App management

Apple wants you to download loads of apps, but should better help you manage them

We’ve never been impressed by Apple’s ’scorched earth’ policy regarding iOS app deletion. No matter how long you’ve used an app for, removal takes your data with it. Reinstall and you then start from scratch, whether you were weeks into an adventure game or had set up a utility just how you liked it.

In theory, iCloud should seamlessly deal with this – and sometimes it does; but relatively few developers utilise it. Apple should take the lead here, automating the process and enabling you to optionally restore settings and data on any app reinstall.

Further app management improvements would also be welcome. It can take a long time to delete an app. Icons will wiggle, you’ll tap the cross, but it’ll be ages before the confirmation dialog appears, during which time your device will be unresponsive. And when you’ve loads of apps, organising them is a pain, so many people don’t. Would it kill Apple to add sorting options, so you could display apps alphabetically or by subject?