Cover Flow Deleted in Mojave

[Nath0rigin]

I didn't read all the reactions to the original post, but I too really liked cover-flow and used it when I was loading in photo's from my SLR, or when I forget the filename of some PDF but knew what the cover looked like.. It's the little things

So far I have found no use for the new Gallery View, but I'm always looking for new ways to improve my workflow and wouldn't be surprised if it takes me up to a year to effectively incorporate it into daily use.

As for a replacement -- I am now using the Default Icon View and use Command + "+" to enlarge the icons so I can scroll through the content. It's actually quite nice.. Maybe cover flow has become less useful as stuff like preview-thumbnails have gotten more reactive and usable, these used to take forever to load if I remember correctly.

Edit:

The effective workflow:
- Open Finder Window
- Command + 1 for icon view
- Command + "+" (several times) for enlarged icons

 

[Rorosbutt]

I just realized you can make the preview pane bigger while in List View, which helps a ton. You don't get that same sense of position as with Cover Flow, but it's serviceable.

What do you mean? Change the icon size?
[doublepost=1542590200][/doublepost]All apple has to do is make the preview size adjustable. That’s it. I would take that over this malarkey. PS. Apple if you’re reading this disregard my previous statement and put Coverflow back

 

[mudflap]

What do you mean? Change the icon size?
[doublepost=1542590200][/doublepost]All apple has to do is make the preview size adjustable. That’s it. I would take that over this malarkey. PS. Apple if you’re reading this disregard my previous statement and put Coverflow back

Yes, you can change the size of the icons in Gallery view by showing View Options. But that's not what I meant. I want to see a large preview while in List View, so I learned that you can increase the size of the Preview pane on the right which helps a lot.


Here's Gallery View with enlarged icons.

Here's List View with an enlarged preview pane on the right. I'm going to use this to replace Cover Flow for now.

 

[MacManX]

Wow... I haven't met anyone who uses Cover Flow - and I work in an almost Mac exclusive industry. Personally I'm glad its gone, Gallery is far more productive and less "gimmicky".

I couldn't disagree more. The Gallery isn't procuctive at all. It's unusable. Period.
As a professional photographer, the useless Gallery slows my workflow down so much that I need a way to downgrade to 10.12 or 10.13 - or somehow get Apple to get rid of the Gallery and bring Cover Flow back.

 

[fisherking]

I couldn't disagree more. The Gallery isn't procuctive at all. It's unusable. Period.
As a professional photographer, the useless Gallery slows my workflow down so much that I need a way to downgrade to 10.12 or 10.13 - or somehow get Apple to get rid of the Gallery and bring Cover Flow back.

obviously, important people at apple think gallery is the better view. and, i'd also say that i know no one who used coverflow. but regardless, this is apple; they do what they want, and we adapt... or complain, then adapt.

 

[nick42983]

I think Project Alice was just mistaken about that; it definitely is in High Sierra. > _ >

From what I recall Coverflow has been removed since Mavericks for the Finder view when adding an attachment to an email for example or uploading something to the web. Coverflow remained in Finder when just browsing your own files. Looks like that was the writing on the wall for Coverflow, terrible UX change by Apple, why can't I remember any positive changes Apple has made to Mac OS in recent years?

 

[Starfia]

From what I recall Coverflow has been removed since Mavericks for the Finder view when adding an attachment to an email for example or uploading something to the web. Coverflow remained in Finder when just browsing your own files. Looks like that was the writing on the wall for Coverflow, terrible UX change by Apple, why can't I remember any positive changes Apple has made to Mac OS in recent years?

I'm not sure; I remember many of them enough to use them regularly. A number of them – the new more efficient file system, additional security around apps, tracking protection on the web, continued automatic protection against viruses and malware – you don't even need to know about to use. Maybe that's one reason you can't remember them.

 

[imageWIS]

I'm not sure; I remember many of them enough to use them regularly. A number of them – the new more efficient file system, additional security around apps, tracking protection on the web, continued automatic protection against viruses and malware – you don't even need to know about to use. Maybe that's one reason you can't remember them.

I'm pretty sure nick42983's remarks were specifically about UX (aka GUI) and not under the hood aspects you wouldn't see / notice anyway, on any OS.

Apple's UI/UX is demonstrably worse than it was 10 years ago and it keeps heading in a negative direction. Negative enough that a 20 year Apple veteran like me (and I'm only in my 30's) is SERIOUSLY considering not getting an Apple next time I get a computer. At best I'll build a Hackintosh that also has Windows or Linux boot options. At worst I'll just buy a stock tower (which will be fully upgradable, unlike ANY of the Mac 'Pro' products being sold now) from a known entity, and spec it out on the onset by them (like a Dell, HP, etc...) and it'll still cost WAY less than the comparable Mac, as those companies don't rape the consumer on memory upgrades; unlike Apple.

 

[trifid]

I'm pretty sure nick42983's remarks were specifically about UX (aka GUI) and not under the hood aspects you wouldn't see / notice anyway, on any OS.

Apple's UI/UX is demonstrably worse than it was 10 years ago and it keeps heading in a negative direction. Negative enough that a 20 year Apple veteran like me (and I'm only in my 30's) is SERIOUSLY considering not getting an Apple next time I get a computer. At best I'll build a Hackintosh that also has Windows or Linux boot options. At worst I'll just buy a stock tower (which will be fully upgradable, unlike ANY of the Mac 'Pro' products being sold now) from a known entity, and spec it out on the onset by them (like a Dell, HP, etc...) and it'll still cost WAY less than the comparable Mac, as those companies don't rape the consumer on memory upgrades; unlike Apple.

Apple's UX had its peak in the 90s, but then when the NeXties took over they introduced a disaster of inconsistencies, unnecessary eye candy, inferior UI and slow animations, which we slowly recovered over the course of the years but it never recovered the AHIGs soul of the original Macintosh.

Having said that I wouldn't switch to Windows any time soon, macOS even on life support as it is now is far more pleasant and elegant than the competition.

 

[Starfia]

Apple's UI/UX is demonstrably worse than it was 10 years ago and it keeps heading in a negative direction. Negative enough that a 20 year Apple veteran like me (and I'm only in my 30's) is SERIOUSLY considering not getting an Apple next time I get a computer. At best I'll build a Hackintosh that also has Windows or Linux boot options.

I hope you love it if you do – hopefully the right move if you're frustrated with Apple's steering of it. I'm not sure how you would demonstrate the interface is worse now than a decade ago, but I'd love to hear some supporting details as well.

I'm in my thirties as well, and I've been using Macs since 1991. I think macOS, including the interface, is easily the best it's been.

 

[creative2]

i work as a creative in a office with a mac server. cover flow was a killer feature for me because i could search for big authoring files like psds or ais through the OS, and then scroll through them horizontally in the top window with my mouse wheel. and it was much faster than bridge.

i would pay to add this back in to mojave

 

[fisherking]

i work as a creative in a office with a mac server. cover flow was a killer feature for me because i could search for big authoring files like psds or ais through the OS, and then scroll through them horizontally in the top window with my mouse wheel. and it was much faster than bridge.

i would pay to add this back in to mojave

and the Gallery view doesn't work for you because..?...

 

[Cayenne1]

The removal of Cover Flow in Mojave is the reason I reinstalled High Sierra from a Carbon Copy Cloner backup. My wife had not installed Mojave on her iMac and also uses Cover Flow often. She will also not install Mojave after seeing the detrimental workflow impact.

So somewhere in Apple genius-ville a developer team met and developed the design specifications to update macOS 10.13 to macOS 10.14. The team through logic unknown to mortals decided Cover Flow should be stripped from the code.

So why did this team reach this conclusion you might ask:

- After reviewing massive amounts of statistical data, they determined Cover Flow is only used by .001 % of the user base - nope not that.

- They were concerned that the code supporting Cover Flow is so onerous and complex it might jeopardize the stability of the Finder - nope not that.

- They're going to develop this fantastic Gallery view at great expense so let's ditch Cover Flow to force them to use it - might be this.

- Or, one of them is leaning back in his chair buzzing from too much free Starbucks and asks "Hey, any of you ever use Cover Flow?"; "Nope" came the answer; "Ok, let's get rid of the thing!" - might be this one as well.

Point is that a conscious, but uninformed, decision was made to remove an OS feature. The user community had no vote and Apple can't/won't say why.

So, if you are still on 10.13 (High Sierra), or less, before installing 10.14 (Mojave) make a Carbon Copy Cloner image. Then if Mojave's lack of Cover Flow is a significant issue, reinstall your original OS.

My wife and I are staying at High Sierra until Mojave returns Cover Flow, or are force by Apple to install it. I afraid Apple has too many OS developers that have to do something to justify their existence by fluffing up the interface vis-a-vis Windows.

 

[fisherking]

The removal of Cover Flow in Mojave is the reason I reinstalled High Sierra from a Carbon Copy Cloner backup. My wife had not installed Mojave on her iMac and also uses Cover Flow often. She will also not install Mojave after seeing the detrimental workflow impact.

So somewhere in Apple genius-ville a developer team met and developed the design specifications to update macOS 10.13 to macOS 10.14. The team through logic unknown to mortals decided Cover Flow should be stripped from the code.

So why did this team reach this conclusion you might ask:

- After reviewing massive amounts of statistical data, they determined Cover Flow is only used by .001 % of the user base - nope not that.

- They were concerned that the code supporting Cover Flow is so onerous and complex it might jeopardize the stability of the Finder - nope not that.

- They're going to develop this fantastic Gallery view at great expense so let's ditch Cover Flow to force them to use it - might be this.

- Or, one of them is leaning back in his chair buzzing from too much free Starbucks and asks "Hey, any of you ever use Cover Flow?"; "Nope" came the answer; "Ok, let's get rid of the thing!" - might be this one as well.

Point is that a conscious, but uninformed, decision was made to remove an OS feature. The user community had no vote and Apple can't/won't say why.

So, if you are still on 10.13 (High Sierra), or less, before installing 10.14 (Mojave) make a Carbon Copy Cloner image. Then if Mojave's lack of Cover Flow is a significant issue, reinstall your original OS.

My wife and I are staying at High Sierra until Mojave returns Cover Flow, or are force by Apple to install it. I afraid Apple has too many OS developers that have to do something to justify their existence by fluffing up the interface vis-a-vis Windows.

always fun to read fan fiction. meanwhile, the world seems to be ok; people continue to use their macs. and mac os 15 is around the corner. so, at some point, you'll adapt; if not sooner, then later.

all tech companies do what they choose to do, and change things, and no one really asks the endusers what they think (since there would obviously be millions of opinions).

meanwhile, what's wrong with gallery view? seems perfectly useful, and less gimmicky than cover flow...

 

[imageWIS]

always fun to read fan fiction. meanwhile, the world seems to be ok; people continue to use their macs. and mac os 15 is around the corner. so, at some point, you'll adapt; if not sooner, then later.

all tech companies do what they choose to do, and change things, and no one really asks the endusers what they think (since there would obviously be millions of opinions).

meanwhile, what's wrong with gallery view? seems perfectly useful, and less gimmicky than cover flow...

Less and less. I know tons of people who will not be replacing their Macs with another Mac.

 

[fisherking]

Less and less. I know tons of people who will not be replacing their Macs with another Mac.

i'm sure that the 'tons' of people you know will make a huge dent in apple's business when they leave. how many people is that exactly? and they're going to abandon the platform entirely because of.. gallery view?

 

[hagar]

I'm pretty sure nick42983's remarks were specifically about UX (aka GUI) and not under the hood aspects you wouldn't see / notice anyway, on any OS.

Apple's UI/UX is demonstrably worse than it was 10 years ago and it keeps heading in a negative direction. Negative enough that a 20 year Apple veteran like me (and I'm only in my 30's) is SERIOUSLY considering not getting an Apple next time I get a computer. At best I'll build a Hackintosh that also has Windows or Linux boot options. At worst I'll just buy a stock tower (which will be fully upgradable, unlike ANY of the Mac 'Pro' products being sold now) from a known entity, and spec it out on the onset by them (like a Dell, HP, etc...) and it'll still cost WAY less than the comparable Mac, as those companies don't rape the consumer on memory upgrades; unlike Apple.

I was in the exact same boat three months ago, thinking how Apple is evolving in the wrong direction and I should jump ship. Then, I switched job and I’m forced to work with Windows 10... for the first time since windows XP in 2003. I heard good things about it, so how bad good it be? Well, it’s bad. Very bad. I’m shocked how ugly, counterintuitive and user unfriendly it is. There’s a million little things in macOS I’m missing every day, even Office for Windows is vastly inferior than office for Mac.

I was never a big fan of Finder. I always felt something was missing but never knew what. When Cover Flow was added, it felt gimmicky to me. But File Explorer is sooo much worse. I’m hating every second I have to use it.

 

[Buckaroo]

My favorite OS is Sierra.

I bought this new Mac Mini hoping it would be a great little machine. I have to keep a fan blowing on it to keep it from crashing every other day. Mojave is garbage without Cover Flow. On top of that, Apple made it a pain to "Save As" in the Preview app and where did the Hand tool go? You have to hold down certain keyboard keys to get it to work.

Apple is trying to kill the Mac, and they prove it EVERY DAY. They're not making it better.

 

[nick42983]

I'm not sure; I remember many of them enough to use them regularly. A number of them – the new more efficient file system, additional security around apps, tracking protection on the web, continued automatic protection against viruses and malware – you don't even need to know about to use. Maybe that's one reason you can't remember them.

Nothing you listed is a UX feature, glad Apple is improving things under the hood but it’s not translating into a more useful OS for me.
[doublepost=1561145589][/doublepost]

always fun to read fan fiction. meanwhile, the world seems to be ok; people continue to use their macs. and mac os 15 is around the corner. so, at some point, you'll adapt; if not sooner, then later.

all tech companies do what they choose to do, and change things, and no one really asks the endusers what they think (since there would obviously be millions of opinions).

meanwhile, what's wrong with gallery view? seems perfectly useful, and less gimmicky than cover flow...

The Mac Pro is a perfect example of Apple customers demanding a better product and getting it. Apple isn’t infallible and they need harsh user feedback to fix their flaws.

As far as gallery view it isn’t compatible with trackpad/mousewheel scrolling, the thumbnails along the bottom can’t be enlarged to a useable size and there is less flexibility in arranging/viewing files. I hope it improves but removing Cover Flow was an unecessary insult to thousands of users who relied on it in their workflows. The “gimmick” is an elegant and intuitive GUI element that mirrors the way humans have flipped through pages for centuries with the improvement of seeing several pages back and ahead. It was one of the “magic” elements of using a Mac that differentiated it from soulless Windows which makes you feel like a robot using a terminal.

 

[Starfia]

Nothing you listed is a UX feature, glad Apple is improving things under the hood but it’s not translating into a more useful OS for me.

As you wish. I could list within those parameters as well, but I won't waste my energy if you'll disqualify them as not being useful "for you."

Sorry for your the loss of a feature you enjoyed just the way it was.

 

[Mick84]

Actually, for what it worth, I had read it somewhere that Cover Flow was a favorite of Jobs.

It was one of his favorites. He wouldn't like most of the major changes that happened to Apple after he died.

 

[Mick84]

Nothing you listed is a UX feature, glad Apple is improving things under the hood but it’s not translating into a more useful OS for me.
[doublepost=1561145589][/doublepost]

The Mac Pro is a perfect example of Apple customers demanding a better product and getting it. Apple isn’t infallible and they need harsh user feedback to fix their flaws.

As far as gallery view it isn’t compatible with trackpad/mousewheel scrolling, the thumbnails along the bottom can’t be enlarged to a useable size and there is less flexibility in arranging/viewing files. I hope it improves but removing Cover Flow was an unecessary insult to thousands of users who relied on it in their workflows. The “gimmick” is an elegant and intuitive GUI element that mirrors the way humans have flipped through pages for centuries with the improvement of seeing several pages back and ahead. It was one of the “magic” elements of using a Mac that differentiated it from soulless Windows which makes you feel like a robot using a terminal.

Here's the thing. I (and lots of other users) started out with Windows. It was good but there was something missing. Then I saw those I'm a Mac and I'm a PC ads and realized there was something very cool going on at Apple. Started small by using iTunes on Windows and liked it a lot more than "Windows Media Player." Switched to an iMac and used both OS (not "macOS" but the real deal OS X) and Windows through boot camp. Then something really bad happened: Jobs died. Apple was slowly but surely destroyed by Cook (kook). Although some things Jobs made still remain a lot are gone and replaced by terrible things.

Bottom line I'm trying to get at is that users started out with PC and then got this life saving thing called Apple as Jobs made it then lost that and now have a diluted mutilated Apple experience by cook. His main activity is destroying cool things Jobs made. So we're back to square one now. Either take Apple's (Cook's) crap or go back to Windows which has improved but still doesnt have all the usefulness of Jobs' Apple.

 

[Mick84]

Sorry to post so much but I just this morning saw that cover flow was gone (on "Catalina"). It was one of those cool things that made Apple Apple. Now its gone. Apple is no longer a Mac its some kind of fusion between PC and Mac. Gallery is just stupid. So like I said above the changes in Apple bad changes like removing cover flow, really ugly gaudy icons, 2D dock, no MagSafe etc etc make you want to change to some other company but the only alternatives are PCs which are getting better but still not as cool as the original Apple. Screwed either way.

 

[Mick84]

I know a few pro photographers who work either in commercial product or news photography and ALL of them utilized and liked cover flow. Also, cover flow was very good not just for photos. You are boxing yourself in just thinking that it's only good for X (photos in this case) and not realizing that it's good for a myriad of reasons. Apple could have easily ADDED the Gallery View option alongside Cover Flow and not deleted it and yes, Jobs might be dead but it doesn't mean that all his ideas have to be discarded because he is dead. Hopefully enough petitions and they will bring cover flow back.

I've emailed Cook a few times and I can confirm he doesnt listen to users. He didnt listen to me. So they most likely wont listen to petitions

 

[AnonMac50]

As time goes by I hate the new Gallery mode more and more. So much that I will sometimes replace the Finder app with the High Sierra one just to get cover flow back, though that brings up an issue with copy/paste/delete in Finder.