Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Of course, it's nice to get everything fixed, but the most reliable way is following one of the mentioned workarounds.

It's my use-case and I am not saying it's a right way, but for the last 10 years I used these "traffic light" buttons no more than 100 times. I use 3rd party apps like Rectangle Pro to manipulate windows from keyboard.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: nathansz
I think we all get that, but it’s a different topic than wanting some accessibility options for the UI

I think the problem is the OP didn’t ask for more/better accessibility options, he ranted that it needed to be fixed and how horrible the UI is, etc.
There was some blowback on the other post about this topic. More accessibility options? I’d like some also.
 
I think the problem is the OP didn’t ask for more/better accessibility options, he ranted that it needed to be fixed and how horrible the UI is, etc.
There was some blowback on the other post about this topic. More accessibility options? I’d like some also.

OP was also given countless solutions but did not like any of them

makes it seem like the point was just to complain rather than to find a solution
 
OP was also given countless solutions but did not like any of them

makes it seem like the point was just to complain rather than to find a solution
You are wrong. The whole reason for my post was to get an actual solution. I have stated MANY times that you do not even need to make the damn circles bigger. JUST INCREASE THE ACTIVE AREA AROUND THEM! Sheesh! Yes, I ranted a bit, but I sure got a whole lot more engagement than I ever thought. And saying use the keyboard is NOT an answer. I have been using computers for 33 years. I know about KEYBOARDS!
 
  • Love
Reactions: turbineseaplane
Time to let this thread die. I'll continue to burn billions of fine motor cells just so I can tortuously find the microscopic bacteria sized circles on a 2024 Mac so I can close a damn window. Over and out. That said, my Mac Air M3 is awesome, except for the circles :) And much thanks to those who read between the lines and understood my question/issue.

Back in the day, at least for Windows, there were many various "theming" options, like "make Windows look like a Mac, add liquid colors to the UI, etc. I thought there might still be something that I could add that would address this issue.

In my perfect world, Apple would actually read this Forum and fix the stuff we do not like.
 
Last edited:
  • Love
Reactions: turbineseaplane
You are wrong. The whole reason for my post was to get an actual solution. I have stated MANY times that you do not even need to make the damn circles bigger. JUST INCREASE THE ACTIVE AREA AROUND THEM! Sheesh! Yes, I ranted a bit, but I sure got a whole lot more engagement than I ever thought. And saying use the keyboard is NOT an answer. I have been using computers for 33 years. I know about KEYBOARDS!

but why not just use the keyboard?

it literally solves your problem
 
  • Angry
Reactions: turbineseaplane
Keyboard should be last resort but I do realize patents ruined a lot of the os options not available to macOS.
Seems silly but it is happening watching each other like a hawk for patent issues.
As a newer user now if it wasn't for YouTube I would not have had my apple hardware long.
Some of the way software things operate seems so old and out of date. We should be click and mouse and voice operated by now not still needing a keyboard to do small things here and there in macOS.
Not a rant I just except each operating system as they are. Tuff cookies sometimes. :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Cape Dave
but why not just use the keyboard?

it literally solves your problem
No, it absolutely does not solve my issue. It is an alternate method. I want my method fixed. There is absolutely NO REASON to have those lights micro sized. It would enhance UX and accessibility to fix it. I am now formally closing this thread. Moderator please help.
 
  • Love
Reactions: turbineseaplane
it absolutely does not solve my issue

Your issue is that you have difficulty manipulating windows with the mouse

Using the keyboard and a window manager like amethyst allows you to manipulate windows with ease

Minimize, maximize, close, reposition, resize, move to another space, etc

No more trouble manipulating windows, issue absolutely solved
 
  • Angry
Reactions: turbineseaplane
Keyboard should be last resort

We should be click and mouse and voice operated by now not still needing a keyboard to do small things here and there in macOS.

From a productivity and ergonomic standpoint clicking around with a mouse should be a last resort

You should be able to do as much as possible with only a keyboard

Everytime you have to reach for a mouse or a trackpad is an ergonomic and productivity fail by the os
 
Last edited:
From a productivity and ergonomic standpoint clicking around with a mouse should be a last resort
Xerox Alto, Apple Lisa and others like to have a word.
You should be able to do as much as possible with only a keyboard
The idea of a GUI is to do as much as possible without a keyboard.
Everytime you have to reach for a mouse or a trackpad is an ergonomic and productivity fail by the os
Because the human mind is not constructed to interact with something like a desktop metaphor? Particularly new users do grasp the intrinsic "ease of access" of keyboard short cuts or terminal commands immediately, don’t they? 🤣😂🥹


IMG_5897.png
 
The idea of a GUI is to do as much as possible without a keyboard.

No, the idea of a GUI is to move beyond a simple text based interface. The input method is irrelevant
Because the human mind is not constructed to interact with something like a desktop metaphor? Particularly new users do grasp the intrinsic "ease of access" of keyboard short cuts or terminal commands immediately, don’t they? 🤣😂🥹

The graphical desktop metaphor is great, but again, that doesn’t require the use of any particular input method

You are still moving objects around on a two dimensional graphical space regardless whether you are doing it with the keyboard or mouse

And no one said anything about using the terminal

It seems you may be conflating keyboard vs mouse with command line vs gui

Apple Lisa and others like to have a word.

Apple’s ergonomic considerations are historically and notoriously atrocious
 
  • Like
Reactions: Cape Dave
The graphical desktop metaphor is great, but again, that doesn’t require the use of any particular input method

Exactly. Indeed it should not matter wether you use a mouse, trackpad/ball, HUDs, heck, joysticks or whatever to control the pointer. Actions in a GUI are usually performed through direct manipulation of the graphical elements.

So it should be working without a keyboard. 🤓

No doubt, that efficient interaction with a pointer GUI can include a (virtual) keyboard.

Your »Let them eat cake«-comments do not really address the OP’s original problem, don‘t they?
 
Your »Let them eat cake«-comments do not really address the OP’s original problem, don‘t they?

I stand by the opinion that OPs actual problem of having difficulty manipulating windows with the mouse is solved by using a keyboard instead

It would be like if you were trying to clear snow from your sidewalk with a rake and complained it wasn’t working, then someone handed you a snow shovel and your response was “no this is not a solution, the only solution is to make the rake work”
 
There is a plugin for MacForge that allows to change UI parts - but disabling SIP and Library validation is IMHO a too high cost. YMMV. But yes, you can change or even replace the " traffic light". 🙃
 
If it was a "proper" refresh, they would have fixed this. It speaks to inaccessibility.
I understand your frustration, but "inaccessibility" isn't quite the issue here, simply because for people who NEED the buttons bigger, they would need everything to be bigger, not just one UI element like the buttons.

If there was no way to make all UI options bigger, this would be an accessibility problem. But there's no situation where a visually impaired person only struggles to see buttons but doesn't struggle to see anything else and so would only need the buttons to be bigger. That's just a preference.

It's fine to have preferences—but let's not confuse this as an accessibility issue.
 
but "inaccessibility" isn't quite the issue here, simply because for people who NEED the buttons bigger, they would need everything to be bigger, not just one UI element like the buttons.

Completely untrue.

You’re mixing up accessibility for perhaps motor control issues versus visual issues.

There can be people that have a hard time hitting small touch or pointer targets, but have vision that’s just fine

I’m honestly blown away at all the people trying to defend not having better accessibility options.

This is completely nuts you guys. I have no idea why you’re defending not having more options.

It benefits, nobody to have things more locked down versus less
 
Completely untrue.

You’re mixing up accessibility for perhaps motor control issues versus visual issues.

There can be people that have a hard time hitting small touch or pointer targets, but have vision that’s just fine

I’m honestly blown away at all the people trying to defend not having better accessibility options.

This is completely nuts you guys. I have no idea why you’re defending not having more options.

It benefits, nobody to have things more locked down versus less
I'm not defending fewer options; I'm defending how one frames the issues. More options is great; using disabled people as a justification for your preferences isn't.

I get your point about people with motor control issues, but my same point applies: people who have a hard time keeping their hand steady when clicking aren't *only* going to have difficulty clicking window buttons. They'll also have issue clicking *any* button, since most buttons aren't all that big in default settings. They'll thus benefit from all clickable elements being enlarged, not just one.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.