I’m not an expert on Apple’s inner workings, or why they do what they do. However, my impression is that Apple is finally really listening and responding to what its users want.
For Several Years, It Seemed Apple Wasn’t Listening
Until the introduction of the new Apple Silicon chips in the last 2 years, it seemed that Apple wasn’t paying much attention to what users, particularly pro users, said they wanted and needed. Apple had its own agenda.
For about 10 years, Apple prioritized form over function. Multiple ports were sacrificed for “thinner and lighter” and simplicity of design. Dysfunctional laptop keyboards were designed for apparently the sole purpose of making a laptop thinner. One of the most popular features of Apple’s laptops, MagSafe chargers, was dropped.
It appeared to many users that Apple was ignoring the needs of pro users, and instead focusing all of their attention on form rather than function. Some say this was due primarily to the influence of design chief Johnny Ive, who went to an extreme to engineer devices that were thin-light-minimalist to the neglect of function.
Apple Is Now Clearly Listening and Responding to Users
Hardware
After the departure of Johnny Ive in 2019, there has been a significant shift in Apple’s thinking, as reflected in the designs of the new Apple Silicon Macs. MagSafe charging was reinstituted on the MacBook Pro, which also gained a solid keyboard and multiple ports for attaching accessories. Most of the major criticisms of pro laptop users have been addressed with the new MacBook Pro.
The new Mac Studio is a model of both design beauty and simplicity, but also great functionality. It’s precisely what pro users had been asking for. It provides 9 ports in the back including a headphone port, USB-A, and Thunderbolt ports, and also an ethernet port. In addition, it also has three ports in the front; two USB-C or Thunderbolt ports, and an SD card port. The front ports demonstrate a major shift in Apple’s design philosophy, now highlighting both design and function. Minimalism no longer trumps desired functionality.
2022 WWDC
My impression in watching the 2022 WWDC keynote was that Apple is listening to users regarding software improvements as well. When Apple introduced new features, the presenters often prefaced it with, “One of the features most requested by our users …” This phrase speaks volumes about Apple’s changed approach and value of user requests.
Apple Mail has felt abandoned for years, but this year major new features are being added. Likewise, Messages is adding several features “requested by users,” including message editing and even message callback.
The weather app is finally coming to the iPad and Mac. I remember my wife and me searching for the weather app when we bought our first iPads. We felt disappointment and bewilderment upon finding that there was no weather app on the iPad. It just didn’t make sense to us, and hasn’t made sense for years. But finally, Apple has listened and is adding this much-requested feature.
There has been a lot of discussion and criticism leveled at Apple by power users recently about the lack of pro features on pro iPad devices. Apple has apparently been listening and is now introducing multiple, sizable windows on the iPad. In addition, they have designed an entirely new feature, Stage Manager, to better manage multiple open windows on the iPad and the Mac.
The final feature I’d like to highlight is the completely redesigned System Preferences panel, now designated System Settings. This feature wasn’t even announced during the WWDC keynote. But again, it’s a striking example of Apple giving some love to a feature that it has ignored for years. I’ve heard some podcasters wishing that Apple would redesign the system preferences to be more like the settings app in iOS and iPadOS, but I never imagined it would actually happen this year!
Final Thoughts
It’s obvious to me that over the past few years, there has been a radical shift in Apple’s device design philosophy and response to user requests for both hardware and software.
One of the main reasons I use Apple products is that they’re beautiful. I love the simplicity, the rounded corners, and the aluminum cases. Apple distinguishes itself from every other computer maker by its focus on beautiful design, both in its devices and its software. So, I applaud Apple’s emphasis on design.
Yet at the same time, I also appreciate functionality. There has to be a balance between form and function. In years past, I think Apple overemphasized form, harming function. It now appears they are taking a more balanced approach, valuing both form and function. We Apple users are the ones benefitting from this new approach, and I welcome it.