Want Apple to make changes? Send feedback

Apple is a progressive company that is always tweaking and modifying the way its systems and OS are used. While this is great for advancements and implementation of new ideas, it does have its drawbacks in that some new approaches can be frustrating, limiting, or confusing to people. For instance, Apple implemented a Duplicate feature in OS X Lion that replaces alternate approaches to saving files (Save As, and Save a Copy), a change that has caused some confusion for people who are merely looking for the older file-saving options.

While Apple sometimes can appear stubborn and determined to stick to its methods (most famously exemplified by its only offering single-button mice for years, even when the OS fully supported two-button mice and there was clear demand for a change), at times it does listen to feedback. One example of this is that when OS X debuted people were dismayed to see the loss of the Apple Menu, which Apple quickly returned in subsequent releases of the OS.

Recently, events surrounding Apple's new iCloud service have reaffirmed that Apple does listen to user feedback, as the company has been encouraging people to send feedback if they wish to see changes in its products.

The Apple-centric rumor and news Web site AppleInsider is reporting that a reader e-mailed Apple CEO Tim Cook regarding concerns over the removal of options to sync keychains, preferences, Mail rules, and other items between Mac systems, which some people (even if not a majority) have come to use quite regularly. The reader was surprised that in response to his e-mail he received a call from Tim Cook's office in which the company clarified that it is open to adding these services to iCloud "if there is enough feedback on the subject."

Clearly whether or not a requested feature or change gets implemented will depend on its importance, its relevance, and user interest in it. However, the overall message is simple: the more feedback Apple gets from its users, the more likely it is that Apple will implement these changes.

To facilitate this process, Apple has a fairly extensive feedback Web site with feedback forms for practically all of its products and services. On these feedback pages you can select specific areas of interest and describe either problems you have found or features and changes you would like to see. Unfortunately (though understandably) the feedback conversation is only one-way and you will likely not receive a response from Apple, but Apple is apparently committed to paying attention to feedback, provided there is enough of it.

While Apple does have support forums and service centers like the plethora of Apple Stores, giving feedback via these channels will likely not help any ideas gain traction in the company. The best approach if you want to get changes implemented is to use the feedback pages and encourage others to do so as well. Be as clear and detailed as possible in your feedback, and hopefully with enough user response Apple will incorporate the requested changes into its products and services.

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