I've seen this with many app redesigns: the version that I initially downloaded and installed was a joy to use albeit a little rough around the edges in terms of appearance. In some subsequent update, the appearance changes to look very appealing, but after navigating around to find some previously killer function, it is nowhere to be found. A subsequent web search confirms my findings and fears that the feature that I previously relied upon no longer exists.
I'm not sure how to describe it: the best that I can come up with is that as something gains mass market appeal, the power users (on average the most vocal) are neglected by those they helped succeed in the marketplace.
There is also this idea that some people (designers / product managers) prune away features that they feel confuse the user, but I don't know how factually true that actually is.
It’s certainly true, but normally it’s based on real data rather than feelings. It turns out us computer experts are a tiny minority of computer users so things we want to do are often hidden. Better than my dad finding the options though.
Too many product managers these days who don't actually understand or engage with the product and instead think they can create from reading metrics tea leaves alone.
It appears that Apple are following the Gnome philosophy, which is ironic because the Gnome philosophy was trying to emulate what they believed was the Apple philosophy.
Or, maybe they just seemed like they disappeared because of atrocious GUI design.
When I finally updated to the “improved” GarageBand a couple years ago, I went literally months believing that certain features had been entirely removed by the “upgrade”. Then one day I accidentally resized my damned window and entire features reappeared. It turns out that Apple actually has panes HIDING things when they won’t fit, instead of having scroll bars or fading or some hint that there is more.
I'm not sure how to describe it: the best that I can come up with is that as something gains mass market appeal, the power users (on average the most vocal) are neglected by those they helped succeed in the marketplace.