Apple's Most Questionable Design Decisions in Recent Memory

[spytech]

So we continue with this narrative that the Magic Mouse's charging port is the worst thing in existence in tech, a port that you rarely see, and use once every ~3 weeks (in my case at least, that's how long it lasts) during the night while you're asleep . You can literally use the mouse the whole day with the low battery warning, have it last all day, put it charging at night and you never bother with it needing to be upside down. I never really understood this hatred for something that doesn't compromise the usability of the device one bit and that is absolutely transparent to anyone using this mouse. I didn't get it before buying one and I certainly cannot comprehend it at all after 1 year of ownership.

 

[ashi.vyas]

A notch on the screen...the worst design decision.

 

[ruka.snow]

Don't forget the touchbar. Replacing physical keys with a screen that turns off after 10 seconds of inactivity, and you have to touch it to wake it up and then touch it AGAIN to actually press a button, all while having to look at it because you can't feel it.

Looks useful though for showing a seek bar for a video so you can enjoy the video in full screen while still knowing where you are in the video, right? Nope, because it turns off after 10 seconds.

Also just added cost and complexity where there is no need.

Yet the price hasn’t went down.

 

[LeadingHeat]

This article seems to be written by a writer from “The Verge”. Way too much fluff, and seemingly trying to stir up drama with all its buzzwords and similes scattered throughout. To most people, these aren’t dealbreakers.

 

[darngooddesign]

Considering how infrequently and briefly you need to charge the mouse, the port location is a non-issue.

 

[Daalseth]

And this flaw that probably affects every iPhone user....

The iPhone side button and volume buttons are placed almost exactly across from each other. It is way too easy to accidentally push the side button (and lock the screen) when changing the volume; and too easy to accidentally change the volume when pushing the side button.

The most intuitive way to stabilize the phone so a button can be pushed, is to put a finger or thumb directly across the device, not in some offset position, yet an offset position is needed to avoid these accidental button pushes.

I have taken so many screen shots of my phone when I just wanted to sleep the screen or adjust the volume. the Sleep button needs to be back on the top and not directly across from the other buttons.

 

[Brandon42]

I also don't particularly like using a mouse in macOS. It always feels sluggish to me, like it's extra slow when I'm only moving it a short distance. Broad, fast stroke are fine, it's really just the small distances that feel like I have to make an effort.
(If that's a user error, please feel free to let me know what I'm doing wrong.)

I have always been a fan of the Logitech Marble Mouse. No need for extra desk space to move around. Ambidextrous. Allows for fast movement across large high dpi displays and yet you can make small precise movements as well. My only complaint is driver support for the scroll buttons has been hit or miss over the years.

 

[SpringKid]

I recently bought the new Apple TV remote simply because I was tired of getting angry holding the old one upside down.

 

[bushman4]

Siri Remote,
regardless of what model is over simplified. Over simplification leads to more time being used to achieve what your trying to do.
Putting it simply the remote needs more buttons and a dock carrier with a built in airpod would be nice

 

[StupidOpinion]

even without the underground charging port on the magic mouse, that mouse sucks regardless. the lack of ergonomics is why so many people prefer the Logitech MX Master 2/3 over it. the butterfly keyboard is also terrible. even if we were to disregard the fact that the keyboard's broken buttons, the low key travel was hated by many. i had a group project with a guy that had the butterfly keyboard. i asked him what he thought of it and he told me that it sucks. i had a thinkpad at the time and he told me my keyboard was a lot better. it's almost as if people prefer keyboards with key travel.

 

[Rychiar]

I feel like this article should include the current iPhones Hideous camera layouts and the ridiculous plastic bean they put on iPods for their wireless

 

[TechRunner]

It's not, people just like to complain for clicks/likes.

Truth. But what would forums be without them?

 

[Small White Car]

I have a Logitech mouse - when the battery gets low you plug in the cable and keep working with the minor inconvenience of a cable, until it is charged, then remove the cable. Actually, in reality, I plug it in and forget about the cable until long after the mouse is fully charged

You have absolutely described what Apple is trying to avoid and I am 100% on Apple’s side here.

They found a perfect solution and I will always defend it. Boggles my mind that people complain about this.

 

[Sophisticatednut]

The Watch.
It isn’t much of an issue if you just do it when you don’t need it for a minute. It’s not that difficult. Get better thinking.
It surely does look stupid and as if it was an off brand product, but it works.

The problem is, of all the solutions; it's the most brain-dead of them all. What reason would you need to have it on the bottom? Why not on the front as there is space for it, or even a MagSafe like contraption to charge it as it doesn't need data anyway.

It's as intelligent as putting the charging port on the iPhone on it's back, so it can't lay flat, or the power button under the computer in a hard-to-reach spot and arguing that you only need to press the button once a month anyway. Bad design is still bad design, irrespective if you need to charge it once a month or once a minute.

Giving it a charging stand is a trillion times sleeker

 

[nebojsak]

You have absolutely described what Apple is trying to avoid and I am 100% on Apple’s side here.

They found a perfect solution and I will always defend it. Boggles my mind that people complain about this.

Having to interrupt your work to charge (even for 10 minutes) is far from perfect solution. I agree this is not too big deal, but it's clearly one of Apple's form over function solutions.

 

[phalseHUD]

Apologies if anyone has mentioned this in the comments and I didn’t see but one thing not mentioned, is the abject failure of all iPhones since the 7…

I can no longer listen to my music while charging. Without an adapter. Pure horse dung. That’s one hell of a fail. If Apple ever get shot of a physical port, I’ll be going elsewhere. Already starting to look around.

 

[Sophisticatednut]

The Watch.
It isn’t much of an issue if you just do it when you don’t need it for a minute. It’s not that difficult. Get better thinking.
It surely does look stupid and as if it was an off brand product, but it works.

or even better they could have made a wireless charging pad making it a trillion billion times more professional and apple like in its design. But nope, apple chose the worst of all possible designs. And this is a product for the magic mouse in 2011

 

[lee647]

is that a apple pencil connected to ur ipad? or its just happy to see me lmao ??

 

[Small White Car]

Having to interrupt your work to charge (even for 10 minutes) is far from perfect solution. I agree this is not too big deal, but it's clearly one of Apple's form over function solutions.

I see it exactly the opposite.

If Apple sold a wireless mouse that could be used while charging, half of their users would never unplug it.

Which means half of their users, when asked if the Magic Mouse is worth buying, will answer the question based on their muscle memory of using a wired mouse.

Which, since perception is reality, this is the same as saying “they’ve made a worse wireless mouse than their previous wireless mouse.”

To me this is totally about function over form which is exactly what Apple should be prioritizing.

 

[nebojsak]

If Apple sold a wireless mouse that could be used while charging, half of their users would never unplug it.

Which means half of their users, when asked if the Magic Mouse is worth buying, will answer the question based on their muscle memory of using a wired mouse.

This is pure guessing, why would they do it?

 

[ignatius345]

The tech sites have never really understood the design for the AirPods Max case. They're not designed for "throwing in a bag". They're designed for quick access and easy charging/sleeping. Works well for those two points of emphasis. And you don't get those with a "throw in a bag" design.

They are perfect for "throwing in a bag" honestly. They cover the buttons and keep the earpads from popping off, and that's it. Unless you carry rocks in your bag, that's all that's needed.

 

[NT1440]

Fair point but with a little charging port in front facing the computer you’d be able to charge and use it at the same time and avoid all the usability complaints.

I’m not a fan of the MM so we can get that out of the way.

That said, it’s clearly designed as an aesthetic pleaser. Relocating the charging port would both take away from design language of the device, and require a complete retooling of the factories it’s produced in given the cantilever click mechanism. I understand why they haven’t changed it, especially given that people frustration of it not being useable when charging is only an issue if you explicitly ignore at least 3 days worth of warnings that it needs to be charged.

I can’t muster any sympathy for people who can’t plug in a mouse overnight once a month, I really can’t. It’s the equivalent of stranding yourself on the highway after days of your fuel light being on.

 

[Small White Car]

This is pure guessing, why would they do it?

These are the same coworkers that, whenever I sit down at the shared computer, have left open a half-dozen un-saved projects that I need to save to the server before starting my own work.

People are lazy, is why. And I am certain I’d be constantly unplugging mice people have left for me to deal with.

 

[michaelant]

AirPods Pro.

Surprised no one has mentioned them yet but maybe it’s not quite the gist of the article. Though they did include the butterfly keyboard mostly just because it failed so much.

I’ve had my AirPods Pro replaced THREE times because the noise canceling screws up and eventually they start to crackle/pop. It’s not just me: there’s a replacement program for them so you know it affects many people.

If you own AirPods Pro and you’ve had them for a few months, do the Fit Test in Settings, Bluetooth, then info on your Pros. Does it fail now when it never failed when you first got them? Your noise canceling is degraded. You might not have noticed because it’s gradual, but I bet if you pay attention you’ll realize when you walk with them in, what used to be silence is now thump thump with every step. Sucks.

Other than that, I actually love them.

 

[hans1972]

To all of you hypocrite saying you like the Magic Mouse and charging it is a non-issue. You need to get better lying… ? it’s a complete failure when it’s completely inoperable due to charging. I can’t think of a single other product that has that issue aside from Apple Pencil 1.

It's like those electric cars. Can't really use them while they charge for hours sometimes.

Here's how flexible people deal with: They charge when they don't use the car or the device.

You use the mouse.
You get a warning about low battery.
You don't do anything.
When you're done using the Mac, you charge it (overnight).
Next day, you unplug it and use it.