So because the author doesn't use 100% of all the native Apple apps, Apple must have a software problem? What? Does he even consider that not all Apple users are pro-users and could be perfectly happy with the native apps?

I'd love to -1 this post.

Apple don't do software well

This blog don't convince me well either.

there's no Apple sanctioned package manager

Does the App Store not count?

Can Designer News start vetting stuff that is posted? Or implement a Downvote? Not everyone with an internet connection has something worthwhile to say. This rant is completely unsubstantial, it's just full of buzzword. Why even bother posting?

Apple Stocks is probably up there with the most used apps on the iPhone.

The author "don't do" articles well

The one thing I do agree with is the bit about being able to delete unused app. This problem isn't unique to Apple, by the way; Google's default app suite is a bit bloated as well.

Totally agreed on the quality of software as of late, especially iTunes. It's a nightmare.

But, are there actual statistics regarding the usage of bundled apps? The amount of people I meet who still are using the Apple versions of all the software is pretty high. Just because we're saavy enough to find alternatives doesn't necessarily mean everyone else is as well.

I find kind of disturbing that everyone's lighting their torches and getting ready to put the author at the stake just because he talked shit about Apple. It's almost like he did a yo-mama joke and you got really offended. Come on.

Every brand puts undeletable apps in our phones, but the fact that everyone does it doesn't make it right. We should be able to remove every app we want, provided it is not necessary for the OS to run. How can you not agree with him about this?

Maybe you're right and the author is wrong, but he has at least one point right. And you're all being assholes.

So would you start complaining that Windows ships with a command line that is practically unusable? Or that my Honda ships with a cigarette lighter which I would only use to torture mafia guys? Or that the iPhone comes with Headphones some people don't use? All these apps don't take much space (especially compared to a naked windows phone installation which takes about 2.3gb of your smartphone), and you can easily hide them. I don't see a need for change here to be honest.

Safari for OS X is just fine. Third-party cookies blocked by default, no Flash by default. History/tabs shared with Safari for iOS, and looks great.

So, I noticed a flash of unstyled content on this blog. Looked into it and saw that you're using Filament's LoadCSS plugin for async CSS loading. Then saw in their readme that "The Flash of Unstyled Text (FOUT) is a feature for progressively rendered web sites—we want our content usable by readers as soon as possible." Anybody else think that's crazy talk? Showing me a FOUT doesn't make content usable earlier, it does make me think a site has something wrong with it immediately.

Their pro software is the biggest concern; from dropping Apature to dumbing down Final Cut to making Logic more like Garageband. I don't know what happened internally but it seemed like they wanted to make these apps accessible to an iPhone generation and forgot about those who make a living from their products.

This is such BS article, not even an article. This has been happening for years. Yes, Apple is moving, (moved) away from Pro users which make up less than 10% of their audience by now. No need to get sad or mad about it. Plenty of choice out there.

Actually Apple has much more of a web problem.

Beyond their well executed marketing/store website, Apple just doesn't do web based stuff nearly as well as Google (although arguably they both have poor support websites in terms of feedback and forums), which is funny considering how great Safari is.

For example the live event videos only being viewable via Safari. Or iCloud which I never access via the web because it just feels weird, unlike Gmail or other Google services.

If you're the root user of your machine, you can do anything. You can actually remove all the default apps. Simply navigate to the applications directory using the terminal, sudo rm -rf Safari, type your password when prompted, and poof Safari is gone. Using sudo is powerful, and I suggest using it only once you understand the ins and outs of how computers really work.

I half agree with the quality of software however I know a lot of people even myself that uses and are happy with the native apps.

IMHO we from the tech industry forget that ordinary users are not always young hipsters using their white iPhones, at fancy coffeeshops while buying their expensive Latte.

no.

first-party bloat exists on all platforms (except Linux, i guess) and if you're on Android or Windows, you get carrier/oem bloat pre-installed too.

Get a Google Nexus phone and I'm sure you'll write a similar post. I don't use Photos(I use QuickPic), Play Newsstand, News and Weather, Downloads, Google Earth, Email, etc. but that doesn't mean Google doesn't make good apps.

On the contrary if I was on iOS, I'd use most of the apps in your "Apple Bin".

Wish I could downvote your post but that's your opinion.