We are not alone: "Declining software quality is just one of the many issues bugging [all] Apple users[, not just the blind]". MACWORLD ARTICLE

…since 1999.

Apple needs to drop the ESG pandering, simplify and return to its core value of being a company focused on Think Different. It's unpleasant to think about, but it needs to restructure and possibly lay off some of its workforce to think smarter in this economy and prep for the future. Like an overgrown forest, some cutting needs to be done in order to maintain growth.

My suggestions:
Return to a simplified hardware line-up. How many MacBook Pros are there now? An M1, an M2, an M2 Pro and M2 Max flavours confuse the product line. Same goes for iPad and desktop Macs. I'd make six Macs: A consumer, prosumer and pro versions of a desktop and laptop. They would each come with higher specs by default as the consumer is buying for longevity and the services model can sustain the R&D costs of developing new hardware.
In addition, simplify the mobile line-up including iPhone. Does anyone out there use a 14 Plus? Similar to the Macs, there should be a base and pro model of iPhone and iPad.

As for the software, Apple should take the approach that odd-numbered releases introduce new features; even-numbered releases should contain few or no new features and offer stability, performance and efficiency enhancements as well as bug fixes. Anyone remember Snow Leopard offering "No new features?"

Get rid of the yearly cadence of delivering new software releases and push out new features when they are warranted. Regular updates are fine and if Apple needs to say, "We got nothing… but we're working on solving these problems," then so be it. Having a deadline-driven cadence like this ultimately makes software teams sloppy because releases are rushed without taking QA into consideration.

Finally, Apple needs to double down on simplicity. Perfection does not come when there's nothing left to add, but when there's nothing left to take away. There are too many features being added to Apple's software that take focus away from getting work done. Having said this, I would still prefer a Mac over a PC as I am not managing the computer and focusing on my work.

This is just one person's opinion. Thanks for sharing the article, Bruce.

I think I'd have to agree slightly with this article. I keep reading about how Apple is working on such and such a thing, which will cost thousands of bucks and be uber-cool and all that. But guess what? There are like 200 different flavors of the same product, just to confuse shoppers. This coming from a satisfied Apple customer who is on his second Mac and still owns an iPhone 7. Keep in mind that my dad and I recently got rid of my land line primarily due to my move back downstairs in my apartment complex. So if I'm left with the decision not to get another iPhone due to the cost involved, guess what? Yup, no more phone at all for me. I'm not settling for Android unless I am forced to, because I've read too many things that indicate their accessibility is severely lacking. Additionally, I don't think anybody in my area is trained on Android accessibility. I honestly forget exactly where I was going with this, but it does seem like Apple just needs to focus on what they already have. Experience has shown me that they care immensely about accessibility, and what if accessibility were to take a back seat? I'm honestly perhaps beginning to see some of the issues which have previously been discussed on here. That's all for now, as I'm going back downstairs for all the Father's Day/birthday fun.

TV? pointer finger. IOS?, middle finger, no pun intended here. Ipad OS? Ring Finger. Mac OS? pinkie. Watch OS? Thumb, said Jack Horner. Now if Homepod ever gets anything but a cursory update, it'd get the sixth or pointer finger on the right hand, as the left is taken up. apple is to focused on proffits, not on the end user.

I always figured we weren't alone. Now we know the aliens are running Apple. Explains a lot...
Not sure where the iPhone is going in all of this, but I've written the Mac off my list of possibilities. It's just not worth squeezing that last drop of blood out of the turnip. I do like lots of the features they added lately to IOS, like being able to connect data storage, and VO did get lots of enhancements over the last few years. I've also become dependent on a few apps. So can the other aliens, Android, meet my needs?

You know, Apple has recently been working on this thing called Reality OS. So perhaps they no longer care that much about iOS?

I haven't seen a significant accessibility update from apple in years; google is a different story, though. Unlike apple, I see changes in talkback with every update. The braille support is still not great, but it means a lot to see improvements being made. I have an iPhone now, but I might end up upgrading my android device instead if things keep heading downhill.

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