There was a time when I could blindly update my Apple devices and trust that the update wouldn't break it, remove a core function, or make me feel stupid for not knowing how to use a simple feature.
But that doesn't seem to be the case anymore. Lately I feel like Apple's not giving its software the close attention it needs.
SEE ALSO:9 fun iPhone text message tips and tricksEarlier this week, Apple released iOS 10.2 and watchOS 3.1.1. Normally, I would have waited until I got home from work, backed up my iPhone and Apple Watch, and then updated.
But could you blame me? I wanted the 100 new emoji and the new full-screen effects for Messages.
My iPhone 7 updated to 10.2 without any issues whatsoever. But had I updated my Apple Watch to watchOS 3.1.1, I would have bricked it. Following reports of borked Apple Watches, Apple pulled the software update without further explanation.
It felt like I had heard this story almost too many times this year in regards to Apple's software, so I did search and it turns out I wasn't going crazy.
It's not just buggy software that's got me irritated, but some of the software design choices Apple's made.
When Apple released iOS 10 in September, it caused all kinds of network problems for T-Mobile customers (of which I am one and experienced with my iPhone 6). In May, Apple pulled iOS 9.3.2 for the 9.7-inch iPad Pro following reports of bricking. In March, iOS 9.3 was temporarily yanked.
Four software problems immediately following a new update is four too many. In comparison, Apple pulled exactly zero iOS updates last year.
It's also not just buggy software that's got me kind of irritated, but some of the software design choices Apple's made.
Take Apple Music. The app was redesigned when it launched with iOS 10. And while it's infinitely better designed than the first version of Apple Music, the design software is inconsistent with Apple's other iOS apps.
I still find the big and bold fonts too harsh on the eyes. But the most annoying feature was the odd placement of the shuffle and repeat buttons. I couldn't find them at first and it took a few people on Twitter to point out their hidden location. (Hint: Swipe upfrom the song playback screen to see them.)
So imagine my surprise when I opened up Apple Music after updating to iOS 10.2 to find this:
If you need to tell people *where* to find these buttons the UI has failed pic.twitter.com/39w4CzIiU5
— Raymond Wong 📱💾📼 (@raywongy) December 13, 2016
As it turns out, I wasn't the only one who couldn't find the shuffle/repeat controls. Honestly, how would anyone know to swipe up? There aren't any visual cues on the screen to tell you so. Hiding these common controls just reeks of bad design.
On the old music player, the buttons were prominently placed (you couldn't miss them), no swiping required. I appreciate that Apple made the buttons largeron iOS 10.2, but you still have to swipe up to access them.
Appreciate these really big shuffle and repeat buttons in iOS 10.2...but pic.twitter.com/I5DNwpC1Gt
— Raymond Wong 📱💾📼 (@raywongy) December 13, 2016
I'm all for less clutter, but there's perfectly good white space to the left of the AirPlay icon that's not used for anything. Why can't these buttons be placed over there? Demoting those controls to a hidden, secondary panel doesn't make any sense to me.
Under Steve Jobs, Apple paid the utmost attention to the smallest of details in its software. I could pull out all the anecdotes, but I only need one from Google's ex-senior vice president of social, Vic Gundotra, to make my point:
"So Vic, we have an urgent issue, one that I need addressed right away. I've already assigned someone from my team to help you, and I hope you can fix this tomorrow" said Steve.
"I've been looking at the Google logo on the iPhone and I'm not happy with the icon. The second O in Google doesn't have the right yellow gradient. It's just wrong and I'm going to have Greg fix it tomorrow. Is that okay with you?"
Jobs wouldn't have let the wasted space and unintuitive shuffle/repeat button placements happen.
Moreover, Apple also updated macOS Sierra to version 10.12.2 this week. Like iOS 10.2, macOS 10.12.2 has a list of new improvements, but also removes the "remaining time" indicator for the battery status icon in the menu bar.
Apple says it was misreporting the actual battery life for new MacBook Pros, and that it wasn't a useful indicator.
I disagree. The remaining time indicator has been around on all previous versions of macOS and from where I'm standing it never had any issues reporting a rough estimate for battery life.
Daring Fireball'sJohn Gruber put it nice and succinctly:
It’s more like having a watch that doesn’t keep accurate time and fixing the problem by no longer wearing any watch, rather than fixing or replacing the broken one. That’s not as funny though.
So did ex-Tumblr engineer and ex-Instapaper developer Marco Arment:
Having used Apple laptops for over a decade, I’ve always found the time-remaining estimate to also be a good indicator of how much power I’m burning with my current activities so I can “budget” my battery usage when I’m going to need it.
You can debate the accuracy of the indicator, but from the reaction to its removal, it's clear Apple either didn't consider how its customers actually use the tool, or it just didn't care.
Add to these fumbles to the unofficial admission that watchOS 1 and 2 were essentially wrong and watchOS 3 is a do-over and Apple's "hardware and software" synergy starts to look like less of an advantage than it used to be.
Apple's no longer the scrappy little underdog. It's the most valuable tech company in the world, responsible for pushing updates to over a billion devices across its myriad platforms. Its position at the top means we have to hold it to greater accountability to get software right.
Much like how Apple doesn't release its hardware until they're absolutely ready (Hi AirPods!),I'd rather have Apple take more time and get its software right than end up with a bricked or problematic device, or features that don't serve the needs and desires of users.
The public betas for iOS, macOS and watchOS are a step in the right direction towards releasing more stabile software, but more needs to be done from within Apple. Apple puts so much into perfecting its hardware and now it's time for the company to do the same for software.
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