512 Pixels

Chuong H Nguyen:

Almost three weeks since it has launched, iOS 8 adoption currently sits at 47%, identical to the current share of its predecessor, iOS 7. That’s a change of only 1% over the course of the last couple of weeks. iOS 7, by contrast, is believed to have hit over 60% adoption by this time last year.

There are lots of factors at play here.

There are a ton of iPhone 4 users still out there; the phone was still for sale this year in some countries.

The iOS 8 OTA update is huge, and many users don’t know how — or have the desire to — clear space on their devices. It’s insane that 8 and 16 GB iPhones are still a thing.

I think the shock of iOS 7 (what I have named the OMG I UPDATED MY PHONE AND EVERYTHING IS DIFFERENT syndrome) is a factor as well. While iOS 8 is not drastically different to operate, the users who were surprised by iOS 7’s well-known UI changes are just the ones to be afraid of it happening again.

The cynic in me, of course, fears that Apple’s reputation has already been damaged. Here’s what I wrote just a few days ago:

Microsoft and Google both have trouble getting users onto the newest versions of their software platforms, which Apple pokes fun of in keynotes on a regular basis. A few more bad releases and Cupertino could be in the same place, which is bad for the company and third-party developers.

Time will tell if iOS 8 is the beginning of this story. I sure hope it isn’t, but I’ve got a bad feeling about this.

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Well, Robb Lewis made my day.

For years, I’ve used an iPhone dock at my desk. In addition to keeping the screen where I can see it easily, and a vertical iPhone is much quiter on the desk if it vibrates than one laying flat.

However, with the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, Apple didn’t release a first-party dock. This Twelve South dock is a little fiddly to assemble, but it’s rock-solid and really adjustable, so even with a case, iPhones fit easily. I’ve got one on my desk now, and if you’ve used a dock in the past, you should check it out.

Best photo essay you’ll see today.

Fraser Speirs:

It’s no secret that I have been a huge fan of iOS since its inception. It brought many great improvements in security, stability and approachability for the beginner-to-moderate computer user.

Unfortunately, it increasingly feels like those days are at an end. The iOS 7 and now iOS 8 rollouts have simply not been up to the quality of earlier releases.

For sure, iOS 8 is highly ambitious. I have long been an advocate for many of the features that iOS 8 brought: extensions, interoperability and so on. Sadly, complexity has brought with it fragility.

We spoke about this on Connected this week in relation to iOS 8’s Health app, but it’s no secret that the recent releases of iOS haven’t been smooth. iOS 7 users dealt with springboard crashes for months, and 8.0.1 basically turned iPhones into iPods.

I think Apple’s moving too quickly when it comes to software.

Apple prides itself in offering experiences not just products. With that worldview, there is no room for bad software releases or bugs that last months or even longer.

Microsoft and Google both have trouble getting users onto the newest versions of their software platforms, which Apple pokes fun of in keynotes on a regular basis. A few more bad releases and Cupertino could be in the same place, which is bad for the company and third-party developers.

While saying Apple should slow down, backing off from annual releases of iOS and OS X does come with its own downsides. Mainly, the impression — and media coverage — that Apple is slowing down and is unable to innovate.

I think this, however, is a problem for a couple of news cycles, while the legacy of bad software releases could be more damaging long-term. While I like new features as much as the next nerd, I’d much prefer an Apple whose software I can trust and rely on, day in and day out.

Riccardo Mori, chiming in on this article:

I’m quite experienced when it comes to vintage Macs and optimising them to make the most of them. The Ars Technica piece by Cunningham left a bitter taste in my mouth, and as I voiced on Twitter and App.net, I believe the author (perhaps due to inexperience and impatience with vintage hardware and software) hasn’t painted a completely fair picture of how these machines and systems can actually perform.

A fascinating read by a guy who has way more patience than I do. As much as I love (and collect) old Apple hardware, I don’t depend on it every day.

Connected Episode 7:

This week, Stephen, Myke and Federico talk about Paris, Apple’s busted Health App, the death (and rebirth) of the Camera Roll and Twitter apps.

This episode was made possible by:

• TextExpander Touch for iOS, from Smile

Underscore’s new keyboard app is so ????, I’ve turned off Apple’s first-party one.

David Sims article in Vogue on Jony Ive is today’s required reading.

Eric Slivka:

MacRumors has now received word that Apple is planning a Mac mini update possibly launching next month alongside new iPad models and presumably OS X Yosemite. While we have been unable to obtain corroborating information of an imminent update, the mere possibility of an update as soon as next month is likely to be welcome news to Mac mini fans. The single source has provided no additional details on what to expect in terms of a next-generation Mac mini, but has provided accurate information in the past.

Will my year-old Mac mini dream finally come true? Probably not, but a nerd can dream.

Pebble, maker of what most would argue is the first usable smartwatch, is on the defensive:

I would be too, I suppose, but their current messaging sure comes across as … immature.