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My favorite iPhone feature was removed, long live its subpar replacement

technicallychallenged.substack.com

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Re: My favorite iPhone feature was removed, long live its subpar replacement

#141
post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My iPhone 12 mini is a bit over 1.5yrs old and has a 86% battery health. I hope this trend does not continue as fast or I guess I'll have to replace it sooner than later.

That sounds pretty fast, my 12 Pro Max is roughly the same age and at 96%

What's usually missing from these comparisons is how long people are actually using the phone and how they handle the battery.

Mine is an iPhone 7 I bought refurbished back in February 2017. This phone is likely to have seen less use than a friend of mine's phone bought at the end of 2021. It spends 95% of its life connected to a power source (even when I actively use it), so I expect the battery to last quite some time.

Re: My favorite iPhone feature was removed, long live its subpar replacement

#142

I didn't even knew that my favorite iPhone feature was listening to the music I want until Apple introduced forced shuffling, playing titles alphabetically and started disturbing built-in music player UX in order to push their online offering. It's a typical Cook's Apple experience to listen to 10 tracks from different albums, all called "Outro", after album chosen by me finishes playing with a track called "Outro" a…

> It's a typical Cook's Apple experience to listen to 10 tracks from different albums, all called "Outro", after album chosen by me finishes playing with a track called "Outro" and is set to repeat.

There’s a “infinity” toggle on the song list, which if you turn off stops that behaviour

Re: My favorite iPhone feature was removed, long live its subpar replacement

#143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was sure it was going to be about it as well! 3D touch was a really cool feature. I also find now that it’s a lot easier to activate the flashlight or camera on the Lock Screen since they are not ‘buttons’ any more

Every time I unlock my phone I’m reminded that the stupid flashlight button can’t be turned off. The 3 times this year I’ve needed to use my flashlight are not worth the 20+ times it’s been accidentally running in my pocket because I held the wrong corner while pocketing my phone. Plus it’s in control centre anyway If you need it fast.

Wow I don’t agree at all. I use the flashlight all of the time, and I rarely if ever activate it accidentally.

I actually used to hit it accidentally more often when it was a 3D touch button rather than a delay-based button.

Re: My favorite iPhone feature was removed, long live its subpar replacement

#144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That sounds pretty fast, my 12 Pro Max is roughly the same age and at 96%

What's usually missing from these comparisons is how long people are actually using the phone and how they handle the battery. Mine is an iPhone 7 I bought refurbished back in February 2017. This phone is likely to have seen less use than a friend of mine's phone bought at the end of 2021. It spends 95% of its life connected to a power source (even when I actively use it), so I expect the battery to last quite some t…

> What's usually missing from these comparisons is how long people are actually using the phone and how they handle the battery

According to my phone, over the last 10 days I had an average screen time of 3h34m per day. I use it to communicate and to consume media while commuting. I charge it whenever it needs some juice, it does get to down to 10%-20% sometimes.

But honestly I don't see how my usage can hurt it so much. And if my usage is indeed what damages the battery so much, then that seems to be Apples issue, considering how I'm really not a poweruser or whatever.

What battery health does your phone have? I can't imagine that having a phone connected to a power source 95% of its lifetime can be especially good for the battery.

Re: My favorite iPhone feature was removed, long live its subpar replacement

#145

I wonder if reliability was a factor in ending this feature. 3D touch malfunctions badly with a slightly swelling battery pressing against the lcd backplate inside the phone. Or a bend in the phone chassis. The 6s case was bent for every person who carried it in their back pocket. I saw malfunctioning 3d touch several times every week back when I was in phone repair. Especially with carrier insurance refurbs, where t…

I wonder if reliability was a factor in ending this feature. I think the issue is more that it was not very discoverable. A bet the vast majority of non-tech users didn't even know it existed and perhaps accidentally activated 3D touch much to their confusion. Removing it simplifies the hardware, avoids accidental activations and is less maintenance work. I still miss 3D Touch :(. I am happy that Macs still have Forc…

I’m a tech user and barely knew this feature existed. I noticed it wasn’t there yesterday because I didn’t accidentally engage it like I normally do.

It’s tough to sell a feature that has no interface. A little too minority report arm flailing for me :)

Re: My favorite iPhone feature was removed, long live its subpar replacement

#146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That sounds pretty fast, my 12 Pro Max is roughly the same age and at 96%

What's usually missing from these comparisons is how long people are actually using the phone and how they handle the battery. Mine is an iPhone 7 I bought refurbished back in February 2017. This phone is likely to have seen less use than a friend of mine's phone bought at the end of 2021. It spends 95% of its life connected to a power source (even when I actively use it), so I expect the battery to last quite some t…

Being constantly charging is actually bad for the battery life. Being around 100% stresses it… so that’s why some Apple devices now try to determine how much charge is needed and keep it at 80% if possible

Re: My favorite iPhone feature was removed, long live its subpar replacement

#147
post #99
post #36

I had a feeling this was gonna be about 3D Touch just from seeing the title. It was definitely one of my favorite features, and Force Touch isn't a drop-in replacement. With 3D Touch anywhere on the keyboard, you could apply pressure to start moving the caret (text cursor) around, but what was even more useful was being able to apply a little bit more pressure to start selecting text with incredible precision . With…

I’ve been so sad since upgrading my 6s about the loss of 3D Touch. I didn’t know that you can hold on the space bar now!!! Thank you for making me love my 13 mini even more now :):)

It isn't the same though, since trying to move the cursor down moves your finger off the touch screen. You can only move it down one line at most, and not reliable.

Re: My favorite iPhone feature was removed, long live its subpar replacement

#148
post #144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's usually missing from these comparisons is how long people are actually using the phone and how they handle the battery. Mine is an iPhone 7 I bought refurbished back in February 2017. This phone is likely to have seen less use than a friend of mine's phone bought at the end of 2021. It spends 95% of its life connected to a power source (even when I actively use it), so I expect the battery to last quite some t…

> What's usually missing from these comparisons is how long people are actually using the phone and how they handle the battery According to my phone, over the last 10 days I had an average screen time of 3h34m per day. I use it to communicate and to consume media while commuting. I charge it whenever it needs some juice, it does get to down to 10%-20% sometimes. But honestly I don't see how my usage can hurt it so m…

Letting it go down to 20% before charging it back up means the battery has to cycle, and as I understand, that's what "ages" it. And managing that is on you, it's not Apple's fault that you won't (or can't) plug it in.

What can be Apple's fault is the battery going to 10% after using it for 3h, but I don't think that's the point here.

Re: My favorite iPhone feature was removed, long live its subpar replacement

#149
post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Every time I unlock my phone I’m reminded that the stupid flashlight button can’t be turned off. The 3 times this year I’ve needed to use my flashlight are not worth the 20+ times it’s been accidentally running in my pocket because I held the wrong corner while pocketing my phone. Plus it’s in control centre anyway If you need it fast.

Wow I don’t agree at all. I use the flashlight all of the time, and I rarely if ever activate it accidentally. I actually used to hit it accidentally more often when it was a 3D touch button rather than a delay-based button.

I just don’t believe how that would be possible considering they both require holding the same corner just one pressing harder.

I just want a way to completely remove it for the majority of us who are not wandering around in pitch black.

Re: My favorite iPhone feature was removed, long live its subpar replacement

#150
post #96
post #36

I had a feeling this was gonna be about 3D Touch just from seeing the title. It was definitely one of my favorite features, and Force Touch isn't a drop-in replacement. With 3D Touch anywhere on the keyboard, you could apply pressure to start moving the caret (text cursor) around, but what was even more useful was being able to apply a little bit more pressure to start selecting text with incredible precision . With…

> However, as much as I miss it every time I fail to accurately select text on iOS, I don't mourn its loss Yes, it's slightly worse now but for a greater cause and the greater cause, IMHO, is the unified interaction model on mobile devices. If not all devices and apps are using it there's no reason to having it. In the Android world there are tons of exotic stuff, novel ideas and even "standards" that go nowhere unle…

I too enjoy the removal of innovation and excellence in the quest for equality comrade
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