The new Apple begins to emerge

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Apple Leadership and Corporate Direction

  • Some want a hardware-focused successor to the current CEO; others explicitly don’t want leaders associated with aggressive services monetization.
  • Several argue Apple’s board, not just design leads, has lost clarity on why Apple is valuable and tolerates missteps.
  • There is skepticism that a “new Apple” is emerging; some see the Neo and leadership shuffles as incremental, not transformative.

Design, UX, and Software Quality

  • Many feel macOS/iOS UI has regressed: less distinguishable controls, more wasted space, inconsistent idioms, and “Liquid Glass” is a common target.
  • Others say day‑to‑day workflows haven’t meaningfully changed; visual complaints are seen as cyclical aesthetics.
  • Keyboard text selection, autocorrect, and nagging network-permission prompts are cited as concrete UX degradations.

Authentication & Input Experiences

  • Opinions on Face ID and Touch ID are split.
    • Some report Face ID as flawless, even with glasses/facial hair.
    • Others find it unreliable in low light or bright sun and wish Touch ID were still an option.
  • Butterfly keyboards and the Touch Bar are widely criticized, but a minority liked them.

Emotional Investment in Apple

  • Some compare caring about Apple to sports fandom or national institutions like Bell Labs.
  • Others reject corporate tribalism, viewing devices as interchangeable tools and switching brands freely.

MacBook Neo: Purpose and Reception

  • Broad agreement it’s a new category for Apple: a genuinely budget Mac notebook, roughly “Apple’s Chromebook.”
  • Praised for: low price, good build, strong performance for basic tasks, escape from Windows/Chromebooks, and strong early demand (e.g., preorders selling out).
  • Criticisms focus on: fixed 8 GB RAM and future e‑waste, single USB‑C arrangement, lack of Touch ID, and fears of “disposable” mindset.
  • Many see it as ideal for students, kids, light office work, and cloud‑centric dev; not for video editing or heavy local workloads.

Steve Lemay and Hopes for Change

  • Anecdotes from early macOS days depict Lemay as principled, able to justify design decisions, even if controversial.
  • Some fear his long tenure means he shares blame for current design issues; others hope his promotion signals a course correction away from Liquid Glass and recent UI missteps.