Craig Federighi Talks macOS Big Sur Redesign, Siri, Default Apps and More in New Interview

[chucker23n1]

It's not 2014 anymore and even then Apple Maps was underrated, the issues it had were pretty blown out of proportion. I personally never had issues with Apple Maps even if it wasn't up to par with Google Maps at launch.

Just today, I saw it show what is clearly a basin as… terrain. Which isn't a big deal, but kind of made it harder to orient myself: "hey, it should be right around the basi… wait, where's the basin??"

Had to switch to Satellite, see it there, switch back.

 

[nquinn]

It's not 2014 anymore and even then Apple Maps was underrated, the issues it had were pretty blown out of proportion. I personally never had issues with Apple Maps even if it wasn't up to par with Google Maps at launch.

I disagree very very strongly with this. It's exaggerated even more with international travel.

 

[Expos of 1969]

We can say the same with the app maps on macOS, tbh who the heck checks a route on a desktop or laptop 😑.

What a ridiculous comment. Many people check the route at home prior to departing.

 

[dumastudetto]

Craig is right. The larger iPad display adds friction to the process of doing complex calculations. iPhone is the perfect pocketable calculator and that should be what people are using to do their sums.

 

[alex2792]

Insanely frustrating that they won't let maps change to a different default. That has been one of their worst apps.

Guess is they need the additional data to keep improving, though.

It’s because they’re keenly aware that Maps usage would drop off a cliff the moment they allow people to set Google Maps as default.

 

[alien3dx]

Craig is right. The larger iPad display adds friction to the process of doing complex calculations. iPhone is the perfect pocketable calculator and that should be what people are using to do their sums.

lol. i do install third party calc ..The current way required lesser interaction with phone as i do have watch and ipad. I dont like lot of gadget upon travel and meet customer.

 

[usagora]

What a ridiculous comment. Many people check the route at home prior to departing.

👍We humans have a tendency to think that our SOP is everyone's.

 

[chucker23n1]

It’s because they’re keenly aware that Maps usage would drop off a cliff the moment they allow people to set Google Maps as default.

…and? Even if that were the case, Apple has no vested business interest in keeping people on Apple Maps. They make Apple Maps because they think it's a good default choice for Apple customers.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

The argument that they (Apple) cannot make a calculator app for the iPad that is "good enough" is somewhat ironic, given that they found a way to put one onto a tiny smartwatch screen.

I would guess part of the reason for not making these stock apps is to give developers chance to create their own versions. And if you think about it that makes a lot of sense, because on the iPad there is more screen estate to play with.

 

[cmaier]

The argument that they (Apple) cannot make a calculator app for the iPad that is "good enough" is somewhat ironic, given that they found a way to put one onto a tiny smartwatch screen.

No, that's actually the problem they are referring to. Giant calculators are not fun to use. As soon as iOS supports apps opening as small, overlapping, floating windows there will be a calculator app built in. Or even if they allow apps to only open as slide-over apps. I'm sure they are thinking hard about window management and trying to bring the mac experience in some form over to iPads.

 

[handle manifest]

Off-topic: The following reminded me of something:

Apple Watch for iPad - On the topic of why the Apple Watch doesn't work with the iPad (thereby requiring an iPhone), [SNIP]

My only personal computer is a Chromebook. I sure wish I could back up my iPhones with the Chromebook. (Chromebooks tend not to have capacious storage drives, true, but of course you can plug in a thumb drive or possibly insert a flash card.) I figure Apple may not want to make Chromebooks more appealing by offering this functionality (since Chromebooks are dominating iPads in the education market), but why don't they allow iPhone users to back up their iPhone to an iPad?

 

[cmaier]

Off-topic: The following reminded me of something:

My only personal computer is a Chromebook. I sure wish I could back up my iPhones with the Chromebook. (Chromebooks tend not to have capacious storage drives, true, but of course you can plug in a thumb drive or possibly insert a flash card.) I figure Apple may not want to make Chromebooks more appealing by offering this functionality (since Chromebooks are dominating iPads in the education market), but why don't they allow iPhone users to back up their iPhone to an iPad?

because they want you to buy macs, they want you to back up iphone to iCloud, and nobody is saying "i won't buy an iphone because it won;'t back up to my chromebook?"

 

[tomi03]

What a ridiculous comment. Many people check the route at home prior to departing.

Because using maps on a laptop or desktop is way better than using it on a phone which is better in portability, and if that’s the case do you stick your laptop on your car window so you can “check the route”?.

I find ridiculous the way people defend an useless app on an operating system.

 

[Doomtomb]

Craig asking Marques to go iPhone exclusive!

 

[handle manifest]

they want you to back up iphone to iCloud

That's what I do. And I don't use a lot of the storage capacity of my iPhones, so I don't have to buy more iCloud storage on top of what Apple gives for free. But it would still be nice to have local backups so I don't have to rely on a cloud solution.

they want you to buy macs

Oh? Then they should take away the ability to back up iPhones to Windows PCs.

nobody is saying "i won't buy an iphone because it won;'t back up to my chromebook?"

Fair enough, but there's something to be said for pleasing your customers even when it doesn't directly result in additional revenue for the company. Also, no one is saying, "I won't buy an iPhone because it won't back up to my iPad," either, but if Apple offered that functionality, I might replace this Chromebook with an iPad and a keyboard when Google no longer updates Chrome OS for it.

 

[cmaier]

That's what I do. And I don't use a lot of the storage capacity of my iPhones, so I don't have to buy more iCloud storage on top of what Apple gives for free. But it would still be nice to have local backups so I don't have to rely on a cloud solution.


Oh? Then they should take away the ability to back up iPhones to Windows PCs.


Fair enough, but there's something to be said for pleasing your customers even when it doesn't directly result in additional revenue for the company. Also, no one is saying, "I won't buy an iPhone because it won't back up to my iPad," either, but if Apple offered that functionality, I might replace this Chromebook with an iPad and a keyboard when Google no longer updates Chrome OS for it.

Just because they are realists and understand that 80% of the PC market is windows is not proof contradicting my statement that Apple wants you to buy macs.

 

[usagora]

Because using maps on a laptop or desktop is way better than using it on a phone which is better in portability, and if that’s the case do you stick your laptop on your car window so you can “check the route”?.

I find ridiculous the way people defend an useless app on an operating system.

Look, why do you even care if it's there? Obviously many disagree with you, so everyone can be happy: use it or ignore it. And FWIW, it's far easier to see and plan a route on a 13-27" screen than like a 5-6" inch screen.

 

[2013.1]

I am SO interested in the speed of Apple Silicon chips for future Macs.

Apple most probably knows.

Nobody asks them.

(Did I miss someone?)

 

[cmaier]

I am SO interested in the speed of Apple Silicon chips for future Macs.

Apple most probably knows.

Nobody asks them.

(Did I miss someone?)

Ask all you want. They wouldn't answer anyway.

 

[boss.king]

I am SO interested in the speed of Apple Silicon chips for future Macs.

Apple most probably knows.

Nobody asks them.

(Did I miss someone?)

It doesn't matter if they know, they're not going to say anything. It's a wasted question.

 

[chucker23n1]

I am SO interested in the speed of Apple Silicon chips for future Macs.

Apple most probably knows.

Nobody asks them.

(Did I miss someone?)

It's pointless to ask something that they clearly don't want to answer yet. They'll have concrete ARM Mac products soon enough, and that's when they will give you data. Not showing any charts or tables with actual data was a deliberate choice.

 

[Seoras]

Default Apps - let's not forget the recent Russian law that requires state apps installed on phone as defaults.
I wonder if it was that Russian problem that finally cracked them open?

 

[MacBird]

Default Apps - let's not forget the recent Russian law that requires state apps installed on phone as defaults.
I wonder if it was that Russian problem that finally cracked them open?

It's only Safari and Mail, I'm not sure that would circumvent the issues with this Russian law.

 

[WiseAJ]

Default apps - Apple is letting users set third-party mail and browser apps as the default in iOS 14, but this doesn't extend to Maps and other app categories. Federighi said that when Apple looked at the top things people wanted to configure, "those two rose to the top," so it's where Apple started.

So, he admits that this is a functionality users crave. It sounds like Apple decided to release the pressure a little bit by letting customization for just two apps but keep control over all other apps (probably to suppress the competition). Why do they hate their customers so much? It's obvious that people want this customization (just like they want a normal desktop) and Apple is not going to give it to them (just like they refuse to release a desktop computer in its most useful factor)

Its just those two types to start with I imagine more will be available in future versions. It takes time to code this stuff and make sure it works right...

 

[cmaier]

Default Apps - let's not forget the recent Russian law that requires state apps installed on phone as defaults.
I wonder if it was that Russian problem that finally cracked them open?

I doubt it, as there is little chance apple will agree to actually preinstall them, assuming that is what the russian law requires.