I switched to Apple from Android (still 100% Linux on desktop/laptop though) a few years ago, and I've grown to like it more than any Android phone I've owned...But it still sucks.
It feels like everything is overflowing with mediocrity, and there's no hope of it ever changing. I often have an idea for improving something that I see as being extremely shitty and perfect for improving/innovating, but there is no possible way for me to turn it into a successful product/business because the monopolists wouldn't allow it.
For example, why is the app store experience that same boring crap it has always been? Why can't that be fun, with like user profiles, Amazon-style reviews, Steam-style community features, social media-style feeds so you can sub to a developer, TikTok-style feeds of promo videos to discover new apps/games, etc. There's so much to explore there, but it's never going to happen because Apple doesn't allow it, and Apple themselves isn't going to do it because they're a monopoly and they have no incentive to (same goes for Google).
What are the chances that our government will wake up and do something about this limp noodle we call a tech industry? Or that some startup will "disrupt" these monopolists with something better and resist the multi-billion-dollar acquisition offers (backed by anti-competitive threats).
This makes me want to grab my old thinkpad and disappear into the woods. I'll become a hermit, using only my own+libre software and only returning to civilization when I need to replace the battery pack.
> Why can't that be fun, with like user profiles, Amazon-style reviews, Steam-style community features, social media-style feeds so you can sub to a developer, TikTok-style feeds of promo videos to discover new apps/games, etc.
Similar to the other comment, I read that with sheer horror. I specifically don't want to spend a lot of time in any app store. I want to find quality apps I'm looking for, download them and leave.
> It feels like everything is overflowing with mediocrity, and there's no hope of it ever changing.
I’d definitely think that about the Apple Store if they introduced some of the features that you suggested — that’s part of the problem. What one person considers an obvious innovation another person considers yet another newfangled UI design.
What's "fun" about following the developer of a particular piece of business or process support software?
Apple Store already has star ratings, user reviews, and links to publisher web sites. I don't use any of the social/community features of Steam, and I can't stand the amount of review-stacking that happens in Steam and Amazon.
The one area that Steam is useful is their discovery stream where Steam will show you more games that they think you might like — the catch being that if you like one RTS game, Steam will show you lots of RTS games and never show you Mass Effect, Torchlight, KSP, or Dad Dating Sim.
As to why Apple doesn't have a discovery stream, just look at Steam's problematic system and you'll understand: Apple doesn't have it because they haven't figured out how to do it in a way that makes sense and will help people discover apps that they'll enjoy.
There the Apple Store suffers is in discoverability: in some cases I've been looking for a specific app and the thing I'm looking for comes "under the fold" because a dozen other apps have paid to get higher rankings for that search term.
I do not want TikTok-style feeds of promotional material clogging up my App Store. I want to get in there, find the thing I want, then get out. I do not spend my life looking for inspiration from apps in the store.
Everybody has different interests and needs, but personally, I hope they never implement your suggestions for the App Store. I , like I’m sure a vast majority of the Apple user base , just want an App Store, not something filled with social features.
It feels like everything is overflowing with mediocrity, and there's no hope of it ever changing. I often have an idea for improving something that I see as being extremely shitty and perfect for improving/innovating, but there is no possible way for me to turn it into a successful product/business because the monopolists wouldn't allow it.
For example, why is the app store experience that same boring crap it has always been? Why can't that be fun, with like user profiles, Amazon-style reviews, Steam-style community features, social media-style feeds so you can sub to a developer, TikTok-style feeds of promo videos to discover new apps/games, etc. There's so much to explore there, but it's never going to happen because Apple doesn't allow it, and Apple themselves isn't going to do it because they're a monopoly and they have no incentive to (same goes for Google).
What are the chances that our government will wake up and do something about this limp noodle we call a tech industry? Or that some startup will "disrupt" these monopolists with something better and resist the multi-billion-dollar acquisition offers (backed by anti-competitive threats).
This makes me want to grab my old thinkpad and disappear into the woods. I'll become a hermit, using only my own+libre software and only returning to civilization when I need to replace the battery pack.