The Talk Show With John Gruber 439: ‘A Mitigated Disaster’, With Daniel Jalkut
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Jan 27, 2026 Daniel Jalkut, independent Mac developer and Red Sweater Software founder, returns to vent about macOS 26 Tahoe. They rail on small UI inconsistencies, misused menu icons, and uneven adoption across Apple apps. They debate whether Tahoe is a mitigated disaster, recall Apple’s lost pixel-perfect culture, and discuss how leadership and community fixes might steer a course correction.
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Beta Feedback Needs Public Pressure
- Beta feedback only works if critics voice issues publicly during the beta period.
- Waiting until release deprives Apple of course-correcting feedback and weakens accountability.
Tahoe Feels Premature
- Tahoe shipped with many UI elements clearly unfinished compared to WWDC demos.
- Apple polished iPhone changes later, but MacOS Tahoe still feels like a premature release.
WWDC Demos Missing In Betas
- John and Daniel note many keynote animations shown at WWDC didn't appear in initial betas.
- They suspect demos used private builds or simulations rather than shipped code.