Steve Troughton-SmithMar 17

If the original Mac had used icons in menus from the start, nobody in their right mind would be calling for their removal today.

That's how you know that argument doesn't reflect reality. All major platforms now have icons in menus; you can't wind back the clock on that one, you're just obstinately refusing to follow the system standards and user expectation.

So much ink and many podcast hours have been wasted discussing the wrong parts of the issues with Liquid Glass on the Mac

Show threadNiki TonskyMar 17
@stroughtonsmith I would. It’s not a question of “are we used to it or not”. It’s about principles: do icons help you find stuff faster? Do they help understand the meaning of the action? For most of the menu items, no. The original Mac didn’t have icons not because they couldn’t do it, but because it was impossible to do in a good and meaningful way. Still is. It’s not about computers capabilities, it’s about how human perception works. Humans are still the same
Show threadSteve Troughton-SmithMar 17
@nikitonsky are you calling for them to be removed from iOS?
Show threadGregoryMar 17

@stroughtonsmith @nikitonsky maybe, just maybe, this whole "consistency across platforms" thing isn't a good goal to have, after all?

I mean, macOS and iOS couldn't be more different in how they're used. Why, then, should there be any similarities between them? To solve what, exactly? Why can't macOS and iOS have disparate designs because one is used with keyboards and mice with apps in windows, and the other with touchscreens with full-screen apps?

Show threadSteve Troughton-SmithMar 17

@grishka @nikitonsky except iOS is now used with keyboards and mice and with apps in windows. iPadOS is iOS.

But I disagree with the premise; I do want the same OS across my platforms, not just 'consistency'. I would like it to take the best of macOS and bring it to iOS, and the best of iOS and bring it to macOS. Apple's aiming for a lower common denominator than any of us want 😅

Show threadGregory

@stroughtonsmith @nikitonsky let's be honest: keyboard and mouse support in iPad OS is an afterthought. Very few people use it that way.

Look at it from my POV: I've been using Android phones since 2011 because I can't stand iOS (sideloading is not optional for me). I never had an iPhone as my main phone. I've never had an iPad at all. So for me, macOS is just getting worse for no reason at all. My biggest gripe is that my screen feels smaller with each successive redesign.

Mar 18 at 12:05amWeb
Show threadGregoryMar 18
@stroughtonsmith @nikitonsky basically, in my ideal world, primarily-touch and primarily-desktop OSes should be developed by entirely separate teams unaware of each other's existence