Does Launchpad have a future?

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Is anyone else under the impression that Launchpad is another of Apple's "let's see how it goes" features?

In the time that's it's existed I believe the only update was to add the Search bar, and even that is just a function of Spotlight. Rearranging apps seems like a waste of time after the OS decides to randomly move them around for you, there is no choice for categorisation like the App Library on iOS and the app icons themselves aren't always in sync with what's on your computer.

Launchpad does serve a good purpose for those new to the platform or who are less computer literate, but equally it's not been improved-on since inception.

This is the kind of fragmentation that I feel we're becoming accustomed to; for instance Apple will add Stage Manager to macOS purely out of continuity with iPadOS, but then Launchpad is at odds with the superior App Library.

Would be interested to hear your thoughts.

 

[jdb8167]

I think that you’ve articulated the issues with Launchpad pretty well. My guess is that either it goes the way of Dashboard or it gets updated to work like iOS with designed by Apple categories.

The current design is pretty much useless. Search is a far better way to get to an infrequently used application that doesn’t live in the Dock.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

I think that you’ve articulated the issues with Launchpad pretty well. My guess is that either it goes the way of Dashboard or it gets updated to work like iOS with designed by Apple categories.

The current design is pretty much useless. Search is a far better way to get to an infrequently used application that doesn’t live in the Dock.

Exactly, and now that Spotlight has a printed Function key shortcut it makes it all the more easier.

 

[fisherking]

it's pure speculation. it could disappear with the next OS, or last 10 more years. we won't know until we get there (and apple isn't going to let us know in advance, or ask us what we think).

i use it on my macbook all the time (never on my imac). on the macbook, i use only the first page, with my most-frequently used apps.

anyway, am not going to worry in advance about what may or may not happen down the line.