Apple set to focus on "power users" with 10.9, but whither the regular folks?

Apple set to focus on "power users" with 10.9, but whither the regular folks? | iMore.com Skip to main content Android BlackBerry iPhone / iPad Windows Phone webOS SIGN UP|LOG IN iMore Forums Apps Games Accessories Reviews How-To Podcasts Contests iPhone iPad mini iPad iPod touch Apple TV iOS iCloud iTunes Mac Hot: iPhone 5S Guides: iPhone buyers | iPad buyers | iOS users Free: Wallpaper | iPhone apps, games | iPad apps, games Shop Online Cases Chargers Screen protectors Headsets & More Free shipping on orders over $50 Apple set to focus on "power users" with 10.9, but whither the regular folks? By Peter Cohen, Monday, Apr 29, 2013 a 6:29 pm 13

WWDC will bring with it the first developer's looks at new versions of OS X and iOS; Apple VP Phil Schiller said so when the company announced WWDC's dates. According to Mark Gurman of 9to5Mac, OS X 10.9 will tout features geared toward "power users," among them better Spaces management for multi-monitor systems, tabbed browsing and more.

As a power user, I'm encouraged by the idea that Apple is dedicating time and resources to helping me get more out of the OS X user experience. That's a good start, but I hope Apple doesn't lose the forest through the trees. As intuitive as it is for many of us to use, OS X can still be daunting for new users, especially the new users assimilated by the "halo effect" of iOS devices they're already using.

Macs are supposed to "just work," but as the operating system has evolved so has the complexity of the Mac's interactions with the world around it. iCloud is still subject to random outages and problems - I spent hours last week trying to figure out why my wife's calendar and e-mail weren't synching, only to find after all that that my calendar had fallen out of sync as well. I've worked with users new to the platform that have absolutely no idea how to get their iPad to synchronize with their Mac.

iTunes is a horrible, bloated beast, and while its upgrade cycle isn't implictly tied to the operating system update schedule, that seems like a good time to deconstruct things a bit. iTunes has become this massive digital cloaca through which all information flows to iOS devices, and, oh yeah, it plays music and videos too. Maybe it's time for Apple to start breaking apart these features into separate applications, or just figuring out a less unwieldy way to let iTunes manage it all. And don't even get me started on iPhoto.

Jony Ive is responsible for the direction of Apple's Human Interface teams, and is apparently putting his stamp on iOS 7. I hope he's doing the same with OS X, because his minimalist sensibility is definitely needed in areas where OS X has become anything but minimal.

Source: 9to5Mac

Peter Cohen

Senior Editor of iMore, Mac and gaming specialist, co-founder of The Loop, co-host of Angry Mac Bastards, and all-around technologist. Follow him on Twitter @flargh

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More of: Mac Os X, Os X, Macintosh, Apple, 10.9, os x 10.9, Mac ? PreviouslyTodoMovies for iPhone review: Get notified of release dates, track watched movies, and more Next up ?Microsoft makes Windows Phone commercial, sells iPhone instead There are 13 comments. Add yours. nolhayes says: Apr 29, 2013 at 8:04 pm - 1 day ago

iPhoto is so complicated. I've only used it on the iPhone and iPad and i've stopped immediately. I'd love a Mac but my Vaio with 4gb ram and 320gb hard drive is still strong and kicking. What I'd really really love is if they could make iMessage work on desktops but that's a big wish.
In regards to the story, catering to power users has the recipe for making things more complicated with adding features/shortcuts etc that normal users will never learn/use.
However if its available people may use it, so might as well make enhancements available.

SN: the new iTunes column browser was a downgrade!

Reply Galley says: Apr 30, 2013 at 7:09 am - 22 hours ago

iMessage runs on the Mac, and iPhoto on the Mac is totally different (and easy to use).

Reply vianar says: Apr 29, 2013 at 9:01 pm - 1 day ago

What constitutes a power user?
I use my computer for document creation, photo storage and editing, video storage and editing, image creation (photoshop), presentation creation, spreadsheet/statistical analysis, as well as the day to day surfing, email, reading, streaming,...
Do I qualify? I don't think I am a power user visa vie programming or blogging, are these people power users you are referring to? I think making a classification like "power user" has to be defined so that people following know if the changes coming down the pike are applicable to them or the user may feel abandoned by the change in focus/development. I am just being picky. Good post, I am liking your contributions to the site, keep it up!

Reply nolhayes says: Apr 29, 2013 at 9:24 pm - 1 day ago

your a power user.

Reply Irelandjnr says: Apr 30, 2013 at 12:50 pm - 16 hours ago

*you're

Reply SockRolid says: Apr 29, 2013 at 9:03 pm - 1 day ago

Re: "Jony Ive is responsible for the direction of Apple's Human Interface teams, and is apparently putting his stamp on iOS 7. I hope he's doing the same with OS X, because his minimalist sensibility is definitely needed in areas where OS X has become anything but minimal."

Agree. But I think from here on out, iOS will lead the way and OS X will follow. At least in terms of OS "family resemblance." Not necessarily in terms of unification of features or functions.

And yes, I fully expect Apple to continue to patent their work in UI design.
And to continue to defend their patented work against all the copycats.

Reply RicharDeanAreMe says: Apr 29, 2013 at 9:40 pm - 1 day ago

Glad that Apple is adding more "Power user" features to OSx. Better multi monitor support is at the top of my list. However Jony Ive seems to want to minimalize the OS I love. I just hope he's not going down the path of Windows 8. Colored tiles are in my nightmares. OSx is after all a Desktop environment right know. Sckeumorphism is still cool, within reason. Its what sets OSx apart from everything else. Look at an Apple computer screen and you would instantly know it's Apple. Apple should just be....Apple. By the way, I say put the optical drive back in and make it Blu-ray. My 3 monitor 27" iMac system would love it. (Just Saying)

Reply SockRolid says: Apr 29, 2013 at 10:31 pm - 1 day ago

Re: "OSx is after all a Desktop environment right know. "

Except when you use apps in full-screen mode.

Re: "By the way, I say put the optical drive back in and make it Blu-ray."

Don't hold your breath.
Never. Going. To. Happen.

Reply RicharDeanAreMe says: Apr 29, 2013 at 10:56 pm - 1 day ago

I realize there will probably never be blu-ray in any mac...ever. But I do use an external, on my iMAC. With some third party software it works pretty awesome. I'm a realist, but, also an optimist. There are new people running Apple now. It can change. Regardless of what industry experts say, Blu-ray still has a long shelf life. Just look around at peoples libraries. DVD's and Blu-rays. PS3 is Blu-ray. The next Xbox will be Blu-ray. Blu-ray may not be in Apples plans, but, it isn't over yet. Not by a long shot. Sales may be down, but they are not going away. Bandwidth in the country is insanely expensive, and capped. Until that changes, optical media is here to stay for a while. Even Windows 8 still Plays Blu-ray natively with Windows Media Player. So maybe if I hold my breath long enough, Apple, will change its mind. I know Apple's iTunes is a big part of no Blu-ray. But, in my opinion Blu-ray would make an iMac much more attractive. Especially with a 27" iMac screen. Bet ya iMac sales would go up....

Reply richard451 says: Apr 30, 2013 at 10:52 am - 18 hours ago

OSX is a dead man walking. Hopefully Apple is devoting little to no resources on it

Reply Irelandjnr says: Apr 30, 2013 at 12:52 pm - 16 hours ago

It's not dead yet by any means.

Reply MacBook Pro says: Apr 30, 2013 at 1:35 pm - 15 hours ago

"Better Spaces management for multi-monitor systems" and "tabbed browsing" are not power user features.

There are numerous unsupported statements without any analysis in the article. The author is simply regurgitating common themes (that have been demonstrated as ridiculous when context is added).

"iCloud is still subject to random outages and problems;" while true, even the most advanced and expensive enterprise solutions have outages. We only need look to Google Apps Status Dashboard for a comparison. Google Apps appears to have as many issues as Apple iCloud despite Google Apps being an enterprise solution with the expectations associated with such a solution.

"iTunes is a horrible, bloated beast;" why and how does Apple solve the issue practically and reasonably? Should Apple split iTunes into nearly one dozen applications as on iOS devices? Do consumers want that? Do consumers really have major issues with iTunes and where is the survey to support such a claim?

"... don't even get me started on iPhoto;" don't even get me started on this statement.

Reply asuperstarr says: Apr 30, 2013 at 6:47 pm - 10 hours ago

Any improvement is always a good thing.

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