While everyone on HN (including me) is mad about the privacy implications of what's happening here - including how all this doesn't do much good for programmers dealing with all kinds of binaries updated daily, I quickly want to point out that I think this type of functionality is a great idea for most non technical users. Apple has always been at the forefront of extreme usability (kids using iPads, seniors sending iMessages) and the internet has a lot of toxic stuff that needs to be kept away from many non technical users (for my parents' computer, I rather have this ping home to Apple with hashes of apps they open than them being exposed to tons of malware). That said they really need to work on the privacy aspect..
"Apple has always been at the forefront of extreme usability (kids using iPads, seniors sending iMessages)"
I've always understood this to be a marketing victory on Apple's side. From what I've seen, using Mac/iOS isn't any easier or more difficult than Windows/Android.
I feel the complete opposite way. I’ve had to witness my grandfather’s Windows 10 laptop just be absolutely trashed by malware that used all the saddest tricks like fake “log in to Facebook” windows. It’s absolutely horrendous and in my opinion rather inevitable.
Are there even a single example that anyone can point me to of this kind of borking happening to Macs?
I second this. Once I setup my mother with a Mac all the support I was doing for basic things like the WiFi not working or her pc being completely infected with viruses went to zero. I now only helped her with learning more about the programs she was using to create documents, look up stuff, send emails and messages, etc.
My parents (in their mid 60's) haven't had issues with this. Not saying your point isn't valid--just the one data point I have to draw from.
My relatives recently bought a Mac because they liked how it looked (big on interior design). They couldn't figure out how to navigate up a directory in Finder or access files from an external hard drive.
And yet when I tried Nexus tablets with all my elders and hangouts or skype whatever video call app was around then, they couldn’t figure it out.
As soon as I gave them all iPad mini and iPhone, they all found it easier to FaceTime.
Although, the chat issue was solved by WhatsApp in my opinion, by requiring phone numbers thereby reducing the need for passwords and reducing spam, greatly simplifying chat for the non tech and English literate in my family.
In my extended family, WhatsApp is used for chatting and calling by 4-90 age group quite easily and successfully. For lot of people WhatsApp and Youtube are the internet.
FWIW, I do think Apple is targeting non-techies a lot, and really not caring much about tech users.
The developer experience on Apple tech is pretty bad and getting worse -- but for the other 99% of the people, Apple seems to be the best tool for them.
