Published 2026-04-16
tag(s): #music #random-thoughts #failures #yell-at-cloud
This is grand from me, since there's been a bunch of posts in my RSS feed about people's
disillusionment with Apple, and I really despise the topic.
ACTUALLY, let me get that off my chest first...
I've seen a bunch of recent posts, most of them linking to more posts, about how bad Apple is now, that they "lost their way"
When I got my iPhone, I did it due to a misguided expectation of privacy. I thought the device was OK, just like my Android phone was OK. This one has almost no Google in it, so that part is great, at least.
But even taking into consideration that I wasn't well versed in the "Apple way of things", or
that I was coming from another OS, still, being honest: there were some rough edges and
surprising behaviours.
I also remember the first time I opened
the Apple TV remote on
the phone: the keyboard you use for input on the TV is not the regular keyboard, but
one that looks more like the Android one (for real, and I won't bother with a screenshot). The
impression of that stuck with me because, wasn't Apple the "everything is consistent"
company???
I can hear you, starting to type an email "but Hoagie, that's because you were late to the
Apple goodness, one/two/ten years ago they really were great". Maybe? I don't really care,
but I am sure if I were to look closely at those claims, they wouldn't pass test, if anything
because they are too fantastical.
For as long as I can remember they have been terribly anti-consumer, even hostile. Their
superstar CEO a notorious asshole.[1] They have always been involved in
shady politics (and policy).
I gave them the benefit of doubt when I got an M1 Mac at a previous job a few years ago. Then
found out that a basic feature in Windows and Gnome requires
a third-party app in macOS.
In my few months using macOS, I could never shake the feeling the OS wasn't anything more
than a toy. Tons of extensions for very basic funcionality. I am sure I was holding it wrong,
though. 😒
Also, don't like the company? Don't buy their products. There's a ton of competition, find
another thing you like and move on.[2]
Finally, having high expectations of any major corporation is a fool's errand. Unless you are
12, being "a fan of" of a brand is just...silly.
I loved Nintendo growing up. I can still love them, acknoledge they are shitty, and let it be.
I might buy a game, or not. Are you still gonna buy the latest MacBook? then do it. Do you
really think Apple is shitty? buy something else.
Now it is my turn to complain in my blog about products I consume out of my own free will.
When I use Cider, if the laptop goes to sleep, then I cannot
resume playback. I always assumed it was because Linux is temperamental like that. Or maybe it
is a Cider thing, this worked on Spotify.
Wake laptop -> press play -> listen to music, easy peasy.
Turns out the same thing happens on a Windows laptop, with the official client. Heck, there's
no way to change audio output in the app, if you plug in headphones, you need to close and
launch it again.
Yes, really.
But going back to the sleep thing...open the laptop after sleep, press playback: nothing
happens.
I assume it is the same issue than in Cider, and API limitation or problem. Which is
outrageous in 2026. Apple has the resources to figure this out. It is embarrasing.
Maybe it works on macOS. If that's the case, it goes to show again evil anti consumer
(why offer the service in other platforms if it doesn't quite work? Thinking of the official
client).
Also in that case I would be stuck with a toy OS, and I have stuff to
do.[3]
And finally, I realize getting Apple Music while only using Linux at home, is entirely my fault.
Oh wait, finally finally: I know that if I had my music collection in perfect
little MP3 FLAC files, and setup XYZ service, I could stream my music and whatnot. But
I don't think that's going to happen (at least in the new future), for a number of reasons.
Sometimes venting is good. I won't use it a clutch. This blog should be a place of
po-si-ti-vi-ty.
Sometimes =P