Tim Cook Talks iPhone Security, His Favorite New Features, and Deleting Stock iOS Apps

[dugbug]

You have tim cook on an interview and you waste time on this stupid "remove a default app" issue? Put it in a folder and forget about it. Ask tim about something interesting, like apple tv app approval policy or touch 3d api support.... something.

 

[RickInHouston]

I want a "default" apps feature. I want to be able to set a default web browser, default maps/navigation, default email client... etc.

This one you will NEVER get. And I am very careful in my use of 'never' and 'always'.

 

[Alumeenium]

because 32gb for the base model is TOO much of a stretch ...

 

[dugbug]

"I think Live Photos is a medium that hasn’t existed before"

You "think" that Tim? As CEO you really need to do better than that. I've got a point-and-shoot camera I bought 2 or 3 years ago that does this, and I think people have already said Android and Windows phone have had apps that have done this for a while. I'm sure there will be subtle differences in execution, but "magical" photos with a pre- and post-roll video are really nothing new.

give it a rest

 

[Pakaku]

There are some apps that are linked to something else on the iPhone. If they were to be removed they might cause issues elsewhere on the phone. There are other apps that aren’t like that. So over time, I think with the ones that aren’t like that, we’ll figure out a way.

My current phone is jailbroken. I have hidden, not deleted, many of the stock apps and cleared a lot of homescreen space. And if I ever need to use them again, I can just search them in Spotlight and they show up. So this isn't as complicated as it should be.

I'd like a "Trash" folder which only shows up when I try rearranging icons. Stuff that I want to hide can be dragged into that folder, and when I'm done, the folder hides itself. Sounds like an "Apple" solution they'd use.

 

[bushido]

more complex? just add a toggle to hide it from the springboard like the iCloud App and be done with it. not that hard

 

[H2SO4]

You talking to Tim or Nightfox, dugbug?

 

[QuarterSwede]

Tim, why aren't the functions of those apps that are tied to other parts of iOS not modular and apart of the OS itself? Ex: Safari? Have the app as a front end and hook into the browser component itself. I realize this is a bunch of rework but it should've been done that way to begin with.

 

[AlphaTeam]

Things like the Watch app on iPhone presumably are key to the OS and can't be "deleted" - but I find it hard to believe there's any reason for the app icon other than to raise awareness of the Apple Watch. Stick the app contents under Settings maybe - and have it only appear when there is a paired Watch?

I argued this from the beginning. Many of the stock apps are features buried into the OS that simply put in as an "app". Imagine having a "Wireless" app instead of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi being buried into settings. People would complain about it being a stock app, but it would still be a vital part of the OS and function of the phone.

Exactly, just make another menu setting line item. The watch app is just that anyway. No icon needed. I support customers that use phones and I get that question all the "Can't I remove that stupid watch app?".

 

[Bryan Bowler]

Stick them in a folder and forget them. Or, come online and complain about it for attention.

I agree. I take un-deletable apps that I don't want to see and place them in a folder called "Extras" and then put that folder on the last page of apps. Or for those that are really, really, really concerned about it, you can take that "Extras" folder that you just created, and bury it within another folder and towards the back of the apps that are in that folder too...that way it is way out of sight/out of mind.

Easy fix. Life moves forward.

 

[iansilv]

I love how a multi-billion dollar computer hardware and software company "forgot" how the stock apps are linked in to their system... 🙂

 

[mrgraff]

Dear Apple, please send me a million dollars:

if [insert app name].Exists = False
//ignore this fact, and continue running current unrelated other app

 

[dec.]

more complex? just add a toggle to hide it from the springboard like the iCloud App and be done with it. not that hard

Very cool, how much extra space do you gain once those Apps are gone?

 

[Rogifan]

How about a switch in Settings to toggle these apps visibility off.

Or, better yet, toggle the entire last page off, which is where they all live.

Yes because sticking them in a folder is such a chore. First world problems here. 🙄

 

[Geert76]

today when I went shopping in my grocery store, I saw the big boss of that grocery chain. I took a selfie with him... You can not imagine how happy I am right now!

 

[w00master]

This one you will NEVER get. And I am very careful in my use of 'never' and 'always'.

Really? That's what everyone used to say about the keyboard. IMHO? I think it's inevitable.

Now Siri? They need to open that thing up even more to 3rd parties.

 

[citysnaps]

Stick them in a folder and forget them. Or, come online and complain about it for attention.

Excellent advice, that's what most people do. However, the keyboard warrior Cheetos-eating folk who have this strange need for Apple having this enormous power over their life would start getting the shakes.

 

[69Mustang]

I argued this from the beginning. Many of the stock apps are features buried into the OS that simply put in as an "app". Imagine having a "Wireless" app instead of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi being buried into settings. People would complain about it being a stock app, but it would still be a vital part of the OS and function of the phone.

This is a silly strawman. Comparing functions like BT and Wifi to the Stocks or Tips app is 😵. The desire to delete unwanted apps is not an unreasonable request, especially since Tim says not all stock apps are systemically important. Deleting unwanted apps is not an Apple specific request either. No one wants bloatware, be it from Apple, Samsung, or any other vendor. No one should have to have a crap folder on their device.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Cook is making it more complicated than it is. Just implement a setting to hide certain apps.

 

[heeloliver]

Still, he believes the Mac is a "key part" of the company's strategy and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future.

Good to hear. Although the iPad Pro and the multitasking is a step in the right direction, many users (many on MacRumors) still need/want a Mac to do productivity apps. I am still waiting for the day the real Adobe Suite will arrive on iOS, but I can't see it happening anytime soon. However, the iPad has some other amazing apps that really appeal to me, such as the multiple drawing apps that would be great as a student.

 

[RoboCop001]

I think the reason they haven't allowed you to hide stock apps is because for some of those apps it's going to require a replacement app. Meaning, third party app replacement to ensure the functions needed are still there. I think this is a hint that they're working on 3rd party default apps.

Mail, for example. Say you use the Gmail app and never the Mail app. In order to hide that app, iOS would need to know where to create a new email message with the Share sheet.

 

[iolinux333]

First Post Nailed It!

I don't need or even really want to delete them, I just want to hide them so I can put icons where I want them to get to everything quickly and efficiently!

 

[ghost187]

So, 2 GB of ram, 4K video recording, 12 MP camera were not held back?

These cutting edge innovations were not ready last year?

C'mon Cook, if iPhone 6 had all the features I listed, there would be almost no reason to release a new iPhone this year.

I'm not hating, because I understand it's nothing personal, just business.

 

[mbh1976]

How about: Why will you not produce an updated 4-inch model like the 5s????????

 

[manu chao]

I argued this from the beginning. Many of the stock apps are features buried into the OS that simply put in as an "app". Imagine having a "Wireless" app instead of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi being buried into settings. People would complain about it being a stock app, but it would still be a vital part of the OS and function of the phone.

Yep, you can either have another page in Settings with a list of apps you can toggle on or off or you can have a folder on the last page with those apps. Either way they are going to take up some space in the UI. Making the list of settings longer (or burying some settings in a deeper level) adds clutter to the settings app the same way an extra folder on the last page adds clutter to that last page.