This is such a totally Apple movetechnology that doesnt seem like technology.
These devices are almost like appliances.
If all goes well, they just work.
Ayotunde Ojo / Unsplash
It Just WorksTM
Apples product philosophy is pretty easy to follow.
Today, were looking at the last two, which are intertwined.
Often, Apple leaves popular features out because it doesnt think theyll make the experience better.
Joan Tran / Unsplash
A great example is touchscreens for Macs.
They dont have them and, if you believe the official line, never will.
Does this make Macs better?
Maybe,because the Macs UI is really not suited to touch.
But maybe not, because who hasnt reached up to their MacBooks screen to tap a link?
Joan Tran / Unsplash
One of Apples definitions of “better” is often “simpler.”
In the case of the Apple Pencil, everything lines up.
It has no moving parts, no blinking LEDs, not even a port for charging.
But its a beautifully complex machine, sensing motion, tilt angle, and pressure.
Simple Is Not Always Good
But that simplicity can often be a hindrance.
In Apples apps, for example, core functionality is often hidden behind several layers of menus.
And dont get me started on Pages or Logic Pro.
Apple’s minimalist design choices are especially evident in their premium hardware…
The other downside of Apples drive to simplicity can be seen in its hardware over the last half decade.
Another downside of a product as seemingly simple as the Apple Pencil is its utterly impossible to repair.
To get to the battery and other parts, youd have to cut the thing open.
Reversal
Perhaps the balance is shifting back the other way.
This all counts as more complex, but in a way its simpler.
You just have to carry your MacBook, and nothing else.
No dongles for connecting to monitors or projectors.
No USB SD card reader.
The ideal would be a polar approach.
That could keep everyone happy, even Apple.
