Can I get a real UI back?

Wow! I came here to say all of those exact same things. I even wanted to mention the similarity to the old Linux desktop managers. I want Aqua back in a big way. I feel chained to Mavericks on my old hardware because I will never switch to this awful flat interface. I've played with it extensively. It's confusing to my eye with no visual cues to which I am accustomed in Mac OS. It looks like a kindergartner's attempt at crayoning a Mac interface. I've been a Mac user for 33 years, and I find the flat interface to be incredibly un-Mac-like. It goes completely against my aesthetic, and it is preventing me and many of my friends from purchasing new Mac hardware.

The purpose of the Apple Support Communites is for users to share with one another questions that lead to either a solution, or a statement that there is no solution. Posting here to complain about something that no one other than Apple can fix, only attracts others of the same mindset, and no problem is actually solved. You have, however, essentially started a survey, which is contrary to the terms of site usage.

First of all, Apple leadership, product management, and Apple Engineers do not read, or participate in these discussions, so complaining serves no practical purpose. The rest of us already know about the UI, and telling us again is a waste of focus.

Only Apple knows their future product direction, and they sure as heck do not seek counsel from us on their planning decisions. Until Apple decides otherwise, the macOS flatland UI will remain, and if you want to jump ship to Linux, no one is going to restrain you.

I have used all manner of user interfaces over the years, and generally have had too many demands on my time that I would prioritize UI concerns over achievement of my goals. I simply adapted, and marched on. I have customized UI in Linux — but that was an aesthetic reason, and not a means to an end as to whether I could/could not use Linux.

VikingOSX wrote:

I have used all manner of user interfaces over the years, and generally have had too many demands on my time that I would prioritize UI concerns over achievement of my goals. I simply adapted, and marched on. I have customized UI in Linux — but that was an aesthetic reason, and not a means to an end as to whether I could/could not use Linux.

Very well put.

I still hate the transparency effects, and just don't understand why they exist. But I have gotten used to pretty much everything else. I should admit that I don't use Yosemite or later very much, but I do boot into Yosemite regularly to back up my iDevices that require iTunes 12; I am sticking with iTunes 11 on my main Mavericks drive. I have made the UI more to my liking by changing the system font to Fira Sans, and using some custom icons. I also use cDock to customize the dock. I can live with the UI full time if it becomes necessary. I do hope they wise up about legibility and get rid of low contrast text and ditch the transparency silliness. I know it can be turned off, but when I tried that, I didn't like what it did to other parts of the interface.

I am more disturbed by reduced functionality in apps like Disk Utility and by the mess that iTunes and iOS Music have become.

Thanks for the solution and not merely rebuttal. I agree with you on all points. Fortunately I've avoided the IOS ecosystem; (I find Android customization and file system access to be like the Mac in my pocket that I've always wanted).

I remember stumbling into Aqua interface elements (graphics) in a folder within old System folders somewhere. If I can hack those together to somehow replace the new 2D garbage window controls and stuff I'll post it here, but I can't foresee getting anything like that to work without disabling the incredibly inconvenient new "security" "features"

It still stinks to have to upgrade one's OS just to be able to sync your phone and/or tablet. That those upgrades (let us from now on call them "bleepgrades") cascade into needing not-always-free (and not always available) bleepgrades of expensive third party software stinks even more. That I need multiple boot volumes for each of my tasks is inane and exhausting. Add in backup storage/Time Machine storage, and it starts to look like it's time for a revolution. On my 2012 machines I now can't open many documents from my first fifteen or twenty years of using Macs.

Oops, am I off a topic? Sorry. I'm going to pop open Resend it tonight and.. Oh, I mean dig around Core Services and see if I can find those nice Aqua window controls for us.

Up the revolution! Or is it devolution?

macOS Feedback

<https://www.apple.com/feedback/macos.html>

They will not reply, but it does get read.

That's what I think.

All UI elements are either dull gray or just too bright.

And those ugly white toolbar buttons on the light gray toolbar.

Even Microsoft has more skills in designing these UI elements than Apple has now.

The flat design just *****!

I want colors and "real" buttons back!

Why is it so hard for Apple to give the users a few more themes to chose from, including Mavericks style?

Svarten70 wrote:

I have never in my life seen a bigger leap backwards in design, It went from a nice sleek UI to one of the ugliest flat

boring designs I seen in a long time. If I had a backup I would go back to Maverick in a heart beat.

I agree that there are many unfortunate choices in the UI. This would not matter if you had left yourself a life line. Even if you loved how it looks, you could still run into problems with the first release of a major OS upgrade. Not all apps are going to be compatible, etc.

No one came and forced you to install Yosemite without taking elementary precautions. Why would you install a major OS upgrade without a full backup of your system?

Why change something that worked fine?

Why follow a mainstream fashion (flat design), when it brings no benefit for the user?

As was said, the flat design was meant to avoid distractions for the user.

Why then have transparencies that do just that!?

Many people will just turn off that gimmick after a while, so where's the point in changing a working design where the user has to fiddle here and there to get the system back to a usable state?

MichelX wrote:

Why change something that worked fine?

Why follow a mainstream fashion (flat design), when it brings no benefit for the user?

As was said, the flat design was meant to avoid distractions for the user.

Why then have transparencies that do just that!?

Many people will just turn off that gimmick after a while, so where's the point in changing a working design where the user has to fiddle here and there to get the system back to a usable state?

Those are great questions. My suspicion is that the rationale of reducing distraction for the user is not the real reason for the changes, but rather, as you suggest, that Apple is to some extent following a (dubious) trend. And then failing to do it cleanly and consistently, by adding functionally pointless (and distracting) transparencies, and making choices about fonts and colors that reduce legibility for a lot of users.

Their hardware design is still lovely, but they are really losing their way with the user interface. Apple has also become far too eager to dumb everything down to the level of the average iConsumer.

kahjot,

I'm afraid you are right with your thoughts.

Here's how our future will look like...

http://jonyiveredesignsthings.tumblr.com