Related:

Apple Design Official Alan Dye Poached by Meta in Major Coup

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46139145

Uh oh.

  Not everyone loves everything Lemay has worked on, but nobody bats 1.000 and designers love to critique each other’s work. [...] everyone I’ve spoken to is happy — if not downright giddy — at the news that Lemay is replacing Dye. 

If those are the most flattering words that Gruber can compose about an Apple employee, then Lemay must be almost as bad as Dye!

  I am not a Liquid Glass hater. I actually think, on the whole, iOS 26 is a better and more usable UI than iOS 18.

While someone's fondness for an OS can't really be 'wrong', Gruber is the first of many Apple commentators I have read who doesn't feel iOS 26 is a turkey. Liquid Glass is the Ford Edsel of user interface design.

I think gruber is a die-hard apple fan, a passion I would expect from someone who has written about apple for years.

That said, he is frequently an apple apologist. This gets in the way of critical thinking. Apple does not deserve a pass on poor products, bad policies or behavior, and other things that deserve being called out by journalism.

It seems like a team sports thing. Gruber tied his boat to Apple 20+ years ago, and is chummy with quite a few Apple employees.

I assume (perhaps incorrectly) that when he criticizes Apple, he puts his relationships, access, and self image at risk.

> I’ve never met Lemay [...]

> That won’t be a problem with Stephen Lemay. Understanding of fundamental principles will no longer be lacking.

Holy wishcasting, Batman.