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

[bpeeps]

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

It's not. Producing a 16gb phone base makes more people spend an extra $100 on 64gb. It's a brilliant tool to make more money at the chagrin of the customer. We'll complain, but we'll still buy it anyway. Apple doesn't lose. It's just a matter of how long the customer will let them get away with this.

 

[JPSaltzman]

Re: Apple's sucky apps that take up real estate:

With my very first iPhone, I made a folder called "Dumb Apps" and moved anything I knew I would rarely use (or thought was just plain dumb to have "permanently" installed on my phone). Some of these apps include Games Center, Stocks, iTunes Store, Apple Store, My A&T, Remote, App Store, and of course the ever-intrusive "My Friends."

Then I moved that folder to my very last "page."

I suspect with iOS 9 I will be adding "Apple News" to that "Dumb Apps" folder.

 

[bpeeps]

I hope next year they make the base model 8GB out of spite. Seriously though, I'm so over the 16 whining. Don't buy it. Seriously don't buy it or go buy an Android device with StageFright built in. That's a great feature.

It's so sad that people don't realize THEY are the reason for Apple's pricing. Apple knows you will upgrade to the more expensive GB phone anyway, instead of purchasing from a competitor.

 

[lordofthereef]

I can't help but call BS on the statement that nothing is held back. Why the 1gb ram last year? Why are we just now getting to MAYBE delete stock apps that have been sitting in a junk folder for years?

There are answers for all of these things, but those answers are. Or "because they weren't ready".

 

[Razeus]

Not only do I want to be able to remove default apps, I want to be able to set my default apps.

 

[69Mustang]

You're the one using strawman. Notice I said "many"(if you actually bother to read the post) and I agree that Tips and Stocks should be optional. However, I wasn't talking about the Tips or Stocks apps. What about the photos, maps, videos, compass, clock or facetime app? Heck iBooks, despite it's ebook focused name, is how iOS devices natively locally store and open PDFs and other documents, which can be considered a vital function of the phone. I certainly wouldn't put any of the stock apps on the same league as the carrier/OEM bloatware that comes on many android devices and OEM PCs.

Nope, you're wrong. Your argument was based on a completely made up, hyperbolic "Wireless" app, simply to push a narrative. That's the strawman I was referencing. It made no sense and was totally unrealistic. The point you were trying to make could have easily been made without the exaggeration.

I made no strawman argument. I used specific examples of apps that could be deleted. Apps that aren't tied to the system should be delete-able. If they are tied, either keep them as non-deletes or alter them to be user removable. Exactly what Tim said they were looking at. As for stock apps not being bloatware, well, that's one opinion. To me, bloatware consists of any unwanted app on my device. If it can't be removed, it's particularly bloated.

 

[lordofthereef]

Whats the problem with stocks app ? just put all of them in a folder and out of your sight.

I'm less inclined to care about stock apps and more inclined to want to replace said stock apps with something that might be better from the App Store.

Off the top of my head, google hangouts is a great single app that handles texts and messages on android. Would be great to be able to replace my messages app with something a little
More useful. As it stands I have messages in my dock and hangouts right above it on page one.

It's obviously minor enough that I live with it, but the option would be nice. Note: I'm not expecting this to happen at all lol.

 

[lordofthereef]

Exactly what Tim said they were looking at. As for stock apps not being bloatware, well, that's one opinion. To me, bloatware consists of any unwanted app on my device. If it can't be removed, it's particularly bloated.

you don't think that's an extreme opinion? Would you prefer a "naked OS" with nothing but the AppStore (is even that ok?) that you then install apps on top of? Serious question, by the way. I'm mostly on your side, but I think you're rather extreme, even for me lol.

 

[JGIGS]

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

It's sad that this still isn't an option. As well as something simple like icons being forced to auto arrange top left of the springboard. My two biggest ios pet peeves.

 

[kdarling]

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.

A few reasons immediately come to mind as to why Apple included the Watch app in the OS distribution, instead of having it in the App Store.

- Advertising the Watch to iOS users, as you mentioned.

- Being already downloaded when you buy a Watch.

- So that no one can extrapolate Watch sales from number of app reviews / ranking.

 

[RickInHouston]

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.

Siri doesn't allow you to use Google search. A keyboard doesn't allow you to use Google services. Your argument makes NO sense. You must not have been using apple products for that long. Their history is etched in stone on matters such as this.

 

[RebornProphet]

Regarding 16GB iPhones, I've always bought them. I don't do anything that requires lots of apps on my phone, I have my iPad for that. I also don't take a lot of photos or if I do I save them iCloud or my Mac.

 

[LukasValine]

Dear Apple, please send me a million dollars:

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

'()' is not convertible to 'BooleanType'

// I think you mean: if [insert app name].Exists == False {}

 

[thekeyring]

Eh?
Why on earth would a watch App be key to the OS? Don’t be ridiculous, they could have separated this easily.

*for Watch owners.

Apps that use the WatchKit extension are continually talking to iPhone, not just the Watch app, right?

 

[TechZeke]

Nope, you're wrong. Your argument was based on a completely made up, hyperbolic "Wireless" app, simply to push a narrative. That's the strawman I was referencing. It made no sense and was totally unrealistic. The point you were trying to make could have easily been made without the exaggeration.

I made no strawman argument. I used specific examples of apps that could be deleted. Apps that aren't tied to the system should be delete-able. If they are tied, either keep them as non-deletes or alter them to be user removable. Exactly what Tim said they were looking at. As for stock apps not being bloatware, well, that's one opinion. To me, bloatware consists of any unwanted app on my device. If it can't be removed, it's particularly bloated.

Incorrect. There was nothing hyperbolic about my hypothetical Wireless app. Many of the stock apps are completely comparable to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The hypothetical app was used to give a comparison and view point of how to look at many of the stock apps. Many of the apps I listed are arguably nearly as vital. You are conveniently glossing over half of my post as I made no such mention of the tips and stocks apps being vital apps. Quit trying to jump on the Tips and Stocks apps, which weren't apps I was even discussing in the first place. I'm not sure why we are even discussing this, since we both agree that there are apps that should be optional. I'm merely arguing the some of the apps are vital parts of OS.

 

[ChrisCW11]

Deleting stock iOS apps, if Apple is tightly integrating one app to another then they just created the mobile version of DLL hell.

In the least if I don't want to see a stock iOS app just let me delete it and if it is tightly coupled to other features then just hide the icon. Tim Cook is the king of spin and just doesn't want to suggest that deleting a lot of the crap that Apple is shipping these days on iOS by default is something that could be easily done. It should not be hard for a company with the money and resources of Apple to do this, they just don't want to do this because they think their **** smells like roses.

On every iOS device I have used I have a folder called iJunk and it is full of junky Apple apps that they don't want to let us get rid of, and this folder keeps increasing with content every iOS version that is released.

 

[vertsix]

That explanation is extremely s***ty from Tim's part.

But I'm glad he's telling us that there's hope to remove some of the bloatware. I mean, seriously. Find My Friends?! Who uses that?

 

[kungpaaao]

"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.

The things he says are very embarrassing. I watched part of his first keynote and have never been able to stomach another one.

I did watch the highlights of the last one and it was cringe-worthy of him to say about AppleTV, "we think apps are the future of TV (or whatever he said). It's fine that Apple waited to get things in a certain configuration with the new TV, but to say that when other boxes have had them?

One thing is that Apple-haters have stupid things to throw at Apple, but Tim's quotes are pure ammunition. They must think we are all a bunch of "maroons" (to quote Bugs Bunny/Looney Tunes).

 

[epicrayban]

I like Tim Cook, but his comments about Live Photos never existing before is embarrassing. He either is lying through his teeth, or he needs to get out more.

Or maybe he thinks he can add his own secret disclaimer that only exists in his head: "Live Photos never existed before*"

*on an iOS device.

: shrug : Either way, as an Apple fan, I'm embarrassed.

 

[69Mustang]

you don't think that's an extreme opinion? Would you prefer a "naked OS" with nothing but the AppStore (is even that ok?) that you then install apps on top of? Serious question, by the way. I'm mostly on your side, but I think you're rather extreme, even for me lol.

Not at all. I think it's only extreme when someone views the comment from the perspective of me wanting to remove 10-15 apps the moment I activate my device. Wanting to remove a couple of carrier apps or a couple of stock apps that I know I'd never use doesn't seem extreme to me. I also don't think calling unwanted stock apps bloatware is extreme. One of the definitions of bloatware is: unwanted software included on a new computer or mobile device by the manufacturer. The apps being stock doesn't change that definition. Others feel differently. That's okay too.

 

[lordofthereef]

Not at all. I think it's only extreme when someone views the comment from the perspective of me wanting to remove 10-15 apps the moment I activate my device. Wanting to remove a couple of carrier apps or a couple of stock apps that I know I'd never use doesn't seem extreme to me. I also don't think calling unwanted stock apps bloatware is extreme. One of the definitions of bloatware is: unwanted software included on a new computer or mobile device by the manufacturer. The apps being stock doesn't change that definition. Others feel differently. That's okay too.

I guess my point is, what if I felt the AppStore was unwanted? Now Apple has to provide me with a way to get it back, should I ever want to do so. I guess a restore is in order?

I see where you're coming from. I also see why apple doesn't just allow us to delete whatever we want.

A slight tangent I am sure my son would have irreparably damaged my device by now if this was a thing lol.

 

[dec.]

not my point on a 128 GB iPhone. i just dont want to see them

It doesn't matter if it is your point or not, it wasn't Tim Cooks point to just "hide" them, so yes, deleting them IS more complex.

 

[MarkCollette]

LOL. But yes, "visibility" I think is the main issue people have a problem with, not the small app size of the Stocks app. Just allowing me to hide them, not delete, would be sufficient for 99% of all people.

Yes, let's create a whole new source of confusion for users, where an app is either delete or merely invisible, with each app preference pane adding a new control. And then when invisible, and the app is opened via Siri, or search, or from the Today view in Notification Center, it only appearing in the multi-tasking view, but not in the icon grid.

All for the benefit of some OCD ******** for people lacking coping skills. Brilliant.

 

[Four oF NINE]

Meh.. I never understood the obsession on the part of some iPhone owners to delete the Apple included apps. They establish a baseline experience for new users. Hiding them isn't that complicated if you're truly bothered. Why is this a big deal?

 

[kungpaaao]

I can't help but call BS on the statement that nothing is held back. Why the 1gb ram last year? Why are we just now getting to MAYBE delete stock apps that have been sitting in a junk folder for years?

There are answers for all of these things, but those answers are. Or "because they weren't ready".

I think he is supposed to say (in regards to new features/holding nothing back) that because he has no choice. They will trickle out features as time goes on.

The junkware really annoys me. Apple used to be about not having carrier junk on phones (and logos), but now here all of us to some degree have one or more Apple apps we will never use.

I'm surprised he said that he knows people are complaining about it.