It could be the other way around: Microsoft hired the Apple guy and let them run wild.
This is not true of Microsoft.
>Windows 10 users are annoyed that Microsoft has hidden the local account option when setting up a new PC or reinstalling Windows 10. A user on a popular Reddit thread notes that the local account option is now invisible if the device is connected to the internet.
https://www.zdnet.com/article/windows-10-users-fume-microsof...
I would argue that making the use of cloud services be the default forces users who aren't aware that it's optional and especially when they don't know that there *are* real downsides to using it.
The button to skip that step in Apple's setup wizard is even labeled "Set this up later" to make it clear that the user isn't giving up the ability to use a cloud account later by skipping the step during the setup wizard.
No, but on the other hand there are plenty of services where "later" means "nag me" and "stop functioning after a certain amount of time"
It would be better and clearer if Apple simply and clearly stated "iCloud account is optional and not required to use your Mac"
Offering an easily skippable option during setup is not the same thing as the intentional dark patterns common on other platforms.
>In this report, we analyze a sample of settings in Facebook, Google and Windows 10, and show how default settings and dark patterns, techniques and features of interface design meant to manipulate users, are used to nudge users towards privacy intrusive options.
The findings include privacy intrusive default settings, misleading wording, giving users an illusion of control, hiding away privacy-friendly choices, take-it-or-leave-it choices, and choice architectures where choosing the privacy friendly option requires more effort for the users.
https://www.forbrukerradet.no/undersokelse/no-undersokelseka...
The iTunes store still exists though. Which is probably what the agreement stuff was for.
https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/47253/can-i-safely...
Each time an Apple process tries to connect, make a rule that says that app is never allowed to connect to any server, and set the rule lifetime to "forever". There are about 20-30 Apple processes in macOS that phone home even if you don't use iCloud, iMessage, or FaceTime, or the App Store. Once you block all of them your computer will be quiet on the network.