Microsoft is now a braver, more innovative company than Apple • Hacker News Board

Re: Microsoft is now a braver, more innovative company than Apple

#241

Post by erikbye » Mon, Oct 31, 2016, 5:18 PM UTC

pivo wrote: post #133

erikbye wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Will it take far longer? I don't know... if they continue this push of implementing mobile features on macOS, trying to make it more and more like iOS. This seems like it could be a very effective way of alienating even more pro users. To an extent it has already happened. Seems like Apple has become unwilling to spend resources on features pro users want.

What, in your opinion, has Apple done to macOS to make it more like iOS that alienates pro users? Has any iOS-like feature of macOS actually prevented you from using macOS functionality? I'm using Sierra and honestly haven't even noticed much difference from the previous OS except for the siri icon on my toolbar.

No, you’re right, it is not about a single iOS-like feature hampering "pro user functionality". It is the amalgam effect of Apple’s efforts of catering to the iPhone user, or the average Mac user, that alienates pro users. If you look at headline features for Yosemite, El Capitan, and Sierra, there is not a single "pro user" feature there, but plenty for your average Joe.

In short: the pro user segment is alienated by Apple’s seemingly indifferent attitude towards them, and the increased integration, or synergy, of iOS with macOS does not help in any way. Generally, pro and power users want flexibility, options, customizability.

Apple seems hell bent on removing choice. Pro users were alienated when they removed firewire connectivity, you need adapters and dongles for just about everything now, and it’s not like this will be remedied with the 2016 MBP is it? Then there is the sad thing that is Mac Pro... That is how Apple actually forced a lot of pro users onto hackintosh systems, as unbelievable as that sounds, but you can run a hackintosh and have a better, more flexible, more performant, macOS experience, than with the real Mac Pro...

Re: Microsoft is now a braver, more innovative company than Apple

#242

Post by cma » Mon, Oct 31, 2016, 5:34 PM UTC

pjc50 wrote: post #179

cma wrote: post #178

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One big issue is still the 260-character path-name limitation. Deep source directories choke on that, especially if you copy them around for backup, etc. You end up abbreviating class names in the file names and mess up searchability. You end up using single letter directories like 'C:\b\' instead of 'C:\backup\', etc. as workarounds. It all feels very MS DOS.

It looks like that's one of the things that they've finally, finally fixed (but only if you turn it on): https://mspoweruser.com/ntfs-260-character-windows-10/

If it is only fixed if you turn it on, it isn't really fixed yet IMO. You can't make public projects rely on it, etc. without turning off a big percentage of your users.

Re: Microsoft is now a braver, more innovative company than Apple

#243

Post by orbitalv » Mon, Oct 31, 2016, 5:39 PM UTC

jmanderley wrote: post #171

simonh wrote: post #73

The central premise is that Apple isn't innovative anymore. Let's look at the technologies Apple has materially advanced over the last few years. * Custom screen technology leap-frogging 4K displays directly to 5K, at a full-system price below that of a 4K screen alone from competitors at the time. * wide colour gamut screen tech putting them several years ahead of the competition. * Brand new screen digitiser techno…

Do you get all your tech knowledge from marketing material? And what is specific to Apple about wide color gamut displays? These types of displays have been common for years. Apple didn't invent 5k screens.

Are any of these displays on tablets/laptops? No, they aren't because they usually require bulkier CFL backlights.

Apple also didn't invent the micro harddrives in their iPods. So what?

Re: Microsoft is now a braver, more innovative company than Apple

#244

Post by orbitalv » Mon, Oct 31, 2016, 5:40 PM UTC

beedogs wrote: post #135

simonh wrote: post #73

The central premise is that Apple isn't innovative anymore. Let's look at the technologies Apple has materially advanced over the last few years. * Custom screen technology leap-frogging 4K displays directly to 5K, at a full-system price below that of a 4K screen alone from competitors at the time. * wide colour gamut screen tech putting them several years ahead of the competition. * Brand new screen digitiser techno…

> * Custom screen technology leap-frogging 4K displays directly to 5K, at a full-system price below that of a 4K screen alone from competitors at the time. It's literally just a rebadged LG display.

Does Microsoft make their own displays? How is this relevant?

Re: Microsoft is now a braver, more innovative company than Apple

#245

Post by stouset » Mon, Oct 31, 2016, 5:40 PM UTC

bdcravens wrote: post #232

xenobioticants wrote: post #141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here you go: # Privacy: don’t send search queries to Apple # Safari defaults write com.apple.Safari UniversalSearchEnabled -bool false defaults write com.apple.Safari SuppressSearchSuggestions -bool true # Spotlight defaults write com.apple.spotlight orderedItems -array \ '{"enabled" = 0;"name" = "MENU_WEBSEARCH";}' \ '{"enabled" = 0;"name" = "MENU_SPOTLIGHT_SUGGESTIONS";}' Also turn off Dictation in System Preferenc…

The fact that such hacks (which really aren't known beyonds developers) are necessary makes a very loud statement.

No, the few things these switches are toggling are nanoscopic in the grand scheme of things, and the data sent are only that necessary to implement an ostensibly useful feature.

Compare to the shit that Windows 10 collects, and the comparison isn't even remotely close.

Re: Microsoft is now a braver, more innovative company than Apple

#246

Post by orbitalv » Mon, Oct 31, 2016, 5:42 PM UTC

jhasse wrote: post #195

simonh wrote: post #150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>What technology are you talking about? The way the pen and screen work together, and the screen sandwich layering that significantly reduces parallax between the pencil tip and image. Regarding processor tech I was mainly thinking of the move to 64bit and secure enclave which completely out-manoeuvred the competition. I'm not saying Apple is the only company innovating, Android Wear is a credible and innovative alte…

> Regarding processor tech I was mainly thinking of the move to 64bit and secure enclave which completely out-manoeuvred the competition. Why is the move to 64 bit so important, but the move to 4 cores isn't? I don't really see why 64 bit makes sense for This is also the first time I hear about Secure Enclave. TouchID isn't that secure anyway ( https://www.ccc.de/en/updates/2013/ccc-breaks-apple-touchid ), so I reall…

It's not the addressable memory that is important about 64bit, but the modern instruction set that came with 64bit that makes the processor faster.

Re: Microsoft is now a braver, more innovative company than Apple

#247

Post by orbitalv » Mon, Oct 31, 2016, 5:46 PM UTC

kakarot wrote: post #112

simonh wrote: post #73

The central premise is that Apple isn't innovative anymore. Let's look at the technologies Apple has materially advanced over the last few years. * Custom screen technology leap-frogging 4K displays directly to 5K, at a full-system price below that of a 4K screen alone from competitors at the time. * wide colour gamut screen tech putting them several years ahead of the competition. * Brand new screen digitiser techno…

Would you mind elaborating on points 3-5 for me? I haven't heard about #3, I guess I don't understand 3D Touch's hardware specs enough to know what you mean with #4, and I just don't believe #5.

Apple's ipad pro/pencil is better than the previous industry best (Wacom) by a wide margin. It's more sensitive, better ergonomics (narrow diameter, not plastic), much lower initial activation pressure. Paired with a much better display in a more portable package at similar price to a Cintiq companion. Professional artists are flocking to it in droves.

From my facebook feed where I follow artists from AAA game companies: Blizzard, EA, 343, etc.

Re: Microsoft is now a braver, more innovative company than Apple

#248

Post by benaadams » Mon, Oct 31, 2016, 5:59 PM UTC

amnesiac_200 wrote: post #228

So far at least; Candy Crush Saga has not repeatedly downloaded onto my Mac without my permission and installed itself into my Dock; as 'a suggestion'. In this respect at least; I will take the less innovative Apple every time. Microsoft have embraced and extended the Apple App store concept into something profoundly irritating; intrusive and annoying.

Right click on the "suggestion" and select "turn off all suggestions" from the menu provided

Re: Microsoft is now a braver, more innovative company than Apple

#249

Post by Zigurd » Mon, Oct 31, 2016, 6:00 PM UTC

Are you that easily impressed by old wine (pun intended) in new bottles?

What happens when you have that fancy desktop tabletoid thing configured as an easel and you use some non-touch, legacy application? On real touch devices, you never have to change out of touch mode.

Re: Microsoft is now a braver, more innovative company than Apple

#250

Post by novaleaf » Mon, Oct 31, 2016, 6:01 PM UTC

pjc50 wrote: post #179

cma wrote: post #178

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One big issue is still the 260-character path-name limitation. Deep source directories choke on that, especially if you copy them around for backup, etc. You end up abbreviating class names in the file names and mess up searchability. You end up using single letter directories like 'C:\b\' instead of 'C:\backup\', etc. as workarounds. It all feels very MS DOS.

It looks like that's one of the things that they've finally, finally fixed (but only if you turn it on): https://mspoweruser.com/ntfs-260-character-windows-10/

yeah, and break all apps that use the old 255 char win32 api's.

another thing to note is that it requires the windows insider preview, which in my experience required auto reboots every few days. very frustrating so I had to revert....

Switching off of Insider Preview is a TERRIBLE experience of it's own: You can't actually revert back. you either have to restore from backup (which isn't mentioned when you switch to insider preview mode) or wait for the next mainline release, which may be 6+ months away, and you have to MANUALLY TRACK when insider syncs with main and then switch to main during the window in which they are matched.