Apple iOS 7

2013-06-12 • SEND FEEDBACK |
Related: Apple, Apple iOS, Apple iPhone and iPad, iOS, Martin D

Martin D writes on why I might not like iOS 7:

You in particular—and many millions of other people—because you don't really fit the profile of the iPhone user Apple designs for.

At this time, Apple only makes one phone. It has its strengths and its weaknesses. Most of their strengths pertain to apps (which you don't use much) and how they integrate across other Apple products.

Take those out of the mix and the iPhone has little distinct to offer over countless alternatives other than industrial design. The further off-axis you are from who they're designing for, the less appropriate their offering is. There are dozens of other phones in the market, and some are probably superior phones than the iPhone will ever be. Some are unquestionably superior tethering choices.

There seems to be a “come to Jesus” moment happening this year at Apple; they're rallying around a self-identity as a industrial design company, not a computer company, not a consumer electronics company or what have you. A respectable argument could probably be made that they're becoming more like Leica.

MPG: Indeed, I use my iPhone as a phone for one simple reason: the user interface is so much better than any prior dumb phone. That’s the core reason, not anything to do with 'apps'.

I do rely on tethering when traveling (important), and a little bit of messaging/mail/web, but basically apps are just a source of clutter for me: they solve exactly zero problems; I don’t go looking to find solutions in search of needs I don’t have.

I like my iPhone, but good tools get simple jobs done with no fuss and perhaps a divergence is coming there. But so far it still works reasonably well for my simple needs, so I’ll probably stick with it.