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Features lost across versions of macOS

talk.tidbits.com

41–50 of 73 posts

Re: Features lost across versions of macOS

#41
post #35

one annoying one that's notably missing: There's no way to get rid of the Music.app, and the play/pause hardware button on my M2 macbook is always mapped to that app. I inadvertently press this button all the time and it launches Music.app, taking about 1/4th of the 8gb of shared memory

> the play/pause hardware button on my M2 macbook is always mapped to that app

This annoyingness actually started with Snow Leopard, IIRC. (Though of course it was iTunes and not Music, but still hardcoded)

Re: Features lost across versions of macOS

#42
post #35

one annoying one that's notably missing: There's no way to get rid of the Music.app, and the play/pause hardware button on my M2 macbook is always mapped to that app. I inadvertently press this button all the time and it launches Music.app, taking about 1/4th of the 8gb of shared memory

That’s weird. On mine, I can’t delete that app but the buttons control my Spotify just fine.

They’ll control Spotify if it’s running, but if it’s closed, Music will auto-open.

Re: Features lost across versions of macOS

#43
post #25
post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

couldn't they just immediately issue a "TRIM" afterwards or am I missing something?

No, it doesn’t work reliably, which is why they removed it. It’s better not to have a tool than having a security tool that might work. Also IIRC secure delete is useless on APFS volumes as they are always fully encrypted, even when FileVault is not enabled.

> It’s better not to have a tool than having a security tool that might work.

This is what I don't get about SMS apps that may or may not send encrypted messages. (Like Apple's own)

Re: Features lost across versions of macOS

#45
post #36

Apple's PMs removed a feature that was very useful on my MBP: system font size adjustment. Now I must wear my glasses all the time I use the computer. This is not comfortable or fun. I could increase the display pixel size, but then everything looks like garbage when I do wear my glasses. Apple has lost its user-focus. Its products will only get worse and worse. Fortunately, this creates opportunity for new companies…

It seems to still be there? System Settings > Accessibility > Display > Text Text Size and Menu Bar Size may allow you to do this adjustment?

You know, as a new Mac convert I've been looking for this, and could never find it (I guess I expected it to be in Displays, not Accessibility). Thanks!

Re: Features lost across versions of macOS

#46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Another thing terrible about the Settings app is you cannot navigate it with the keyboard only (at least I have not figured out how). So if your Bluetooth mouse fails (which happens at least once a week for me) you can’t use a keyboard alone to correct it. Nope you have to fish out a wired mouse, plug it in, and then reset Bluetooth or whatever it takes to get the BT mouse working again. Madness.

Settings -> Keyboard -> Turn on "Keyboard Navigation"

Why on earth would that be off by default though?

Re: Features lost across versions of macOS

#47
The "Save As" feature isn't lost. And the modern document model (auto save etc) can be opted out. You can still let the system ask you whether you want to save a document. And the "Save As" menu item can be assigned a custom shortcut that's the same as what it was in Snow Leopard to protect your muscle memory. Instead I appreciate features like having unsaved documents be preserved across reboots.

Sure for the average user who doesn't customize their system, the feature is lost. But is a feature lost if it's really hidden?

Re: Features lost across versions of macOS

#48
post #22
post #20

They removed Secure Delete because it doesn't work with SSDs due to the way they work at the hardware level (wear leveling).

couldn't they just immediately issue a "TRIM" afterwards or am I missing something?

TRIM isn't really a command so much as it is a performance hint.

Even at the drive level, deallocating the space used by a file is not the same as erasing it, and actually erasing every flash block that may still contain data from the file would be very expensive for SSDs to implement (both in terms of performance overhead, and in terms of burning out the flash sooner).

Re: Features lost across versions of macOS

#50
post #35

one annoying one that's notably missing: There's no way to get rid of the Music.app, and the play/pause hardware button on my M2 macbook is always mapped to that app. I inadvertently press this button all the time and it launches Music.app, taking about 1/4th of the 8gb of shared memory

I noticed this most recently when having selected "restart and update" for a system upgrade, and seeing the white apple on a black background with a progress bar, I bumped the play/pause key.

Sure enough, music.app launched in the background somehow and started playing!

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