Steve Jobs Made Apple Care. Who Does Now?

[TumbleDryer]

The passion and innovation has gone. I used to watch the Keynotes with a bit of excitement but I haven't watched a single one in 5 years. M1 processor was the last one I watched that was genuinely exciting (still didnt buy one though).

 

[maflynn]

The passion

The passion does seem to have disappeared. The keynotes have a corporate antiseptic feel, and the features are much less exciting.

I think if they return to an auditorium with an audience that will help, now its just talking heads, making with each person they check off the inclusion checkbox.

 

[attohs]

There's an issue that's been going on for years now with software quality control that is industry wide. It is not just an Apple problem. Has anybody seen that flash-bang bug on Windows 11 Insider? Funny blatantly bad stuff that should never make it into any release, even an early beta release. Anybody have to use Outlook? Tell me who out there is consistently shipping out a rock solid OS release after release after release? Rock solid software in general?

Side note: I thought this thread was going to be about Steve Jobs starting the AppleCare warranty service.

 

[Ctrlos]

Whilst I don't doubt Apple's software is currently the most bug-ridden it has ever been (something that will hopefully be fixed by the departure of Alan Dye) it is still the best on the market. I'd take a few visual bugs in MacOS over just having to get Windows to even work properly any day of the week. Every Android Phone I have ever owned has been ok-ish but it skips animation frames to make it seem faster and fails at contactless payments at least 25% of the time.

We are far, far away from that being a problem.

 

[ignatius345]

But generally, I think people complaining are often forgetting, or just not seeing, that things are about the best they've ever been.

Yep. People seem to have some really selective memory when it comes to Apple's history. I vividly remember insanely hot laptops, swollen batteries, very hard freezes. Paid OS updates. Computers that cost a month or two worth of rent. Fact is, Apple stuff has always been expensive, and there have always been bugs and issues. And I literally can't remember off the top of my head the last time my Mac just froze up and I had to hold down the power button to force-restart it. (I think maybe early this year?) That used to happen on the regular back in the day, trust me.

 

[TumbleDryer]

For me with Tahoe and iOS etc it's not so much about the bugs. I accept bugs are a thing and the very nature of code there will always be bugs as the code is always being updated.

For me the problems with Tahoe and iOS are the usability problems and terrible direction that this keeps going. Things that once were very simple one click interactions you didn't even have to think about are now drawn out 2 and 3 click interactions, often with hidden menus and gestures. Illegible text and just general visual noise from the interface just getting in the way of you using the machine. Its completely the opposite of Liquid Glass was meant to be.

 

[rappr]

The passion does seem to have disappeared. The keynotes have a corporate antiseptic feel, and the features are much less exciting.

I think if they return to an auditorium with an audience that will help, now its just talking heads, making with each person they check off the inclusion checkbox.

I really don’t miss the hooting, hollering, and awkwardness of the in person keynotes. I hope they never go back.

 

[chmania]

The passion and innovation has gone. I used to watch the Keynotes with a bit of excitement but I haven't watched a single one in 5 years. M1 processor was the last one I watched that was genuinely exciting (still didnt buy one though).

I waited too, while still using a 2018 15" MacBook Pro, which is still far more attractive than any of the new M-series MacBooks, which look a bit bulky in comparison. It was rather foolish, if I may say so, to eliminate the Touch Bar, which was an innovation. Those slim, elongated MacBooks still look nicer than most Windows laptops, which is one reason Microsoft created their thin Surface laptops.

Once the M chip had matured enough for Apple to include 16GB of memory in a "base" Mac device, I purchased an M4 Mac Mini, whose form factor was also an innovation. Anyway, I don’t feel inclined to sell the 2018 15" MacBook Pro with the Touch Bar. It runs Sequoia, and the battery life and keyboard are quite good, despite all the criticism aimed at Intel MacBooks. uBlock Origin Lite works quite well with Sequoia, but not as effectively with Tahoe. (Alright, one might argue that it is the developer's issue, but...)

By the way, my wife’s Oppo Reno 14 Pro just received an upgrade to ColorOS 16 a few days ago. It would be nice if Apple could catch up with it, and with the upcoming ColorOS 17, before it’s too late for iOS for innovations.

 

[TumbleDryer]

I waited too, while still using a 2018 15" MacBook Pro, which is still far more attractive than any of the new M-series MacBooks, which look a bit bulky in comparison. It was rather foolish, if I may say so, to eliminate the Touch Bar, which was an innovation. Those slim, elongated MacBooks still look nicer than most Windows laptops, which is one reason Microsoft created their thin Surface laptops.

Once the M chip had matured enough for Apple to include 16GB of memory in a "base" Mac device, I purchased an M4 Mac Mini, whose form factor was also an innovation. Anyway, I don’t feel inclined to sell the 2018 15" MacBook Pro with the Touch Bar. It runs Sequoia, and the battery life and keyboard are quite good, despite all the criticism aimed at Intel MacBooks. uBlock Origin Lite works quite well with Sequoia, but not as effectively with Tahoe. (Alright, one might argue that it is the developer's issue, but...)

By the way, my wife’s Oppo Reno 14 Pro just received an upgrade to ColorOS 16 a few days ago. It would be nice if Apple could catch up with it, and with the upcoming ColorOS 17, before it’s too late for iOS for innovations.

I eventually bought a Mini too as they stopped creating meaningful iMacs. No pro chips, No more 27" screen and ugly too. So I bought an M4 mini and a third party monitor. The monitor being my first step away from Apple.

 

[ratspg]

Been an Apple user since 1993. Through many ups and downs with them. Sure, it's not the Steve Jobs era, but Apple Silicon is here. You can say whatever you want about Tahoe, iOS 26 and the latest redesign... they are still the best options out there. Windows? You already know from this thread where that is headed... Android? Sure, if you want, but you probably don't want, but it's doable. Linux? It's actually closer to the "year of linux" than any other time period, especially for gaming, but yes, I've tried and used them all and always come back to Apple, they are just extremely reliable, quick, amazing machines.

Enjoy! and like somebody said above, don't get so emotional about it, its marketing, they are a big corporation pulling on your strings. Use the amazing tools to create!

 

[cjsuk]

I'm ready to jump ship but it's mostly not just because of Apple as such but society. Apple's stuff mostly works fine. I have a few problems but they are surmountable. If you want bugs, try Windows (I use it several hours a day). I don't know what people are complaining about on Apple platforms.

Anyway there are three key issues I have with "modern" computing that I'm not really willing to put up with that much longer which are driving my potential exodus:

Firstly, the UK, US and EU constituent governments have made it pretty clear that they want to build a surveillance society. Apple is a large and easy target there. Which makes it easy to concentrate surveillance through legislation. Apple can only bend so far and handle so many battles and fronts. ADP being disabled in the UK was a sign of things to come. The cloud is thus dead to me and any advantages that come with it too.

Secondly, and this does include Apple, corporations moving to subscription models because repeat ROI is what their shareholders want. I have to pay to retain access to data and media. That is not something I am willing to do because either market forces can decide to stop that or personal circumstances may change which makes that impossible to continue. That is as far as I am concerned, an abusive, controlling relationship.

Thirdly, AI. I just don't have a use for it. Literally none. I don't want that shaping products because it is at the detriment to my workflow.

Ergo I'm probably going to switch to my crappy old i5-9400 PC running Linux (Debian testing) and whatever GrapheneOS managed to get as an OEM phone provider at some point.

If I cut my expenditure on hardware and subscriptions I can go places, see things and talk to people which I value more than soulless machinery.

 

[8483011]

What does all that have to do with Windows as a day-to-day operating system? It's just a general set of statements, nothing more. Do you have an online account with macOS, iOS, etc.?

You know what Australia is trying to do, about social media for kids? I suppose, some countries, might need to do that for grownups too.

I fully support banning social media for adults 👍

 

[eltoslightfoot]

I thought you meant “AppleCare,” and was very confused for a minute there.

 

[Hajj.david]

For me it's not quite that simple.

• Desktop and laptop, macOS.
• Server and big workstation, Linux.
• Gaming, Windows, perhaps Bazzite or SteamOS?

Gaming most of what I play is also on macOS so I have been skating by with macOS the few windows games I enjoy playing all run perfect on CrossOver and my M4 max studio is way more then enough to push the pixels and graphics I enjoy. Workstation same thing the mac studio is way powerful enough.

For server purposes I am obsessed with mac minis, they are tiny they use almost no power (sometimes reading 0-2 watts when running per my UPS) have 10 gigabit ethernet ports and macOS being UNIX based makes it an ideal server.

My Mini server has run for years at a time without issues and thats with hundreds of users and hundreds of thousands of documents being sent and received by the server 24/7 all for $500-$600. Hard to beat the performance to price ratio. I just recently upgraded my 2014 mac mini server to the M4 mac mini server after 10 years of hard use.

 

[Abydos]

we are quite glum today for good reasons, the 'snoop state' again. basically the old usenet adage of never posting anything you would not share with 8 million friends holds - back to a zero-trust environment (not sure it works but why not)

 

[MBAir2010]

The biggest reason I will ditch  and their M_series is
THEY EAT GBs!

 will not let YOU control what goes on your computer and storage anymore.

Other than that, these  products are second to none for design, functionality and STYLE.
but I need to control what is being used and storage is important.

 

[MBAir2010]

Thirdly, AI. I just don't have a use for it. Literally none. I don't want that shaping products because it is at the detriment to my workflow

AI is really bad, since fools are making that!

EX: Chewy's (a pet shop, store e-distibutor) AI decided to ship a much need package from Texas to S Forlida.
I always near by shipping 25 files away these 5 years which is second or next day but now the are using AI
therefore I will shop for cat food and haul 25LBs of litter on my bicycle 3 miles if they do this again.

i'm getting tired of computers and Ai as well.

 

[MacCheetah3]

For me with Tahoe and iOS etc it's not so much about the bugs. I accept bugs are a thing and the very nature of code there will always be bugs as the code is always being updated.

For me the problems with Tahoe and iOS are the usability problems and terrible direction that this keeps going. Things that once were very simple one click interactions you didn't even have to think about are now drawn out 2 and 3 click interactions, often with hidden menus and gestures.

Agreed. For example:

Use a screen saver on your Mac

On your Mac, use a screen saver to hide your desktop when you’re away from your Mac or if you need extra privacy.

support.apple.com

In Tahoe:

Customize the screen saver on your Mac​

1. Go to the System Settings app
   
   on your Mac.
2. Click Wallpaper
   
   in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.)
   
   
3. Click Screen Saver.
4. Select Custom, then choose a screen saver from one of the available categories:
   • macOS: These are slow-motion images.
   • Landscape, Cityscape, Underwater, and Earth aerials: These slow-motion images show dramatic views.
   • Shuffle Aerials: These slow-motion images change at an interval you set.
   • Other: These are your photos and distinctive screen savers that allow you to show a message, see a “Word of the Day,” and more.
5. Set options for your screen saver.
   Options vary based on the screen saver you choose. For example, you can:
   • Turn on an aerial for your wallpaper, using the slow-motion aerial as your screen saver.
   • Choose how often to shuffle through aerials.
   • Choose a style to shuffle through your images.

Previously (i.e., Ventura through Sequoia):

Customize the screen saver on your Mac​

1. On your Mac, choose Apple menu
   
   > System Settings, then click Screen Saver
   
   in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.)
   
   
2. Click a screen saver thumbnail on the right, click Options, then adjust the settings.
   The options available vary depending on the screen saver you select.
   • Source: Click the pop-up menu, then choose the pictures to show in the screen saver. You can use pictures that come with macOS or choose pictures from a folder or your Photo Library.
     The top thumbnail shows how the screen saver will look. To check how the screen saver looks full screen, click Preview. To stop the screen saver and return to the settings, move the pointer.
   • Shuffle slide order: Show pictures in a random order instead of their order in the source.
   • Other screen saver options: Set options for color, speed, and more.
3. Click OK.
   To show the time in the screen saver, turn on “Show with clock.”

I’m genuinely curious on the reason for that change, the reason to change at all and the change itself. I often use search to find Screen Saver now because I forget that it is being oddly neglected or rather maybe unreasonably punished, condemned to a subsection within Wallpaper.

Illegible text and just general visual noise from the interface just getting in the way of you using the machine. Its completely the opposite of Liquid Glass was meant to be.

Fortunately, for me, the legibility on macOS 26 hasn’t been as bad, even from the beginning, as iOS/iPadOS. Thankfully, Apple has course corrected a little with options such as tinting.

On that note, if they wanted to change the tone a bit… I (probably) would have been happier with something like a less ‘candied’ Aqua — not that I disliked Aqua — and made it more realistic effect (i.e., true(r) glassy like Liquid Glass).

Side note: I thought this thread was going to be about Steve Jobs starting the AppleCare warranty service.

I thought you meant “AppleCare,” and was very confused for a minute there.

😆 I had a few moments pause when reading the discussion title, wondering if the spacing (i.e., “Apple Care”) was intentional or a typo/language translation.

 

[Biro]

Spirit of innovation comes from the top. Until Tim Cook retires, things won’t change that much beyond the margins. But there are rumors Cook will depart sometime in 2026. We’ll see. And it’s not like there’s been no innovation. How about Apple Silicon?

But… many Apple fans need to understand that Apple can never again be truly the same company that it was 20 years ago. It’s much bigger - and much richer - now. And shareholder expectations are at an entirely different level. Can improvements be made? Sure. But Apple is no longer a start-up company. And many of its products are mature.

I’ve thought about jumping ship a few times in recent years. And even though Apple can tick me off mightily, I keep seeing that things are worse elsewhere - particularly when it comes to privacy. So… I’m still mostly loyal to Apple but I’m watching closely.

 

[-BigMac-]

😆 I had a few moments pause when reading the discussion title, wondering if the spacing (i.e., “Apple Care”) was intentional or a typo/language translation.

Haha I thought it was clever wording 😉😅

 

[Basic75]

Gaming most of what I play is also on macOS so I have been skating by with macOS the few windows games I enjoy playing all run perfect on CrossOver and my M4 max studio is way more then enough to push the pixels and graphics I enjoy.

That's a lucky stroke for a Mac user, not so easy with my game collection.

Workstation same thing the mac studio is way powerful enough.

That small box goes a long way, the really "big workstations" are quite a niche nowadays.

For server purposes I am obsessed with mac minis, they are tiny they use almost no power (sometimes reading 0-2 watts when running per my UPS) have 10 gigabit ethernet ports and macOS being UNIX based makes it an ideal server.

Here I was thinking of "real servers", also compute servers, with redundant PSUs, fast networking, management interface, ECC memory, up to 192 or 256 CPU cores, several TB of memory, whatever you need. For a home or soho file and mail server I can see a Mac mini being enough and even used one myself.

 

[adrianlondon]

Haha I thought it was clever wording 😉😅

Too clever! I didn't get it, either.

 

[rappr]

I feel like what a lot of people are actually saying here is Tim Cook isn’t as charismatic or inspiring of a CEO as Steve Jobs was. Which is 100% true. What I don’t get is why we’re so quick to discard all the good products and innovations that have been released over the past decade+ because of it.

 

[neuropsychguy]

I fully support banning social media for adults 👍

Your comment is funny given that MacRumors forums are social media.

 

[Reelmower]

I understand frustrations with quality control, but I still find Apple to be by far the best.
In the last year I switched to Mac (base M4 MacBook Air) and we switched to AppleTV as well as upgraded to an iPhone 16. All are both are great. We have always used iPhones and iPads and would not consider switching.
My MacBook has best in class build quality and battery life, is silent and runs far faster than I need. iMessage is tremendous. Really all of the Apple ecosystem integrations are very convenient. Combine that with the fact that I only paid $800 for it.
AppleTV is many times faster than any of its competitors. Minimal ads and clutter. FaceTime alone is worth the price. The new karaoke feature is super cool, too.
I didn’t think I needed a new phone until I saw a great upgrade deal and bought the iPhone 16. It is way faster than my iPhone 13 mini. The battery is so good that I don’t even think about it. Dynamic Island is a surprisingly fun addition. I’m very happy.
To me, Apple has a bigger lead than ever across all of these areas, and iPad too. We are satisfied customers.