A small comparison Tahoe/Sequoia

[F1Mac]

So... Just for fun, and following the incessant discussions about Tahoe's new UI, I decided to make a quick comparison with two screen grabs side by side. On the left is a Finder window in Sequoia, on the right the same window in Tahoe. Traffic lights are positioned EXACTLY the same way on both OSes and at the same distance from the Window's edges. Same with the text. In fact, the Finder window in both cases is actually the same size, it's not bigger in Tahoe.

So just to put a little perspective on this so-called redesign "debacle", there is actually NO "wasted space" on Tahoe.

 

[tomekwsrod]

So no improvement in terms of space management, but now it is bad visually : )

Now for fun **** and giggles do the compraison of the Contacts app.

 

[fisherking]

So... Just for fun, and following the incessant discussions about Tahoe's new UI, I decided to make a quick comparison with two screen grabs side by side. On the left is a Finder window in Sequoia, on the right the same window in Tahoe. Traffic lights are positioned EXACTLY the same way on both OSes and at the same distance from the Window's edges. Same with the text. In fact, the Finder window in both cases is actually the same size, it's not bigger in Tahoe.

So just to put a little perspective on this so-called redesign "debacle", there is actually NO "wasted space" on Tahoe.

View attachment 2554630

no matter, you'll still be 'corrected' by a small group of angry macusers who can't accept that tahoe is the current OS, LG is the GUI, and life is going to move forward. me, i'm just using my mac, and having a great time 👍

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

no matter, you'll still be 'corrected' by a small group of angry macusers who can't accept that tahoe is the current OS, LG is the GUI, and life is going to move forward.

Oh dear. And we’re back to disrespectful jibes about other users.

Not sure why you insist on using parentheses for certain words, but I would suggest that if you don’t like others having fair criticisms, simply counter them with your own arguments. Tell us why they’re wrong. That’s the basis of a discussion.

me, i'm just using my mac, and having a great time 👍

Wonderful. But then, you’d be saying the same thing if someone handed you an Apple III and asked you if it was running a little hot.

 

[fisherking]

Oh dear. And we’re back to disrespectful jibes about other users.

Not sure why you insist on using parentheses for certain words, but I would suggest that if you don’t like others having fair criticisms, simply counter them with your own arguments. Tell us why they’re wrong. That’s the basis of a discussion.


Wonderful. But then, you’d be saying the same thing if someone handed you an Apple III and asked you if it was running a little hot.

and there it is, what you see as disrespect, followed by your own disrespect. all i do here is counter with my own observations, viewpoints... the essence of discussion.

an apple III?? (am guessing what that is 🤣. as i've repeatedly pointed out, i prefer to move forward in the world, not backward.

 

[F1Mac]

For what it's worth, I'm not trying to convince anyone to "like" LG and Tahoe. But it's interesting to point out that the UI remains consistent with the previous version, even if the appearances don't make it obvious.

And so far I'm enjoying the experience with the new OS.

 

[windows4ever]

Your screenshot highlights a couple of gripes I have about the new UI just based on this single example.

I detest the more rounded corners. Even if the traffic lights are in the same position, it still amounts to wasted space.

Second, I dislike the way Apple has stripped information from the UI all across the board (embracing the latest fad of "reductive design").

While the "back" and "forward" text and the folder icon of "Applications" may seem superfluous, it's still information that was taken away.

Half of the re-designed icons across the whole UI have information stripped from them. If a new user to MacOS was to see the new Automator icon for the first time, would they be able to tell it was supposed to be a robot?

 

[FNH15]

Your screenshot highlights a couple of gripes I have about the new UI just based on this single example.

I detest the more rounded corners. Even if the traffic lights are in the same position, it still amounts to wasted space.

Second, I dislike the way Apple has stripped information from the UI all across the board (embracing the latest fad of "reductive design").

While the "back" and "forward" text and the folder icon of "Applications" may seem superfluous, it's still information that was taken away.

Half of the re-designed icons across the whole UI have information stripped from them. If a new user to MacOS was to see the new Automator icon for the first time, would they be able to tell it was supposed to be a robot?

The text under the icons has not been enabled by default since at least OS X 10.2. The proxy icon I agree is annoyingly not enabled by default - but that's been the case since 11.0. The proxy icon can be added in under Accessibility.

 

[StellarVixen]

So... Just for fun, and following the incessant discussions about Tahoe's new UI, I decided to make a quick comparison with two screen grabs side by side. On the left is a Finder window in Sequoia, on the right the same window in Tahoe. Traffic lights are positioned EXACTLY the same way on both OSes and at the same distance from the Window's edges. Same with the text. In fact, the Finder window in both cases is actually the same size, it's not bigger in Tahoe.

So just to put a little perspective on this so-called redesign "debacle", there is actually NO "wasted space" on Tahoe.

View attachment 2554630

On Tahoe I can say back and forward are buttons even without labels.

 

[auxbuss]

Oh dear. And we’re back to disrespectful jibes about other users.

Judicious use of the block function is available

 

[auxbuss]

embracing the latest fad of "reductive design"

Ah, is that what it's called. I did wonder what was driving this new fad.

Amusingly, I searched to find out a bit more and the first thing I found was this word-salad:

The hunger for reduction has left some brands shortchanged when it comes to their ability to storytell on a super-regional level.

As I like to say: Marketing is psychopathy.

 

[CasualFanboy]

The thing that bugs me most about these comparisons is the premise that the Big Sur iteration of the UI was great. It wasn't, in fact it was terrible. The loss of window chrome (titlebars, clear separation of window buttons from content) was a major step backward.

Sure, this new version is an even further regression, but this has been the trend since Yosemite in 2014. Although I didn't have as much of a problem with this until Big Sur.

 

[F1Mac]

The thing that bugs me most about these comparisons is the premise that the Big Sur iteration of the UI was great. It wasn't, in fact it was terrible. The loss of window chrome (titlebars, clear separation of window buttons from content) was a major step backward.

Sure, this new version is an even further regression, but this has been the trend since Yosemite in 2014. Although I didn't have as much of a problem with this until Big Sur.

Actually, I didn't do this with that premise in mind (that Big Sur iteration was "great"), but only the show that real estate hasn't really been lost between Sequoia and Tahoe, since there's an ongoing debate about LG's UI.

And to be honest, for example I do like how the Finder sidebar shows in Tahoe, without being too much "in our face" it brings a new sense of focus between window's content and sidebar: in dark mode the sidebar gets a subtle wallpaper tint while the window's border stays dark, and that's nice - at least to my eyes.

 

[galad]

Now try the other apps:

Or the Contacts app that's 4x the older one.

 

[Sciuriware]

Now try the other apps:
View attachment 2555361View attachment 2555363View attachment 2555364

Or the Contacts app that's 4x the older one.

Most appreciated, I believe many of us take the APPLE app's for granted, but may rely on the 3rd party's,
while the 3rd parties must comply with any new release.
;JOOP!

 

[turbineseaplane]

Now try the other apps:
View attachment 2555361View attachment 2555363View attachment 2555364

Or the Contacts app that's 4x the older one.

Thank you.
This is a much more complete indictment on this Tahoe disaster.

 

[turbineseaplane]

no matter, you'll still be 'corrected' by a small group of angry macusers who can't accept that tahoe is the current OS, LG is the GUI, and life is going to move forward. me, i'm just using my mac, and having a great time 👍

All it does is sow division on the forum to publicly attack groups you disagree with like this.

How about we talk about the topics and not other users / groups of users?

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

So... Just for fun, and following the incessant discussions about Tahoe's new UI, I decided to make a quick comparison with two screen grabs side by side. On the left is a Finder window in Sequoia, on the right the same window in Tahoe. Traffic lights are positioned EXACTLY the same way on both OSes and at the same distance from the Window's edges. Same with the text. In fact, the Finder window in both cases is actually the same size, it's not bigger in Tahoe.

So just to put a little perspective on this so-called redesign "debacle", there is actually NO "wasted space" on Tahoe.

View attachment 2554630

Could you measure the active areas, inside the window itself? (padding between controls, menus).

All you've done it measured the distance of the traffic light buttons to the edge of the window.

 

[fisherking]

All it does is sow division on the forum to publicly attack groups you disagree with like this.

How about we talk about the topics and not other users / groups of users?

i would like that, too. so really, i'll endeavor not to 'attack' ppl if they will do the same 🙏

 

[KALLT]

So... Just for fun, and following the incessant discussions about Tahoe's new UI, I decided to make a quick comparison with two screen grabs side by side. On the left is a Finder window in Sequoia, on the right the same window in Tahoe. Traffic lights are positioned EXACTLY the same way on both OSes and at the same distance from the Window's edges. Same with the text. In fact, the Finder window in both cases is actually the same size, it's not bigger in Tahoe.

So just to put a little perspective on this so-called redesign "debacle", there is actually NO "wasted space" on Tahoe.

View attachment 2554630

You aren't using the same toolbar display mode here. If you use "icon and text" in macOS 26, you will use lose more vertical space, whereas in macOS 15, the vertical height is not changed at all (the buttons/icons are made smaller):

 

[turbineseaplane]

Looking at shots above, I continue to by mystified why Apple thinks everything needs to be "encapsulated".

It adds so much visual clutter to have extra borders, circles, reflections off the edges of it all, etc.

 

[F1Mac]

Could you measure the active areas, inside the window itself? (padding between controls, menus).

All you've done it measured the distance of the traffic light buttons to the edge of the window.

Well I won't measure every element, but for example in Sequoia the "show as icons, list, etc" buttons are 141 pixels wide, and 15 pixels height, whereas in Tahoe these same buttons are 126 pixels wide and 15 pixels height. In both OSes the toolbar is 53 pixels height (View as list)

 

[F1Mac]

You aren't using the same toolbar display mode here. If you use "icon and text" in macOS 26, you will use lose more vertical space, whereas in macOS 15, the vertical height is not changed at all (the buttons/icons are made smaller):

Fair enough
I use icon only in Tahoe but either way it's not an issue for me.

 

[tenjikuronin]

the UI remains consistent with the previous version

Sure, if you're not a scroll bar or text legibility on translucent objects.

But what do I know, I only worked in UX/UI for a decade and taught it for five years.

 

[tenjikuronin]

You aren't using the same toolbar display mode here. If you use "icon and text" in macOS 26, you will use lose more vertical space, whereas in macOS 15, the vertical height is not changed at all (the buttons/icons are made smaller):

lol