MS Write was my first WP app. Thought it was amazing. Then Word, which in the beginning was not obnoxious but today's subscription version is the Elm Street of useless bloat and worthless utility. Along the way came across Bare Bones Text Wrangler and it's worked great (also own Bare Bones BBEdit but seldom use) for many many years. And, b/c Mac, the built-in TextEdit is a well designed minimal app that just works. Today, I use Scrivener, from Literature and Latte. If you're a writer, this is hands wodn the app for everything from short notes to long form copy to the next great American novel. Inexpensive, stable, from writers for writers. But back to MSWD — nobody should ever try to design a logo or code a web page in Word.
Not that you’re still collecting bug reports/feature requests but I’m sure this is one that’s annoyed others: when using the search function for the App Store, why must I always tap the magnifying glass AND THEN tap into it again to type my search term? I mean, if I’m searching for something by tapping the magnifying glass, shouldn’t the cursor be automatically placed into the Search field so I can just type? (Definitely a first world issue but still…)
Although I have an iPhone and iPad, I don't use them for much other than texting (or rarely, phoning) or simply a convenient tablet to use when sitting in my reading chair rather then at my desk. So the lack of features, real or imagined, doesn't matter much to me. I do find that it is really annoying to have to go to "settings" and dig down to get to changes one might use a lot. Perhaps there are shortcuts. I've never bothered to look
But Microsoft is getting more and more and more annoying by actively ELIMINATING useful features. Two cases in point: eliminating Collections and not allowing one to move the task bar around in Win 11. The latter may have been corrected by now, but if so it took forever. I have found workarounds for both, other programs that actually do what those features did, but better. But I am not alone at ALL in objecting to the "retiring" of such features. Many, many did; Microsoft ignored them.
David, I don’t simply love that you’re doing this column. I adore that your wry humor bubbles forth in your very choice of subject and interviewee.
In this piece, it hasn’t been lost upon me that your central source of wisdom is a Microsoft designer. It comes across as if you couldn’t help it.
David, if you haven’t yet considered writing your own, Pogue-ish, ELEMENTS OF STYLE, you absolutely should. Not only would a Nor’easter of textbook royalties soak you and yours to the bone. Your name would, not unlike that of Everyone-Bows-to-you-know-Whom, reverberate for centuries in the teaching of English writing
I read that Shortcuts for Apple is going to finally be usable for normal people in iOS 28 due to adding AI and that's a very good thing. One thing I'm wondering, however, is if software developers and designers will no longer even try to make the interfaces user-friendly since they can just count on AI to allow people to use software without good design?
Very interesting. Seems to me several factors are in play. We all have different learning styles. Meeses saved my bacon. If I still had to learn keyboard shortcuts I might have abandoned computers.
There’s no consistency in user interfaces or graphic depictions of certain features or commands. How about the triple tap or five fingered swipe. Sorry, I sure didn’t see that coming.
Your examples of native features versus requests illustrates the confusion caused by “buried” features. I’m thinking a HAL human-machine interface might solve most issues. “Sorry, Dave, I can’t do that.”
The best advice you gave - “Google it.” Every time my wife can’t figure out how to do a task, whether in the Apple or the Microsoft universe, that’s what I suggest (if it’s not something I readily know how to do). But I have to say it nicely. 😉 (to her credit, she doesn’t push back)
I'm just not that interested in more convenience features from µSoft. The major issue is the µSoft hegemony business model of subscriptions and constant updates.
I got rid of Adobe Photoshop for exactly these reasons and adopted Affinity Photo (Canva). You pay once for forever service and it is every bit as good as Photoshop. I bought the one-time ReadIris OCR & PDF system. While MIcroSaft and Photoshop make everything more complicated and more xpensive, Apple and Affinity, make things easier and less expensive. As for the excuse "everybody" uses µSoft, I write in .Pages, then convert to .word and send it out. It's just one extra step that saves all the time spent going through Word.doc clutter. Really, it's the endless debate of picking your poison, and simple is always less poisonous.
David it's amazing that you're gifting us with fully reported, greatly written and amusing pieces that people have paid you handsomely for in the past. Kudos to you!
MS Write was my first WP app. Thought it was amazing. Then Word, which in the beginning was not obnoxious but today's subscription version is the Elm Street of useless bloat and worthless utility. Along the way came across Bare Bones Text Wrangler and it's worked great (also own Bare Bones BBEdit but seldom use) for many many years. And, b/c Mac, the built-in TextEdit is a well designed minimal app that just works. Today, I use Scrivener, from Literature and Latte. If you're a writer, this is hands wodn the app for everything from short notes to long form copy to the next great American novel. Inexpensive, stable, from writers for writers. But back to MSWD — nobody should ever try to design a logo or code a web page in Word.
Not that you’re still collecting bug reports/feature requests but I’m sure this is one that’s annoyed others: when using the search function for the App Store, why must I always tap the magnifying glass AND THEN tap into it again to type my search term? I mean, if I’m searching for something by tapping the magnifying glass, shouldn’t the cursor be automatically placed into the Search field so I can just type? (Definitely a first world issue but still…)
Although I have an iPhone and iPad, I don't use them for much other than texting (or rarely, phoning) or simply a convenient tablet to use when sitting in my reading chair rather then at my desk. So the lack of features, real or imagined, doesn't matter much to me. I do find that it is really annoying to have to go to "settings" and dig down to get to changes one might use a lot. Perhaps there are shortcuts. I've never bothered to look
But Microsoft is getting more and more and more annoying by actively ELIMINATING useful features. Two cases in point: eliminating Collections and not allowing one to move the task bar around in Win 11. The latter may have been corrected by now, but if so it took forever. I have found workarounds for both, other programs that actually do what those features did, but better. But I am not alone at ALL in objecting to the "retiring" of such features. Many, many did; Microsoft ignored them.
David, I don’t simply love that you’re doing this column. I adore that your wry humor bubbles forth in your very choice of subject and interviewee.
In this piece, it hasn’t been lost upon me that your central source of wisdom is a Microsoft designer. It comes across as if you couldn’t help it.
David, if you haven’t yet considered writing your own, Pogue-ish, ELEMENTS OF STYLE, you absolutely should. Not only would a Nor’easter of textbook royalties soak you and yours to the bone. Your name would, not unlike that of Everyone-Bows-to-you-know-Whom, reverberate for centuries in the teaching of English writing
You cannot send later to a group, either.
I read that Shortcuts for Apple is going to finally be usable for normal people in iOS 28 due to adding AI and that's a very good thing. One thing I'm wondering, however, is if software developers and designers will no longer even try to make the interfaces user-friendly since they can just count on AI to allow people to use software without good design?
Very interesting. Seems to me several factors are in play. We all have different learning styles. Meeses saved my bacon. If I still had to learn keyboard shortcuts I might have abandoned computers.
There’s no consistency in user interfaces or graphic depictions of certain features or commands. How about the triple tap or five fingered swipe. Sorry, I sure didn’t see that coming.
Your examples of native features versus requests illustrates the confusion caused by “buried” features. I’m thinking a HAL human-machine interface might solve most issues. “Sorry, Dave, I can’t do that.”
So, we’re still in the Clippy pipe dream?
The best advice you gave - “Google it.” Every time my wife can’t figure out how to do a task, whether in the Apple or the Microsoft universe, that’s what I suggest (if it’s not something I readily know how to do). But I have to say it nicely. 😉 (to her credit, she doesn’t push back)
Agreed. Just avoid medical questions.
David:
I'm just not that interested in more convenience features from µSoft. The major issue is the µSoft hegemony business model of subscriptions and constant updates.
I got rid of Adobe Photoshop for exactly these reasons and adopted Affinity Photo (Canva). You pay once for forever service and it is every bit as good as Photoshop. I bought the one-time ReadIris OCR & PDF system. While MIcroSaft and Photoshop make everything more complicated and more xpensive, Apple and Affinity, make things easier and less expensive. As for the excuse "everybody" uses µSoft, I write in .Pages, then convert to .word and send it out. It's just one extra step that saves all the time spent going through Word.doc clutter. Really, it's the endless debate of picking your poison, and simple is always less poisonous.
Thank you!
(The watch battery thing!)
David it's amazing that you're gifting us with fully reported, greatly written and amusing pieces that people have paid you handsomely for in the past. Kudos to you!
THANK YOU, good sir! Please spread the word!
Microsoft’s AI is their new Clippy.
Thank you for listening to our Apple software questions.
Nice to know someone is there for us.
Cheers,
Kkb