Apple restarting with macOS 11 is a big problem

• Apple’s latest operating system, macOS 11 Big Sur, has returned the startup chime that signals the user that the computer is on.
• Art columnist Jason Atien says that while this change is minor if not unnecessary for some, it is actually more important than just a fun addition.
• He says resonance is part of Apple’s identity, and creating this consistency between Apple products enhances affection and brand loyalty from customers.
• Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.

Apple’s latest operating system, macOS 11 Big Sur, They look very different Which replaced it. We can later discuss if that’s a good thing, but Apple definitely hasn’t shied away from bringing in a lot more IOS design elements On a desktop computer.

In my opinion, there is a lot to like, and even more than that will take some time to get used to. It’s also very standard with a major software update that includes this dramatic redesign.

However, one thing should be familiar to longtime Mac users: Apple has re-released the Chime start.

This isn’t new information – we’ve known that for a while. Actually, even before Indeed, Apple hinted at that During last summer’s developer conference, you can Run a terminal command To return it. Once developers and others started installing macOS 11 beta, the iconic tone is officially back.

This is actually a bigger deal than it might sound.

Startup chime It’s been around since the original Macintosh release, Although at the time it was a beep. Over the years, the chime changed several times, but the purpose was the same: to tell the user that their computers had passed diagnostic tests and were working properly. When you heard this, you knew your Mac was going to start up.

In 2016, the playback ring disappeared. At the time, Apple didn’t say anything about why it was deleting the audio it hears when you start up your Mac. Most likely, removing the startup chime was a file An indication that your Mac looks like an iPhone or iPad In that they are always on.

In fact, with the MacBook Pro in 2016, you can Literally “turn on” your laptop by lifting the cover. Technically, it still has to “boot” when turned on, but you no longer have to press a button to achieve this.

As a result, it was perfectly possible to sit in the library or in a meeting, lift the laptop lid, and suddenly be greeted with a sharp chord letting you know that you just turned on your Mac. I assume that in some cases you might not be completely ready for this, and in others It might be distracting or embarrassing. The argument would have been very easy, if it was no longer necessary and might be a problem for some people, let’s get rid of it.

The exception as for ring startup is that it’s part of the Mac’s identity. This is important, and it’s also easy to overlook it when you think about it from a purely functional standpoint. If you think startup resonance serves one specific purpose, then when that purpose no longer exists, you don’t need to resonate.

However, over time, the startup has taken on a completely different purpose.

It has become part of the Mac experience.

It was an integral part of the symbols, the logo, or the shape of the device. Was familiar. In fact, even when you bought a new Mac, even if it looked very different from the device it replaced, your first experience was the same as when it turned on.

There is something valuable in peace of mind that comes with intimacy. Makes something new less certain.

In an interview on November 15th on The Mac Power Users podcastCurt Knight, Apple’s chief product marketing manager for the platform, spoke of the decision regarding the change:

“I don’t think change is for the sake of change,” he said. “This is really a Mac homage. Things like re-ring the boot. But we didn’t just re-ring the boot, we re-mastered everything. Everything is in a higher quality than it was before. We kept that kind of attention to detail, so there is also consistency across systems. Basic because [the] The majority of Mac users also have an iPhone and iPad, so having consistency in things like app icons is super valuable. ”

I think it’s worth noting that by truly “honoring a Mac”, Apple has been honoring people who love to use the Mac and care about its history. Reset the boot bell does not work. There is literally no technical reason to exist, and it only serves one purpose – to please the user.

Not many companies think about this kind of thing. The Mac has always had a different kind of follower, and Apple has done a better job than most companies at creating affection for the brand. In this case, it really costs nothing to add the boot ring, but the return on this investment is huge in terms of branding impact. And that’s exactly why it’s such a big deal.