Comments by user "ebaur"
Registered since: September 13, 2008
Delete app related files/settings when dragging apps to the trash
If an install automatically deleted files that were not directly linked to the application (ie: things not in the Library locations), then you run the risk of disabling other applications that may depend on the same libraries. (The only things that should install in generic system locations are libraries that are expecting other apps to use them... and they should have their own uninstallers with warnings to that effect.)
According to the developer guidelines, Applications should carry with them in their bundles the additional libraries they need that the system doesn't provide, or places files in the Application Support directory tagged with the app name.
Having an uninstaller like this sounds nice, but Apple probably thinks that doing something like this would encourage bad behavior. I kind of like the idea of a button in the Application folder to delete the stuff from your library (although I'm not fond of "special folder" in general).
Switch User Function in main menu
Yes, there are two separate places to do similar functions... but there is a reason for fast user switching being off by default. The assumption is that most people are not using multiple users on their computer, but only one. So, a feature for multiple users isn't needed by most people and the ones that want it need to take a (small) action to turn it on. Come on, it's not that hard to find!
Even if it showed up under the Apple menu, it still wouldn't be on by default. I also agree that we don't really need to places to do the same thing (context menus excepted, the UI should typically only have one menu item per function, it seems like a waste otherwise).
+ Option + E to force Eject Device
Although it would be nice to have a way to detect and report on what files (or apps) are open, I'm not sure a force option is a good idea. If the user was informed about what app was blocking the eject, they could review the open docs in that app and take care of them manually. By making it automatic, you run the risk of lost or damaged data, or strange behavior from apps that were expecting the resource to be there.
There are ways to force apps to quit, etc, but I'm not sure users need a quick keystroke to do it... as it shouldn't be a common operation.
iTunes unusable during iPod update
Although it would be nice to have this feature, it seems a bit much to mark this as medium. An update of this sort is not common, so the impact is fairly low.
Safari is not following HTML Select tag properly
The reasoning for this, as I understand it, is to maintain UI consistency in the OS. If the list was only two lines, there wouldn't be sufficient space for the arrows and the scrollbar on the side of the list box. Since the HTML spec is somewhat vague on what is *required* they probably considered it best to err on the side of a more consistent UI.
I wonder what you're doing that you're insisting only two lines. I suspect your UI could be better designed if that's what you're trying to do.
Delete app related files/settings when dragging apps to the trash
The fact that the OS does not delete user preference files, and anything in Application Support is a feature of the OS, not a bug. If memory serves, Apple's guidelines specify that an app should only write to the Application Support folder and to it's own preference files. Likewise, using installers is discouraged.
The reasoning here is that a user should be able to decide separately and it should be a direct action by the user, not a side effect of deleting an app. This is related to the concept that apps shouldn't have to be uninstalled, a delete should be sufficient to remove the app.
If an installer is used, it should leave behind a receipt, including a BOM file (bill of materials) that lists the files installed. Pacifist (a semi-free app) will help to identify the files you need to delete, if you go that route. I agree that it would be nice for Apple to supply an uninstaller, but I suspect they don't because they want people to stop using installers in the first place.
Stacks: show an icon for each kind of stack
Wrote on September 27, 2008, 3:14pm
I'm confused... when you have them show the folder icon, they do look different, since the folder icons are different. I have Applications, Documents and Downloads all in my Dock and they are easy to tell apart. If the images are too subtle for you, you can change the icons quite easily.
This sounds more like a general complaint that the UI is more understated across the board than previous ones. Beauty is, as they say, in the eye of the beholder. I quite like the folder icons as they are.