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Comment by behnamoh | Hacker News Reader

I typically respect Apple products, but they also shove ads in the settings app...

You apple users can help me remember this. I was helping out someone with a macbook maybe 15 years ago, and noticed in the printer configuration apple trying to sell me printer cartridges. What was that model? Did apple make cartridges at some point?

Just recently I was given an iPad during the pandemic, and noticed the native "books" app constantly pushing a "reading now" view advertising ebooks, etc. I switch it to the library. Restart the app a couple times, I'm back in the "reading now" view. Is there a setting I'm missing, short of airplane mode? Because if not, I don't know how you apple users deal with this money-grubbing bs.

Your tone seems to imply that you're an Android user. How is Google/Android not money-grubbing?

Does “Sign up for iCloud” count as an ad? It’s a core (albeit optional) feature, included with the product the user has bought.

The same could be said of Fitness+, or any of their other services. Yes, it’s “advertising”, but sits pretty inoffensively on the spectrum.

I literally sold my iphone because it would not shut the fuck up about icloud. So here's one data point.

Even though I love my M1 Macbook Pro and iPad Pro, I have a lot of problems for them working together with my Android phone. I was thinking of switching to iPhone Pro Max (the only iPhone with big enough screen for my bad eyes), but it’s so thick and heavy (as thick as the tablet), that I feel like it would be uncomfortable for me.

Go to an Apple store and ask to try to lift one. You could also find something that weighs about the same, but in my opinion the actual weight is often secondary to its form and weight.

Of course I tried it, and I was not satisfied with its screen-to-thickness ratio, especially compared to my Note 10+

> it’s so thick and heavy

Where is Jony Ive when we need him? ;-)

I have seen a reminder once about time running out to buy an AppleCare warranty, which I appreciated. What other ads have you seen in Settings?

You get offers for Apple Fitness+ when buying a new Apple Watch. At the minute they’re very much on the boundary between ads and useful reminders/offers, and are still easy to dismiss. But I worry that as services continues to become a bigger and bigger focus for Apple that they may end up just like Samsung.

iCloud storage subscription when your phone is running low on space.

See this mini thread from a few days ago on the same topic -- https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29291166

Wow! I was going to mention the same mini thread (started by me!).

If you can still edit your message on the older thread/page, you should link to this discussion (or post a new message). That way, the circle of life will be complete haha

I’m kidding of course (you should still do it if you can/want) ;)

Sadly (but understandably) HN doesn't let me edit old comments. I guess the circle of life (read recursion!) can be complete here:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29355580

It's very annoying. I think the time limit should be on the order of months rather than hours.

I tend to think that online discussions are better when people can edit their posts, correcting mistakes, adding context or information, or even changing their position in light of new evidence or convincing arguments.

advertises iCloud ..

advertises ApplePay

advertises AppleCare

advertises AppleMusic

advertises Apple Fitness

Not too much in your face but honestly it does come off as tacky.

It was a serious violation of good design principles for Apple to abuse notifications and (especially) the Settings app for pushing advertisements.

I'm not sure why they would want to destroy the positive brand reputation and goodwill that they've built over decades.

> I typically respect Apple products, but they also shove ads in the settings app...

This is insanely horrible - another flagstone on the road to hell.

I'm kind of shocked that the HI people at Apple would be OK with it.

Apple has built its entire business on user experience, so it doesn't seem wise to sacrifice that on the altar of marketing for services.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com