“Every year soon after WWDC, I install the beta of the upcoming version of iOS on my devices and embark on an experiment: I try to use Apple’s stock apps and services as much as possible for three months, then evaluate which ones have to be replaced with third-party alternatives after September,” Federico Viticci writes for MacStories. “My reasoning for going through these repetitive stages on an annual basis is simple: to me, it’s the only way to build the first-hand knowledge necessary for my iOS reviews.”
“Besides the research-driven nature of my experiments, I often preferred third-party offerings to Apple’s as I felt like they provided me with something Apple was not delivering,” Viticci writes. “Since the end of last year, however, I’ve been witnessing a gradual shift that made me realize my relationship with Apple’s hardware and software has changed. I’ve progressively gotten deeper in the Apple ecosystem and I don’t feel like I’m being underserved by some aspects of it anymore.”
“I feel comfortable using Apple’s services and hardware extensively not because I’ve given up on searching for third-party products, but because I’ve tried them all,” Viticci writes. “Over time, I’ve come to understand that it’s important for me to have all my devices work together without micromanaging them. And after years of experiments, I’ve realized that the Apple ecosystem, despite the occasional stumble, gets rid of the complexities and limitations that stressed me out in other products that are not as integrated as Apple’s. This doesn’t mean that I’m going to use Apple apps everywhere: I still seek out alternatives in the areas where I feel Apple is not delivering enough value. However, especially for hardware and the all-encompassing iCloud service3, today I’m okay treating the Apple ecosystem as my baseline.”
Much more in the full article – recommended – here.
MacDailyNews Take: Yup. All-Apple, while not perfect (can we please have Messages in iCloud soon, for crying out loud!), is the most stress-free tech existence. We laugh at the machinations the fragmandroid crowd attempts and has to deal with daily to get a slim subset of everything Apple’s macOS + iOS + watchOS + tvOS ecosystem offers!
Yeah, they still have to get the intuitive parts in, like being able to airplay from iPhone to Mac and such, but besides that, and possibly virtual surround sound in headphones on Mac and iPhone, Apple isn’t too bad, just focus, focus, focus, Apple! If you don’t focus, Apple, Microsoft will leave you in the dust!
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Microsoft will leave Apple in the dust? You’re joking, right?
It just works.
From the article: “It’s possible to like something and still point out its flaws. This is an unpopular opinion both among those who think Apple can do no wrong, as well as folks who think they’ve done nothing important after Steve Jobs. I strongly believe that both extremist camps are misguided.” Extremist! 😳
Is it just me or do others still run into the problem of composing a message in Mail and having it run off the screen on one long line? I imagine that hundreds (maybe thousands) of people are working on iMessages and Animojis while clunky shit like what I described above is waiting in support ticket hell.
Happens to me too … once in a blue moon .
I don’t use Apple mail although I tried to like it.
What would it take for Apple to get everything just right? Is it that they don’t follow user feedback or they don’t have a large enough team to correct errors? Are the software teams being too rushed? Is it that there isn’t enough quality control? Are Apple’s software problems worse than most of the tech industry’s problems? I can only say that Apple should be able to AFFORD to have fewer software flaws than most companies.
I’ve been pretty fortunate with Apple software but that’s probably because I’m not pushing anything to the limit. I haven’t upgraded to High Sierra because I hear it’s not that good and I’m quite happy with Sierra. I often wonder if non-power users are satisfied with Apple software and it’s just the power users who are always complaining.
Mac user since 1988.
Every year in the last 5-6 years, Apple apps become less intuitive, causing the “where do I go next question” especially iOS in both Apple and 3rd party apps.
True also on Apples OSX apps, while my critical 3rd party apps which make up 90% of my on screen time get better.
hmmmmm
Yes to TKDs inputs. And trying to sort out movie viewing in iTunes is not only unintuitive, it’s downright unfathomable at times. On my MacBookPro if I rent a movie and click to watch it now, getting it to play and then to pause and continue is just a pain in the arse. Locating the movie is near impossible. If I wait until tomorrow then it pops into view and works just fine. It was the same with Maverick, Sierra and now High Sierra. I use AppleTV4.
On my iPads and iPhones it works fine, including via the AppleTV.
Oh yeah! Netflix movies stream instantly with out the slightest glitch as if they are more intertwined with the Apple OS than the Apple TV and Airplay/Mirroring. And DON’T GET ME STARTED regarding the crap remote and the hundreds of times I hit the wrong buttons in the dark or thought I had it right side up, NOT!