Electron apps are ruining the Windows 11 experience, and even the JavaScript creator has warned against ‘rushed web UX over native,’ but it doesn’t look like that will change Microsoft’s plans. In a post on X and other places, Microsoft reaffirmed its commitment to AI in Windows 11 and encouraged Electron developers to consider using AI in their apps.
The one thing Apple has done an amazing job of over the years is providing a solid, clean, common application framework for all of their systems.
They’ve fucked it up recently, but basically, 90% of the time you’d get the same consistent interface design across all apps, with common design language and iconography and accessibility features. They aggressively deprecate so you have to keep that $100 dev fee rolling, but the experience has been good for the the better part of 20 years (post carbon & X11, pre-liquid ass, the cocoa years).
If everything on Windows is a vibe-coded web app then everything is going to look like different, feel like shit to use, and perform like shit.
I am happy to report: Windows apps that look different, feel shit to use and perform like shit are already available!
E.g. Teams, the CPU warmer from hell, was rolled out to Windows long ago. It was coded for Electron and couldn’t even integrate with Microsoft Windows’ taskbar popups. They had to fake one by creating a window that moved itself up from below the screen. Did this break when you changed resolution? Yes it did. Did it break when you moved the taskbar? Yes it did. Did it break when- YES IT DID
iOS doesn’t even have a universal back button, every app has their own way of implementing it.
It has swipe to the right from the side of the screen. That works in very application I’ve tried.
It’s not universal. It has become more common, but there is no OS-level enforcement
If your app uses NavigationView, like 80% of apps, you get a back button and swipe gesture for free.
How has Apple fucked up recently?
As an avid Apple user the most recent ui changes are unfathomably bad. The os has become notably less useful to me in som frustrating ways. I can solve some but not all of it through settings.
You mean since 26? I agree. I dunno who they have at the wheel, but they need to step down lol.
It was this guy. And he left for Facebook. Where he belongs.
https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/apple-iphone-alan-dye-design-move-b2878226.html
IIRC the person most responsible for Liquid Glass now works at Meta.
The person responsible already did.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/apple-loses-longtime-design-leader-113710722.html
~~https://finance.yahoo.com/news/apples-ai-chief-abruptly-steps-232333738.html~~
That’s the AI, which is only a small fraction of the problem with 26.
Sorry. My bad.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/apple-loses-longtime-design-leader-113710722.html
Idk I’ve really liked it. Accessibility was an issue in the demos, it’s not anymore; the changes are purely aesthetic and tbf it does look nice
The transparency is still painful for me. And I used to be able to two finger click on my apps app to see a list of all apps that I could quickly scroll to and get. Instead of that quick and easy interaction now I get a window that pops up and forces me to type search Params, and it always has the last thing I searched in there so I can’t just scroll. It turned a “two finger click, scroll, one finger click” activity I could do with a single hand into “click, click, hold backspace, type Params, click” activity that is way less convenient and requires both hands.
ngl I did make the jump to liquid glass on Macos, but for iOs I started on liquid glass (and quickly came back to Android once I realised I could not stand youtube without adblock and sponsorblock), so I definitely did not miss features and did like the looks of the UI