Notices by Jason Snell :zeppelin: (jsnell@zeppelin.flights)

This has always been a huge part of the problem with Apple's strategy here -- you're asking app developers to become faceless back-end processors for information to be mined by Siri. If the future of phones is using AI assistants, then the future of apps is to be grist for the mill. Hard to envision a lot of app developers being willing to work extra hard to be fed into the wood chipper.
https://mastodon.social/@stroughtonsmith/114122893893005514

Just posted on Six Colors: Apple delays some anticipated Apple Intelligence features

https://sixcolors.com/post/2025/03/apple-delays-some-anticipated-apple-intelligence-features/

Just to reiterate something we discussed on @upgrade few weeks ago:

* Apple got all the benefit of announcing these features last June, when it needed to change the narrative about it embracing AI

* Now when nobody's really looking they announce they won't ship till iOS 19, they'll take a few shots but it's not going to undo what the 2024 PR and marketing blitz did

* I'm sure that Apple executives are comfortable making that trade

* We must be even more skeptical about WWDC 25 announcements

Just posted on Six Colors: Sky (blue)’s the limit: M4 MacBook Air offers lower price, improved camera, and new color

https://sixcolors.com/post/2025/03/sky-blues-the-limit-m4-macbook-air-offers-lower-price-improved-camera-and-new-color/

Just posted on Six Colors: AltStore pokes the bear

https://sixcolors.com/post/2025/02/altstore-pokes-the-bear/

Just posted on Six Colors: Apple in 2024: The complete commentary

https://sixcolors.com/post/2025/02/apple-in-2024-the-complete-commentary/

Just posted on Six Colors: Apple’s reports record revenue for Q1 2025

https://sixcolors.com/post/2025/01/apples-reports-record-revenue-for-q1-2025/

There aren't so many silly, fun Mac apps like this these days. (There used to be a ton, back in the 80s and 90s.)

Festivitas! by @simonbs

https://sixcolors.com/link/2024/12/festivitas-hangs-holiday-lights-on-your-mac/

Enough is enough. It's time for the era of exclusive app stores and tight control to end. Apple has already solved this problem. The Mac is the way forward.

https://sixcolors.com/offsite/2024/11/the-app-store-era-must-end-and-the-mac-is-the-model/

Google just doesn’t care about indie developers or users that rely on their apps
https://social.panic.com/@panic/113273222385009576

Imagine battling legally for years for the right to do revolutionary things like listing prices and linking to your website
https://mastodon.social/@verge/112959946810992999

Just posted on Six Colors: Apple’s permissions features are out of balance

https://sixcolors.com/post/2024/08/apples-permissions-features-are-out-of-balance/

I know, I know, "security." This shows utter contempt for the user.

I was just asked to authorize an app that I've used SINCE THE 1990s so it would continue working for a week. And next week I guess it'll ask again?

You have to let the user say, somewhere, "never ask me again--always allow."
https://mastodon.online/@9to5Mac/112916905882020099

Why "utter contempt?" It's saying that, even if I know for a fact that I want to give a particular app permission, macOS will treat me a like a child and keep asking me. Because Apple doesn't believe I am qualified to grant permanent permission to any app.

Another sign that the people in charge of security and privacy features at Apple are out of control and that nobody who stands up for user experience is being heard.

I will share some good news. I haven't verified it lately, but it's my understanding that permissions now survive a system migration? Meaning that when you migrate, you won't have to approve 200 dialog boxes and check boxes in Settings to get apps up and running. That's a win for the users, I guess.

Meanwhile I suppose I should schedule some weekly 'authorize my apps to do what I installed them to do' time in my calendar...

Here's a thing I noticed today. macOS Sequoia changes how non-notarized apps are handled on first launch. I couldn't override by doing the control-click > Open > yes really Open dance. Instead, I had to go to the Settings app, to the Security screen, and click there to allow it to open. At which point it asked me AGAIN if I wanted to open it, and then had to put in my password!

I get the impulse about making it harder to socially engineer bad apps from opening, but... this is ridiculous.

Just posted on Six Colors: Apple’s immersive MLS highlight reel debuts later today

https://sixcolors.com/post/2024/03/apples-immersive-mls-highlight-reel-debuts-later-today/

Just posted on Six Colors: U.S. versus Apple: A first reaction

https://sixcolors.com/post/2024/03/u-s-versus-apple-a-first-reaction/

Here's @joesteel making the case (as has been clear for years IMO) that Apple should re-enter the wireless router market... quite frankly it should never have left
https://zeppelin.flights/@sixcolors/112128991363908758

Just posted on Six Colors: M3 MacBook Air Review: More of a good thing

https://sixcolors.com/post/2024/03/m3-macbook-air-review-more-of-a-good-thing/