Bad Dye Job

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Overall Reaction to Dye’s Departure and Lemay’s Promotion

  • Many commenters are pleased or “giddy” that Apple’s software design leadership is changing, hoping it mirrors how hardware improved after Jony Ive left.
  • Some see this as a “positive transformation” and expect repressed designers to finally “set things right.”
  • Others are more cynical, arguing the glassy “Liquid Glass” direction was a broader corporate decision, so Dye leaving doesn’t remove the remaining “clowns.”

Debate Over Gruber’s Credibility and Sources

  • Several comments question how an Apple-focused commentator could say he’d “never heard much” about Lemay, suggesting his sources may be mostly engineers or mid‑level managers.
  • Others respond that quiet, competent designers don’t generate gossip, and that he has criticized Dye and Apple UI for years, including on his podcast.
  • There’s discussion that one critical piece and some inflammatory language may have reduced his Apple access.

Assessment of Dye-Era Design and “Liquid Glass”

  • Widespread criticism of recent UI: unreadable transparency, disruptive popups (e.g., Apple Music over Maps, CarPlay notifications), and “FU UX” moments.
  • “Liquid Glass” is seen by many as form-over-function compared with Aqua’s detail-obsessed, task-focused design.
  • A minority defends Liquid Glass (and other polarizing Apple choices) as similar to how iOS 7 was initially hated but became an industry direction.
  • Some note Lemay reportedly contributed to Liquid Glass as well, tempering expectations.

Hardware vs Software and Authentication UX

  • Hardware design is viewed as having recovered (thicker Macs, post‑butterfly keyboard era), while software is “please!” or “jumped the shark.”
  • Strong debate over Face ID vs Touch ID:
    • Pro–Touch ID: more reliable for some users; can be in power button, back of phone, or under-screen; desire for its return and even for the physical home button.
    • Pro–Face ID: works well for others, including with masks; valued on iPad and newer iPhones.
  • Some praise specific recent UI wins (home-button-less iPhone X gestures, Dynamic Island).

Broader Critiques of Apple and OS Trends

  • Several long‑time users feel Apple has become a monopoly-like, ad/platform-first company that reduces user agency over data and filesystem.
  • Others counter that macOS Finder is still relatively transparent; iOS’s app-siloed model is more problematic.
  • Frustration with Apple’s Feedback Assistant and bug/UX issues (HDR auto‑brightness, playlist syncing behavior, iOS 26 notification readability) reinforces a sense that attention to detail and craftsmanship has declined.