Bloomberg: Apple May Let iOS Users Set Third-Party Web Browser and Mail Apps as Defaults Over Stock Apps

[I7guy]

Chrome is the 'standard'. Apple well & truly blew it with Safari. It's not rocket science - the severe lack of any kind of development with Safari has killed it on the desktop. Safari on iOS is ok for now but it's looking very stale and sparse without any kind of advanced features that most popular modern browser apps have.

Microsoft delivered Chromium based Edge in 9 months across all platforms and it's excellent. Why did Apple allow Safari to become virtually obsolete? Why can't Apple at least pretend to care about their own web browser?

I use Chrome on Windows, Safari on IOS.

The severe lack of any kind of development with the mail apps on iOS & macOS has killed them too.

There is nothing wrong with the IOS mail app, imo.

While I am complaining, the Music app is a joke and badly needs a redesign.

I personally like it.

The podcasts app gets worse with each new major iOS update. How is this possible?

Don't use podcasts so I can't comment.

Reminders app is still rubbish. It's lightyears behind other Reminder apps.

Seems to work for what I need it to.

Notes app is insultingly basic.

Notes app on IOS is better than Notes on Microsoft Office/Outlook

Weather app is basic. Dark Sky shows how a modern weather app can be done. Weather app on Windows 10 shows how a modern weather app can work on the desktop - pretty & functional with plenty of data.

All I need is the temperature for the day and the next few days and it delivers that. Don't use any other weather app on any other platform.

Calendar app on iOS looks just as crap now as it did 10 years ago.

Why, it works fine.

Camera app needs modernising. The camera app on Android shows how it should be done.

And this works fine also.

I'd really like to know why Apple has left most of their stock apps on iOS & macOS to rot. It's like they receive the absolute minimum maintenance a year which is often a step backwards.

Apple needs to allow the users to choose something relevant rather than using the default crappy Apple stock apps just to get stuff done.

One of the perks about the app store, is you can find an app that works better for you. I personally like and trust the Apple apps. YMMV.

 

[Steve121178]

I use Chrome on Windows, Safari on IOS.


There is nothing wrong with the IOS mail app, imo.


I personally like it.


Don't use podcasts so I can't comment.


Seems to work for what I need it to.

Notes app on IOS is better than Notes on Microsoft Office/Outlook


All I need is the temperature for the day and the next few days and it delivers that. Don't use any other weather app on any other platform.

Why, it works fine.

And this works fine also.

One of the perks about the app store, is you can find an app that works better for you. I personally like and trust the Apple apps. YMMV.

Yes, they are trustworthy, they just lack modern functionality which was my entire point. As a prime example I can't even snooze an e-mail in the mail app! Some people don't get their email at all or notifications! It's a broken outdated mess.

 

[ipponrg]

Yes, they are trustworthy, they just lack modern functionality which was my entire point. As a prime example I can't even snooze an e-mail in the mail app! Some people don't get their email at all or notifications! It's a broken outdated mess.

Apple’s first party apps generally appeal to the most patient and tolerant Apple individuals. I am glad they opened their ecosystem to 3rd party developers. I don’t use most of their first party apps on my Macs or iPhone.

 

[I7guy]

Yes, they are trustworthy, they just lack modern functionality which was my entire point. As a prime example I can't even snooze an e-mail in the mail app! Some people don't get their email at all or notifications! It's a broken outdated mess.

Snooze is a modern functionality? Outlook windows doesn't even snooze. As I said YMMV. I have little issue with the iOS mail app in ios 13.4 beta.
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Apple’s first party apps generally appeal to the most patient and tolerant Apple individuals. I am glad they opened their ecosystem to 3rd party developers. I don’t use most of their first party apps on my Macs or iPhone.

Most patient and tolerant? That's in your humble opinion.

I'm glad there is rumors of opening up their ecosystem also.

 

[1144557]

Yes, they are trustworthy, they just lack modern functionality which was my entire point. As a prime example I can't even snooze an e-mail in the mail app! Some people don't get their email at all or notifications! It's a broken outdated mess.

Snooze is a modern functionality? Outlook windows doesn't even snooze. As I said YMMV. I have little issue with the iOS mail app in ios 13.4 beta.

Snooze is done on the server, not on device. That is why Apple Mail doent do it like 3rd party apps. There is no invasive data/privacy sucking server in the middle of your Gmail/Outlook.cm/365/yahoo etc service and the app

Im sure its physically possible to make it work on device somehow, but 1) likely isnt worth that coding effort as its probably extremely difficult to do on device, and 2) probably would cause issues with how many mail services are out there

 

[CarlJ]

I agree! They seem very monofocused. And in addition, I'll posit that what they need isn't a sea change that focuses on iterations rather than the zeal/incentive for new whizbang features, but rather an acknowledgment that both types of thinking are necessary for a truly exceptional company to thrive. ...

What they need are crazy innovators pushing the limits with revolutionary new products and features, who then hand those initiatives over to slower, steadier, more incrementally-minded co-workers who love the process of evolution and have the patience to strive toward perfecting things.

Very much agreed. I wasn't saying so much that they should eschew innovation in favor of maintenance, but rather that, with what seems (unimaginably) like limited resources, the needle has swung too far to the "invent new features" side, at the expense of the "make existing things work perfectly" side. I'd very much like to see them do both at the same time, if they can manage to amass enough talent.

 

[sidewinder3000]

Very much agreed. I wasn't saying so much that they should eschew innovation in favor of maintenance, but rather that, with what seems (unimaginably) like limited resources, the needle has swung too far to the "invent new features" side, at the expense of the "make existing things work perfectly" side. I'd very much like to see them do both at the same time, if they can manage to amass enough talent.

If Apple cannot amass the required talent, with more resources than any company in history, then I don’t know who can.

 

[CarlJ]

If Apple cannot amass the required talent, with more resources than any company in history, then I don’t know who can.

Yes, that one is a bit of a headscratcher.

Unless it turns out that the spaceship campus contains an unusually large number of telephone sanitisers, account executives, hairdressers, and such.