Apple keeps adding features that are confusing to utilize

[mebehere]

For so many years, many Apple users have complained that Android offers more customization. This appears to be changing. However, Apple’s implementation of these new features seems super complicated, to me at least.

I‘ve never used an Android device, but I wonder if the multitude of features they offer are as complicated to use or to change in settings.

With iOS 16, I find myself either having to do web searches to figure out how to do things that already just worked in previous iOS versions, or just start tapping on icons within apps where the icons make no sense, and I end up not finding what I was looking for.

Maybe I’m old school, but I miss the simplicity of iOS. Or maybe Apple is adding features that make you watch a two hour YouTube video just to be able to sort of figure out how to use these new features.

In the end, I wonder if Apple simply cannot make its new features intuitive.

 

[russell_314]

For so many years, many Apple users have complained that Android offers more customization. This appears to be changing. However, Apple’s implementation of these new features seems super complicated, to me at least.

I‘ve never used an Android device, but I wonder if the multitude of features they offer are as complicated to use or to change in settings.

With iOS 16, I find myself either having to do web searches to figure out how to do things that already just worked in previous iOS versions, or just start tapping on icons within apps where the icons make no sense, and I end up not finding what I was looking for.

Maybe I’m old school, but I miss the simplicity of iOS. Or maybe Apple is adding features that make you watch a two hour YouTube video just to be able to sort of figure out how to use these new features.

In the end, I wonder if Apple simply cannot make its new features intuitive.

Well if they change anything you’re going to have to figure out how to use it. They did that when they removed the home button. I know people who refused to buy the new iPhone when that change happened.

Apple has a balancing act between adding new features that people want versus keeping everything the same so maybe those who don’t like change won’t get upset. There’s no perfect answer. I know some change is required if the company wants to stay in business. No one would buy a home button iPhone in 2022 or at least the majority of people would not buy this.

I haven’t updated to iOS 16 yet. I’m holding off a few more days.

 

[Buadhai]

It is somewhat confusing. I installed 16 on my XR.

I watched some videos and read some articles on how to do some of the new stuff.

I wanted to change the font for the time on the Lock Screen. I can't figure out how to do it. I can create a new Lock Screen with the font I want, but I can't change the existing one.

The new battery percentage display looked good to me, but, it seems not to be available with the XR.

Merging duplicate photos also seems useful. Also seems not to be available on the XR. (It does work on Ventura. I had almost 4000 duplicates to merge.)

I'm also old, so that must be the root of my woes.

 

[0128672]

To add to what @russell_314 said so well, there's always going to be changes. Instead of watching a two-hour YouTube video, you could ask here in the forums and probably get an answer and have a discussion about it sooner. For many here helping to answer questions without judgment is one reason this community thrives.

 

[sracer]

For so many years, many Apple users have complained that Android offers more customization. This appears to be changing. However, Apple’s implementation of these new features seems super complicated, to me at least.

I‘ve never used an Android device, but I wonder if the multitude of features they offer are as complicated to use or to change in settings.

With iOS 16, I find myself either having to do web searches to figure out how to do things that already just worked in previous iOS versions, or just start tapping on icons within apps where the icons make no sense, and I end up not finding what I was looking for.

Maybe I’m old school, but I miss the simplicity of iOS. Or maybe Apple is adding features that make you watch a two hour YouTube video just to be able to sort of figure out how to use these new features.

In the end, I wonder if Apple simply cannot make its new features intuitive.

Complexity is in the eye of the beholder and often relative to what a person is accustomed to.

But having said that, iOS is indeed more convoluted IMO. That is a result of Apple adding features piecemeal in a reactive manner over the years rather than having a well defined long term vision that is incrementally implemented.

There's quite a bit of inconsistency in the system. Two things stand out to me... the first is the odd decision to have "settings" for apps split into two areas... the system-wide Settings app and within an individual app itself.

The other is how "Accessibility" in Settings appears to be the catch-all for settings that Apple doesn't seem to know where else to put them.

Multitasking, control center, and notifications handling has changed significantly multiple times over the years.

I'd love to see Apple take a step back for one major version of IOS... don't add any new functions, but reorganize things to improve consistency and usability.

 

[mebehere]

I will add that those who are less tech savvy will either have a problem with the changes, or they won’t be able to utilize them at all.

 

[russell_314]

I'd love to see Apple take a step back for one major version of IOS... don't add any new functions, but reorganize things to improve consistency and usability.

I totally agree with this but I don’t see it happening. Apple is under tremendous pressure to make their product have features and things people want.

How many times have you seen people post in here “Oh yeah great another version of the same thing. No changes here so there’s no point in buying this”. Let’s not forget the shirt meme. If Apple made another version of iOS without new features the tech press would have a field day. They’ve done a mostly bug fixing update in the past if I remember right but I don’t think it would work now.

 

[sracer]

I totally agree with this but I don’t see it happening. Apple is under tremendous pressure to make their product have features and things people want.

How many times have you seen people post in here “Oh yeah great another version of the same thing. No changes here so there’s no point in buying this”. Let’s not forget the shirt meme. If Apple made another version of iOS without new features the tech press would have a field day. They’ve done a mostly bug fixing update in the past if I remember right but I don’t think it would work now.

While it is true that Apple will periodically release a mostly-bug-fix version of iOS, there are still many bugs in that version so people are rightfully upset that not only did they NOT get many new features, but bugs (often longstanding ones) still happen.

 

[mebehere]

To add to what @russell_314 said so well, there's always going to be changes. Instead of watching a two-hour YouTube video, you could ask here in the forums and probably get an answer and have a discussion about it sooner. For me and many others here, we love to help and there's no judgment in asking how to do something.

But there are so many users who know nothing about these very helpful forums or even the option to learn from YouTube videos.

I told my mom to only update to the newish iOS 15 version. The new lock screen and lack of wallpapers alone will most likely fry her brain.

 

[russell_314]

I will add that those who are less tech savvy will either have a problem with the changes, or they won’t be able to utilize them at all.

I don’t really agree with that. I think there is a certain people who just refuse to learn new things. I mean sure that’s their choice but it’s not because they are incapable. Using an iPhone is not like coding or something where it takes some sort of study. I remember in the 80’s with the programmable VCR people made this huge thing like oh no I can’t do this it’s too complicated. The reality is all they had to do is sit down with the instruction booklet and push a few buttons. That was legitimately complicated too. Any time a change comes out people are going to act like that. Some will sit down and figure it out and others will just flat out refuse to learn how to do it

 

[russell_314]

While it is true that Apple will periodically release a mostly-bug-fix version of iOS, there are still many bugs in that version so people are rightfully upset that not only did they NOT get many new features, but bugs (often longstanding ones) still happen.

Well of course you can’t make any software perfect. There’s going to be bugs regardless of how many you squish. I think Apple now tries to do both at the same time. One could argue that means they will do both badly but it is what it is. For the most part I haven’t had a problem with iOS 15 except 15.0. That was a terrible experience. Once it got to about 15.1 things were okay. I’m not looking forward to 16.0. I hope they did a better job with fixing the beta but we’ll see.

 

[mebehere]

I don’t really agree with that. I think there is a certain people who just refuse to learn new things. I mean sure that’s their choice but it’s not because they are incapable. Using an iPhone is not like coding or something where it takes some sort of study. I remember in the 80’s with the programmable VCR people made this huge thing like oh no I can’t do this it’s too complicated. The reality is all they had to do is sit down with the instruction booklet and push a few buttons. That was legitimately complicated too. Any time a change comes out people are going to act like that. Some will sit down and figure it out and others will just flat out refuse to learn how to do it

Please don’t compare a VCR to a smartphone, ha.

You must understand the different types of users. Those who don’t need new features. Those who want them. And those who need them. All of these users are going to have problems with what Apple is doing.

I couldn’t figure out how to see my notifications until I did a search. You can’t just swipe down for Notification Center. You have to swipe back up. That’s messed up.

I couldn’t customize my existing wallpaper with widgets, etc. I had to pick some weird wallpaper. They removed all the wallpapers. Why? There are a million more oddities with this update.

 

[russell_314]

Please don’t compare a VCR to a smartphone, ha.

You must understand the different types of users. Those who don’t need new features. Those who want them. And those who need them. All of these users are going to have problems with what Apple is doing.

I couldn’t figure out how to see my notifications until I did a search. You can’t just swipe down for Notification Center. You have to swipe back up. That’s messed up.

I couldn’t customize my existing wallpaper with widgets, etc. I had to pick some weird wallpaper. They removed all the wallpapers. Why? There are a million more oddities with this update.

The comparison was people always have acted like they couldn’t figure stuff out because it was complicated but in reality they didn’t want to take time to figure it out.

I agree not everyone wants or needs new features but they’re going to come out regardless. You can choose to stay on the older version of iOS but that’s only for a short period then it becomes unsupported so not very wise to do so.

Your example of the notifications is just an example of change. You’re useless swiping down. At some point you had to figure out how to swipe down to see your notifications. Now you’re going to figure out how to do this new action. Like I said it’s similar to when the iPhone changed and removed the home button. My brother is just getting his first non home button iPhone so this is going to be fun hearing him complain about not being able to switch between apps or do basic things.

I’m a person who doesn’t really like change so I’m sure I’m going to be in the same camp once I switch to iOS 16. There’s a reason why I haven’t yet other than just waiting for initial bug fixes.

They remove all the wallpapers? Oh that sounds like it’s going to be fun. I’m going to wait a few more days 🤦‍♂️

 

[mebehere]

The comparison was people always have acted like they couldn’t figure stuff out because it was complicated but in reality they didn’t want to take time to figure it out.

I agree not everyone wants or needs new features but they’re going to come out regardless. You can choose to stay on the older version of iOS but that’s only for a short period then it becomes unsupported so not very wise to do so.

Your example of the notifications is just an example of change. You’re useless swiping down. At some point you had to figure out how to swipe down to see your notifications. Now you’re going to figure out how to do this new action. Like I said it’s similar to when the iPhone changed and removed the home button. My brother is just getting his first non home button iPhone so this is going to be fun hearing him complain about not being able to switch between apps or do basic things.

I’m a person who doesn’t really like change so I’m sure I’m going to be in the same camp once I switch to iOS 16. There’s a reason why I haven’t yet other than just waiting for initial bug fixes.

They remove all the wallpapers? Oh that sounds like it’s going to be fun. I’m going to wait a few more days 🤦‍♂️

Regarding notification center, there’s absolutely no reason to swipe down like before and see an empty screen… until you swipe up. An empty Notification Center is ludicrous.

And yes, it would serve you well to wait to install.

 

[russell_314]

Regarding notification center, there’s absolutely no reason to swipe down like before and see an empty screen… until you swipe up. An empty Notification Center is ludicrous.

And yes, it would serve you well to wait to install.

Well either way I’m going to have to have it on Friday because that’s what I get my new iPhone. I’m sure if it’s something that doesn’t make sense or causes issues Apple will change it.

 

[antiprotest]

Regarding notification center, there’s absolutely no reason to swipe down like before and see an empty screen… until you swipe up. An empty Notification Center is ludicrous.

And yes, it would serve you well to wait to install.

Exactly. This is poor design. People can't just say "there will always be changes." Come on.

Change can mean improving and adding things instead of totally breaking something.

Don't use the idea that some people fear change to refuse to acknowledge the facts and excuse the inexcusable.

After a while Apple will probably give us the option to change notifications to the way it was before, and then all the people defending Apple here will be like: "Genius. Thank you for listening to your customers!" smh

 

[russell_314]

Exactly. This is poor design. People can't just say "there will always be changes." Comes on.

Change can mean improving and adding things instead of totally breaking something.

Don't use the idea that some people fear change to refuse to acknowledge the facts and excuse the inexcusable.

It doesn’t matter what the change is someone will hate it. I haven’t used this feature so I have no opinion but I’ve seen features I liked and thought we’re great but others have said they were terrible. You say it’s poor design but clearly whoever designed it didn’t think so. I might agree with you when I install it so I’m not saying you’re wrong I’m just saying that’s an opinion or more specifically your opinion. I think if that becomes the majority opinion then Apple will change it.

It’s not about fearing change but some people just don’t want to learn new things and I understand that because it takes extra time. I don’t think anyone is scared of the notification center moving. I mean maybe someone is but I doubt it

 

[antiprotest]

It’s not about fearing change but some people just don’t want to learn new things and I understand that because it takes extra time.

That's just another way of saying "fearing" change. It's just an expression. I am not saying anyone actually trembles in terror. I can just repeat the exact same things with your words plugged back in.

Don't use the idea that "some people just don't want to learn new things" to refuse to acknowledge the facts and excuse the inexcusable.

It is poor design. It is very bad. Yes, obviously the people who designed this think it's good. And that makes them bad designers.

 

[sracer]

Well of course you can’t make any software perfect. There’s going to be bugs regardless of how many you squish. I think Apple now tries to do both at the same time. One could argue that means they will do both badly but it is what it is. For the most part I haven’t had a problem with iOS 15 except 15.0. That was a terrible experience. Once it got to about 15.1 things were okay. I’m not looking forward to 16.0. I hope they did a better job with fixing the beta but we’ll see.

As a software developer for over 45 years (30 of them in IBM), I can say that Apple is NOT doing a reasonable job with squashing bugs in their mostly-bug-fix releases. Especially when they have complete control over the application development tools, the hardware supported, and the software permitted to run on that hardware.

My point was that those who aren't happy with most-bug-fix releases with little new functionality, are unhappy because bugs aren't getting resolved all that well and not necessarily because they're not getting new functionality.

 

[mebehere]

It doesn’t matter what the change is someone will hate it. I haven’t used this feature so I have no opinion but I’ve seen features I liked and thought we’re great but others have said they were terrible. You say it’s poor design but clearly whoever designed it didn’t think so. I might agree with you when I install it so I’m not saying you’re wrong I’m just saying that’s an opinion or more specifically your opinion. I think if that becomes the majority opinion then Apple will change it.

It’s not about fearing change but some people just don’t want to learn new things and I understand that because it takes extra time. I don’t think anyone is scared of the notification center moving. I mean maybe someone is but I doubt it

Dude. Just wait till you use it to comment on it.

 

[russell_314]

Dude. Just wait till you use it to comment on it.

Well, I figured since I’m getting my new phone Friday I might as well try it. I’m not sure what you’re talking about with the notifications. I swiped down to get them, and instead of on top they’re on the bottom. Is that what you mean? It looks the same to me except the ugly clock font, which I’m going to have to change

 

[Paddle1]

I was thinking of installing iOS 16 on a family member's phone, but that notification center swipe down and then up in the middle of the screen is enough to make me know better. That's a downgrade in user friendliness for no reason and will likely cause confusion. There's no indication on the screen to do those gestures, you're just expected to know.

 

[mebehere]

Well, I figured since I’m getting my new phone Friday I might as well try it. I’m not sure what you’re talking about with the notifications. I swiped down to get them, and instead of on top they’re on the bottom. Is that what you mean? It looks the same to me except the ugly clock font, which I’m going to have to change

No. If you’re on your Home Screen, or anywhere else, really, you would normally just swipe down from the top to reveal Notification Center, which would obviously have your notifications. But now, when you swipe down, it’s an empty screen. From there, you have to swipe up and your notifications will appear. Makes no sense.

 

[eicca]

Call me a curmudgeon, but the thing that brought me to Apple eleven years ago was the fact that I could just pick up their products and figure them out quickly without having to crack the manual.

The stupid wallpaper implementation of iOS 16 is not that. It took me twenty minutes and some googling to figure it out. That's Microsoft-level garbage.

 

[jonnyb098]

Changes are totally fine. My issue is when apple uses stupid excuses as to why they don’t want to make certain decisions with software….specifically with iPad. They worry about “simplicity” yet iPad and iPhone are infinitely more complex than 5+ years ago. So I prefer they stop with excuses.