audio software I use professionally isn't ready for Mojave so I have to stay on HighSierra. And my iPhone is still on 11.3.1 because I jailbreak it. But High Sierra and iOS11 were out at the same time.. so I don't know why thet aren't working.. (yes, I've tried rebooting out of jailbreak mode -- even in stock mode NOTES won't sync. All other sync apps do)..

 

[Mlrollin91]

This actually isn't entirely accurate.. At least not in 2018. When you click on the upgrade button it actually auto connects to your free 5GB of cloud storage and syncs your notes there. There also is no longer even the NOT NOW button. You're forced to do it. And it will PREVENT syncing from happening if you happen to be on HIGH SIERRA.. uggggh.. Unlike the Original Poster here.. I LOVE the cloud.. but I hate that Apple requires both your MAC and iPhone to be on the newest Firmwares for everything to work together. My audio software I use professionally isn't ready for Mojave so I have to stay on HighSierra. And my iPhone is still on 11.3.1 because I jailbreak it. But High Sierra and iOS11 were out at the same time.. so I don't know why thet aren't working.. (yes, I've tried rebooting out of jailbreak mode -- even in stock mode NOTES won't sync. All other sync apps do)..

That post was 19 months old but even in 2018 my post is 100% accurate. You do not need to use iCloud for notes or those features. Once you are upgraded and it switches to iCloud you can go into settings and switch it back. iCloud syncing is not required.