Default app controls

C’mon, Apple, it’s time to let us hide Stocks and default to using Google Maps

Some of Apple’s rivals have a reputation for filling new devices with junk. On first launch, you’re faced with apps, demos and even ads you can’t get rid off. However, Apple’s not perfect itself. New iPhones and iPads have a load of pre‑installed apps, and the latest iOS update includes a new app called Apple Watch. This is designed to help you manage Apple’s wearable, but essentially otherwise functions as an advert you can’t remove.

The ability to delete default apps entirely from your device would be dangerous – you can imagine horror stories of people accidentally removing Safari or Mail. However, we’d like some switches ‘buried’ in Settings to enable these apps to be hidden, rather like how you can hide channels on an Apple TV. While we’re talking about default apps, it would be great to finally assign custom alternatives to Apple’s own, for those people who prefer Google Maps to Apple’s Maps and Mailbox to Mail.