iOS12 changes for the sake of changes

[Tozovac]

Although iOS12 has breathed a little bit of smoothness into my 5s, thankfully, what would an iOS update be without a few unnecessary changes for the sake of change?

What have you identified that Apple changed for the sake of change (I know that definition will be arguable...) in iOS 12?

So far, the following are aggravating the heck out of me:

1. Swapped the number/letters and emoji keys at lower left side of keyboard, ruining years of muscle memory.

https://www.itnews.com.au/news/keyboard-layout-change-in-ios-annoys-users-494832

My iPhone appears to still be "normal," without this little surprise.

2. Moved time in the header to the left, no longer in the top center, and wifi now to the far right, I assume as a Band-Aid to kowtow to the iPhone notch, for the so-important-now "visual consistency..." One more example of moving your furniture around without any discernible benefit, another micro-annoyance that adds up to others.

Others?

 

[Feenician]

Neither of those changes even apply to the iPhone 5s. How are they "aggravating the heck" out of you?

 

[C DM]

Removing some basic battery information like usage and standby times relative to last charge is something that they could have just left alone.

Some FaceTime changes didn't really seem necessary, like putting the simple option to flip cameras on a secondary screen, for example.

Photo/camera changes in Messages aren't as helpful in that that it takes more to take a quick picture to send or select an existing one from your camera roll.

 

[Feyl]

Also the For you section in Photos is
unnecessary complicated. The previous Shared tab was much simpler and faster to use.

 

[bmac89]

Attaching a photo in messages requires the stupid app bar to be open. Before you could press the camera icon to attach a photo or take a photo.

 

[minimo3]

Neither of those changes even apply to the iPhone 5s. How are they "aggravating the heck" out of you?

The keyboard change would affect his 5s when in landscape mode. In portrait mode it’s still in the old position.

 

[Tozovac]

Neither of those changes even apply to the iPhone 5s. How are they "aggravating the heck" out of you?

@Feenecian, it's not just me.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/keyboard-layout-change-on-ipad.2139185/

I was speaking of my iPad, I guess i wasn't clear, sorry about that.

And what you've said is exactly the issue - the keyboard didn't change for the 5S/phone iOS but it changed for the iPad. So not only will there be mild aggravation relearning and reacting to this unnecessary change, but also we'll have to keep flip-flopping from iPad to iPhone, likely to keep making the same mistakes for a while until Apple realizes their mistake in a future update.

It aggravates me mildly (admittedly, mildlly) because it's a completely unnecessary change that adds one more small pause to getting things done on top of the other pauses iOS has seemed to accumulate since iOS7....more clicks/taps needed to do what used to be in plain sight and ready for obvious pressing.

Just another erosion of the "it just works" feeling that Apple devices used to emote, and help you justify paying up to support their billions of $profit.

Here's another unnecessary change in iOS12: on my 5s, when you want to call someone from the text screen, it now takes 3 taps. One to click their name, 2nd to click the phone/audio icon, and a 3rd to click "voice call." Used to take 2 taps with iOS11, and used to take 1 tap I believe, with iOS6 and prior.

A lot of "smart design" is being thrown out the window, even as more and more functions are added to iOS and more expectations are demanded from these small devices, but continually moving things around for no discernible benefit and/or hiding functions behind taps when there's so much available blank screen space at times is aggravating.
[doublepost=1537617754][/doublepost]And heres's another: you take a photo when texting someone and the blue button appears so you can send the photo instantly. What if you want to move back to the text entry and add a message to the same text you're sending the photo? No obvious way to do that...there is, however, an "x" in the upper right corner which, after years of mental/muscle memory, would seem to be the option to cancel the photo completely, no? Except, hitting the "X" takes you back to the text entry where you can add to the photo before sending it.

The blue button for instant is nice, but the unnecessary change of hiding "return to text message" behind an "x" makes no sense.
[doublepost=1537617827][/doublepost]

The keyboard change would affect his 5s when in landscape mode. In portrait mode it’s still in the old position.

I tried just now, and the keyboard stays the same on the 5S when you rotate it.

 

[posguy99]

Attaching a photo in messages requires the stupid app bar to be open. Before you could press the camera icon to attach a photo or take a photo.

It doesn't. But there is still an extra step required...

Hit the Camera button, let it pop the Viewfinder, hit the Library button in the upper left corner.

One extra step, but better than having to have the useless app bar open.

 

[kmj2318]

None of those changes qualify as changes for the sake of changes.

 

[Tozovac]

None of those changes qualify as changes for the sake of changes.

Let’s hear your thoughts on possible rationale then.

 

[jona2125]

None of those changes qualify as changes for the sake of changes.

Not to disagree with you but I feel like Apple did do some shifting around of everything for the sake of distinguishing from 11. I've been abruptly disrupted by some things decreasing the flow of doing a task from 11 like locating a screenshot in the photos app with the new layout or adding a photo to a text message or in FaceTime when using it in landscape the menu is still in portrait. I don't mind the change of increasing flow with closing background apps now is back to swiping them away instead of long pressing but it took a moment to realize after the old method wasn't working anymore. I haven't put too much time into 12 to decipher further things but that's what I noticed, it just feels like a total curve ball

 

[now i see it]

For the sake of argument, if an iOS release was "perfect" in every way, do you think Apple would then leave everything as is and never touch the interface again? Of course not. iOS is and always will be a moving target that gets shuffled around just for the sake of change or to appease some project manager to help him try to justify his salary or ego.
It'll always be aggravating to some degree and always have some flaws and always work pretty well.

 

[mpavilion]

I do not care for the new FaceTime interface.

I’ve also never understood why a 3D Touch on the FaceTime app brings up the widget to “call” your favorite contacts (on the phone). I want to use FaceTime — that’s why I’m interacting with that icon.

 

[dirtylilhobo]

For iPhone X, IOS 12 got rid of the annoying two step process for deleting apps in the background. Since the removal of the home button the process had involved slowly swiping up until an active app was shrunk then hold that position until a red dot with a minus sign appeared then flick up to delete background apps in the list. Now it’s simply a slow swipe up until app shrunk then a flick up to get rid of the app.

A two step process also had been introduced in 11.? that made it more difficult to delete text messages. The new process involves a swipe left to reveal the delete option then another delete must be selected at the bottom of the screen. Wished Apple would offer a switch to select or deselect the two step process to again allow the single simple left swipe and one delete option.

 

[tromboneaholic]

Someone still using a 5s isn't very interested in any change, so you might be more sensitive to it than most.

 

[PeteS1963]

Although iOS12 has breathed a little bit of smoothness into my 5s, thankfully, what would an iOS update be without a few unnecessary changes for the sake of change?

What have you identified that Apple changed for the sake of change (I know that definition will be arguable...) in iOS 12?

So far, the following are aggravating the heck out of me:

1. Swapped the number/letters and emoji keys at lower left side of keyboard, ruining years of muscle memory.

https://www.itnews.com.au/news/keyboard-layout-change-in-ios-annoys-users-494832

My iPhone appears to still be "normal," without this little surprise.

2. Moved time in the header to the left, no longer in the top center, and wifi now to the far right, I assume as a Band-Aid to kowtow to the iPhone notch, for the so-important-now "visual consistency..." One more example of moving your furniture around without any discernible benefit, another micro-annoyance that adds up to others.

Others?

He has a point especially with number 1. Why do this? What, if any, is the advantage/purpose?

 

[Tozovac]

Someone still using a 5s isn't very interested in any change, so you might be more sensitive to it than most.

What makes you so sure you know why someone’s held onto a phone, or decided anything in particular?

Couldn’t possibly be because it works rather fine still with ios12 and someone may not the type to need the latest and greatest phone? Or perhaps the trend towards phablet-sized phones is resulting in phones too large for someone’s taste? Or perhaps someone’s been saving for an upcoming major life milestone and discretionary spending is slowed down for now? Or perhaps, when he does upgrade, he prefers to buy the newest, for the best future-proofing, and $1000 phones are a bit of a big ask for now? Or perhaps he’s frustrated a bit with things like a non-Apple feeling ios since 2013 from Apple’s putting a minimalist hardware designer in charge of what used to be well thought out software, and the focus too much on fashion/minimalism and so much unnecessary changes at times are reducing the value for paying the Apple tax? I loved the change to Apple from Windows in 2005 with my MacPro and 30” Cinema monitor. I loved all OS X changes up till Yosemite. I loved my big change to 3 iPods from lousy MP3 players. I loved my iPhone 4 then 5s but didn’t like the 6s I had too much due to its size and unnecessarily relocated on/off button so I went back to the 5s. I’ve loved my iPad 1 and Air 2 changing from “no tablet,” and the change to my MacBook Air in 2014 from the MP, though I’ve retained Mavericks because I hate the change for the sake of change Fisher Orice My First Computer aesthetic of Yosemite onward. And I’m sticking with it for now since I hate the changed keyboard on the new MBP’s, which were from keeping with with the unnecessary thinner-than-last-year fashion-first focus. In summary, ever since Steve died and Tim let Jony get his minimalist mitts on Apple software, I’ve not been a fan of many changes at Apple. Each annoying change for the sake of change in iOS sticks out like a sore thumb to me...

 

[tromboneaholic]

What makes you so sure you know why someone’s held onto a phone, or decided anything in particular?

Couldn’t possibly be because it works rather fine still with ios12 and someone may not the type to need the latest and greatest phone? Or perhaps the trend towards phablet-sized phones is resulting in phones too large for someone’s taste? Or perhaps someone’s been saving for an upcoming major life milestone and discretionary spending is slowed down for now? Or perhaps, when he does upgrade, he prefers to buy the newest, for the best future-proofing, and $1000 phones are a bit of a big ask for now? Or perhaps he’s frustrated a bit with things like a non-Apple feeling ios since 2013 from Apple’s putting a minimalist hardware designer in charge of what used to be well thought out software, and the focus too much on fashion/minimalism and so much unnecessary changes at times are reducing the value for paying the Apple tax? I loved the change to Apple from Windows in 2005 with my MacPro and 30” Cinema monitor. I loved all OS X changes up till Yosemite. I loved my big change to 3 iPods from lousy MP3 players. I loved my iPhone 4 then 5s but didn’t like the 6s I had too much due to its size and unnecessarily relocated on/off button so I went back to the 5s. I’ve loved my iPad 1 and Air 2 changing from “no tablet,” and the change to my MacBook Air in 2014 from the MP, though I’ve retained Mavericks because I hate the change for the sake of change Fisher Orice My First Computer aesthetic of Yosemite onward. And I’m sticking with it for now since I hate the changed keyboard on the new MBP’s, which were from keeping with with the unnecessary thinner-than-last-year fashion-first focus. In summary, ever since Steve died and Tim let Jony get his minimalist mitts on Apple software, I’ve not been a fan of many changes at Apple. Each annoying change for the sake of change in iOS sticks out like a sore thumb to me...

So what you are saying is you don't like change...

 

[C DM]

So what you are saying is you don't like change...

Seems like more about changes that don't really make much sense and/or potentially make things worse.

 

[tromboneaholic]

Seems like more about changes that don't really make much sense and/or potentially make things worse.

So the second change in his original post, for consistency across devices and not needing multiple OS versions for multiple devices, made things worse or made no sense?

 

[C DM]

So the second change in his original post, for consistency across devices and not needing multiple OS versions for multiple devices, made things worse or made no sense?

And that very well can be a response to something that was brought up. That doesn't necessarily paint everything with the same brush though.

 

[tromboneaholic]

And that very well can be a response to something that was brought up. That doesn't necessarily paint everything with the same brush though.

However, the argument has not been made to support the idea of change just for the sake of change.

 

[C DM]

However, the argument has not been made to support the idea of change just for the sake of change.

Potentially, although various things have been brought up that fit in into that type of category.

 

[FeliApple]

What makes you so sure you know why someone’s held onto a phone, or decided anything in particular?

Couldn’t possibly be because it works rather fine still with ios12 and someone may not the type to need the latest and greatest phone? Or perhaps the trend towards phablet-sized phones is resulting in phones too large for someone’s taste? Or perhaps someone’s been saving for an upcoming major life milestone and discretionary spending is slowed down for now? Or perhaps, when he does upgrade, he prefers to buy the newest, for the best future-proofing, and $1000 phones are a bit of a big ask for now? Or perhaps he’s frustrated a bit with things like a non-Apple feeling ios since 2013 from Apple’s putting a minimalist hardware designer in charge of what used to be well thought out software, and the focus too much on fashion/minimalism and so much unnecessary changes at times are reducing the value for paying the Apple tax? I loved the change to Apple from Windows in 2005 with my MacPro and 30” Cinema monitor. I loved all OS X changes up till Yosemite. I loved my big change to 3 iPods from lousy MP3 players. I loved my iPhone 4 then 5s but didn’t like the 6s I had too much due to its size and unnecessarily relocated on/off button so I went back to the 5s. I’ve loved my iPad 1 and Air 2 changing from “no tablet,” and the change to my MacBook Air in 2014 from the MP, though I’ve retained Mavericks because I hate the change for the sake of change Fisher Orice My First Computer aesthetic of Yosemite onward. And I’m sticking with it for now since I hate the changed keyboard on the new MBP’s, which were from keeping with with the unnecessary thinner-than-last-year fashion-first focus. In summary, ever since Steve died and Tim let Jony get his minimalist mitts on Apple software, I’ve not been a fan of many changes at Apple. Each annoying change for the sake of change in iOS sticks out like a sore thumb to me...

What an incredible post. I'm sorry for this nonsensical message, but liking it wasn't enough. I wholeheartedly agree with everything.
I didn't have a Mac with the older design, but I surely would like to install Mavericks on my 2015 rMBP. I would love to have an iPad with iOS 6 again, and I am lucky enough to have an iPod Touch 5G on iOS 6 that I love.

 

[pkts]

Don't know if this was on 11 or 12 but I'm mystified about the cellular/mobile strength indicator icon. They moved to the dots a few versions back and then they moved back to the bars ? That seems like the very definition of change for change sake ?