Apple’s iOS 10: the good and the bad

Apple is releasing a new version of its mobile operating system in a few months, bringing the company up to a nice round number: iOS 10.

Before the launch, Apple is allowing anyone to test the software and give their feedback. First, I would not recommend that most people download this beta.

Bugs are par for the course with all early software and could try the patience of those who don’t test imperfect things for fun.

After a week with the beta, I’m confused about where Apple is heading with this update. It’s true that this build is, by definition, not ready for primetime and it would be unfair to properly review it.

But it is basically the software that will hit millions of devices in just a few months and is not what I’ve come to expect from Apple.

There are many things I like. Apple has enhanced the health functions to track sleep, among other new data. This system also lets you erase icons for some of the pre-installed apps (Tips, Watch, etc) that many relegate to a permanently unused folder.

Apple has also done some work on messages, that makes it easier to send music, sketches, .gifs and photos. You can also send very large emoji. It’s sort of silly, but definitely fun. These features are welcome.

That can’t be said of other tweaks to the system, which seem to move way from the logical, simple design that make Apple stand out in the first place.

Many menus and navigation screens have gained extra panels, which have the effect of making each individual pane more simple, but complicate navigation overall.

For example, the control centre that appears when you swipe up from the bottom of the screen now has two sections - one with the Bluetooth, brightness and other familiar panel controls, plus a second just for music and volume.

These controls used to be on one screen. In fact, it took me a couple days to even realise the volume control was there at all.

These menus look a lot like the bubbly, almost empty layout you see on notifications for the Apple Watch. But sparse design makes sense on that small screen. While it’s understandable - even admirable - for Apple to want to unify the look of its systems across devices, it hasn’t been done in a user-focused way. That’s unusual for Apple.

Apple has also changed the lock screen so that richer notifications can be accessed on their own screen with a swipe to the right.

You can also search for apps from this new section on the lock screen. That’s a win for convenience, but not for privacy. I changed the widgets that I put in my notifications screen because they felt more exposed.

Others may want to turn off the ability to get the notification centre on their lock screen altogether, through settings in the Touch ID and Passcode menu. Many of these complaints may sound like small cosmetic gripes, but others are more serious. And all illustrate my puzzlement about why Apple is changing the feel of a system that has helped propel it to such heights.

There’s time for the company to refine the software - something that will happen. But if the beta is anything to go by, users will have to prepare for changes that may confuse them. - The Washington Post