schlappette's avatar
schlappette
Brass Contributor
Aug 15, 2024
Status:
New

"Windows App Preview" for macOS is a step backward for user experience

This update is a major step backward, as far as user experience:
 
- App does not remember Tiles/List view upon re-opening, just defaults to Tile view every time
- "List" view is not really a list, just a grid of smaller connection icons with a minimum 2-column view
- Please bring back the compact single-column list view with small thumbnails (or no images at all!)
- "Show Thumbnails" should toggle whether an image of any kind is displayed or not.  Currently, with "Show Thumbnails" off, I still see a generic icon/image, and I don't want to see any image.
- Sidebar is not collapsible or re-sizable and takes up unnecessary real estate
- Connection Center window cannot be resized to any narrower than two "list" entries + sidebar, further negating the concept of a "List view"
- View menu > Device View Options and App View Options: These should be in Preferences, not in their own menu item
- The connection badge has been removed, so there is no way to tell which connections are open (Thank you for that addition drea680 )

5 Comments

  • tonylmiller's avatar
    tonylmiller
    Copper Contributor

    When someone says a Microsoft app has a bad interface, I think their design team says "hold my beer" and figures out a way to make it worse.
    This is a huge step backward in an already backward app. It's very unfortunate that we've all been suckered into needing remote machines running Microsoft platforms and can't get away from using this application to access them. This application has zero purchasers, it's the servers that have buyers and those people are not involved with the everyday use of the software. 

  • Justin938274's avatar
    Justin938274
    Copper Contributor

    I agree with the OP's list.

     

    The additional preferences in Device View Options and App View Options are so hidden that I did not find them until after reading OP's post.

     

    Also, when showing credentials in the Devices view, the credentials' "friendly name" should be shown, if available. What's the point of adding a "friendly name" if it's not going to be used for display?

     

    Thanks for your continued work on this critical app.

    Justin

  • InsanelyOne's avatar
    InsanelyOne
    Copper Contributor

    This is an understatement!  The new app is complete crap.  WTF!!!!

  • drea680's avatar
    drea680
    Copper Contributor

    And why has the connection badge been removed? Now there is no way to see which remote connections are open.