Post
Apple has built this mythology of a user-friendly OS. But as I'm setting up a test Mac for development builds, I'm struck by the many tiny UX papercuts.
Case in point:
1) Erase Mac -> connect to WiFi and enter password.
2) Install: select WiFi again, enter password you just typed again (!); no password reveal option
3) "New Apple Account" - no password reveal option; short input field with poor scrolling behavior; doesn't tell me early that an account already exists with my email address
@eloquence It's a real problem. I help people with tech in a public library setting. Any field where they can't see the password they typed (like literally no reveal mechanism, as you've seen) is really a problem for them. Some of their authentication happens by one device pinging another device and so if the user doesn't have both devices on them they are unable to do certain things. And don't get me started on the dumb "secret questions" which are often some form of "What is your favorite X?"
Yep, I just had to deal with the secret questions. I was lucky enough I still remembered what I had put for one of them!
@eloquence Apple's authentication schemes have some real abandonware vibes. It should not take that long for me to just log into iCloud. Why does it? It's mysterious. I still find it more user-friendly than Windows but that's not saying much.
@eloquence I don't know who thinks Apple OSes are user-friendly. It's just we have no alternative at least for smartphones, at least no viable alternative for some niche cases, but otherwise... I'd never use an Apple thing if I had a robust alternative.
And that's without even getting into all the weird macOS-isms that have been around for decades, like the "drag this icon to this other icon to install the app".
I'd love to see a more thorough analysis of UX papercuts and mental model assumptions between macOS vs. Ubuntu or another Linux distro that puts emphasis on usability.
Oh wow, the "Forgot password" flow is amazing as well.
- "We locked your account for security reasons. Follow the link in your email to reset your password."
- Email: "Click this link to reset your password.:"
- Webpage: Please enter your password to continue. [tiny link: Forgot password?]
Just fantastic work, Apple. Really thought this through.
@eloquence Apple is critically allergic to thinking things through. The company that actually believes it's own "it just works" bullshit so much that they never consider "what if it doesn't work?"
Total number of times I had to enter the same password to reset an Apple ID: three. Such attention to user experience, much wow.
Set your name and username, but we'll focus you on the password field.
If you try to select the username field before you set a password, we'll bounce you right back to the password field, reminding you it can't be empty.
"This is great. Ship it."
@eloquence I am happy to find people who also see Apple losing ground on the #UX front. I use iOS and get frustrated with every update. A pity.
@eloquence Jesus Christ. Nightmare scenario.
@eloquence ...have you ever tried Apple Mail?
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