Apple has been in the public eye of late. Well, if we’re being technical, Apple products are in the public eye every single day, as millions of people scroll through Twitter on their iPads or navigate through an unfamiliar city with the help of an iPhone. 

But the enormous company has been making rare missteps, from a phone (the iPhone 6) that may or may not bend, depending on what social media update or news report you’re checking… 

… to a buggy operating system (the iOS 8 update), to the “free” release of a new U2 album (Songs of Innocence) that has been considered generally not bad at best and an uncomfortable invasion of privacy at worst.

Below, our writers dig into some of Apple’s recent output and reflect on the glory days of its not-so-distant past. 

iLACK LUSTER

Even before the bugs, iOS 8 was a mixed bag

iOS8

 
“It is quite obvious Apple is holding back. Probably saving some big innovations for iOS 9’s release, upon which everyone will once again eagerly watch the downloading bar fill and giddily respond to Apple’s ‘Hello.'”

— Julia Reed

[Read more]

HOW TO DISMANTLE AN UNWANTED U2 ALBUM

It’s an OK album. That doesn’t make its release any less frustrating. 

U2

“The webpage is simply a picture of the album cover, a short description of what would happen once the album is removed, and then a button with the words ‘remove album.’ The whole thing kind of reminded me of what used to happen when I tried to get rid of one of my Neopets — the sad looking picture, the description, and the button that would end it all.”

— Maeve Dunigan

[Read more]

BIGGER ISN’T BETTER

The iPhone 6 still can’t hold a candle to the joys of a little iPod Nano

iPod Nano

“What I sometimes wouldn’t give for a Nano-sized smartphone. Who needs a selfie camera when you can always check your reflection on the handy mirrored back of your iPod Nano? And more digital space for apps isn’t necessary when all I need is Solitaire, Brick and Parachute. Or so I tell myself.

— Mel DeCandia

[Read more]