I don't know where you think that apple fixes anything? They have fixed a couple of issues but ios 6 still has major flaws. Imessage is very unreliable, maps is still failed, their is problems about switching wifi to LTE and back, data connections are sporadic. Itunes still is difficult and unfriendly to use. Why make a product that you preach is simplified, then make itunes so challenging. Im not the only one with these concerns. Read this board and others. Filled with problems. Bored with the interface? I don't care. I want it to work properly. For the price of the iPhone 5, it should. Junk? Yes. Build a product that works. Not shove it on the market, then try to fix it later.
Apple has been doing the "release now, fix later" since 2007 when they released the 2007 iPods:
- iPod Touch had the inverse blacks problem, a hardware defect that was "fixed" with firmware upgrades. Swear Apple is the only company that can get away with "hiding" defects with firmware upgrades.
- iPod Classic barely ran, forgot play counts when playing games, random lock-ups with iTunes at the time. Took them over 6 months JUST to get the device to run as advertised. Same with the iPod Nano that year.
- iPod Touch still had iPhone error messages.
Since then I have ALWAYS waited for ".1" releases from Apple before upgrading to anything from them. Their new products (software or hardware) are always terribly buggy.
iTunes is especially buggy, after loosing my library TWICE to x.0 updates I refrain from upgrading when a new release comes out.
That being said, iTunes is far from difficult to use in my opinion. In fact, I find it to be the most feature rich and easiest to manage of ANY Apple product. Can't find a product that offers such richness in smart play list management and is the single reason why I still chose iPods for my music needs.
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As for the OPs question, dry year from Apple? Not really. I thought they had some good updates this year. The mini and the 5th generation iPod Touch were two great products released this year even if the mini was intentionally held back as a 1st gen model for feature upgrades later.
The lightning adapter change was totally unnecessary and the way they released it last year is totally uncalled for. Not allowing 3rd party companies to be ready for the release instead waiting MONTHS after the release to give them the 411? Get real. Cornering of the conversion adapter as a Apple only product was a really tight move as if the company doesn't make enough money they have to corner the market? Anti-competitive much? Not to mention ZERO speed benefits over the hold adapter and there was already a well received micro size universal adapter that's been out for years, its called microUSB.