Today’s Question: You mentioned the new MacOS Tahoe, so I wonder if you could comment on your experience with the visual changes to the interface. I’ve seen a lot of stories complaining about the new “liquid glass” effect.
Tim’s Quick Answer: Overall, I feel the Apple Liquid Glass effects degrade the experience of using an Apple device, for both computers and mobile devices. Fortunately, you can disable the more problematic interface features, such as the monochrome icons that I find to be more difficult to interpret quickly.
More Detail: While I recommend not installing major operating system updates as soon as they are available, I don’t actually follow that advice in the interest of being able to test the update so I can report on the results to my readers. Unfortunately, I have mostly found the updated visual effects serve as a distraction than a benefit.
The monochrome effect for Liquid Glass is particularly problematic. My subjective opinion is that the effect looks very drab and unwelcoming. I think it is fair to say that objectively the monochrome Liquid Glass effect makes it much more difficult to find the icon you’re looking for.
Fortunately, you can opt for a color version for icons. However, I also find the overall operating system update tends to look a bit more cartoonish, which I find a little distracting. Perhaps the updated interface will grow on me, but I’m not a fan at least for now.
Overall, however, the changes are not so dramatic as to make it more difficult to use your computer or mobile device. Thankfully, the Default setting for the interface employs color icons, which are much easier to interpret in my view. But if you want to try out the Clear or Tinted options, those are available as options.
