The Curious Case of Apple Reminders and its Vintage UI Quirk on macOS Tahoe

Prepare for a nostalgic trip down memory lane, because a peculiar detail has surfaced concerning Apple’s Reminders app on the yet-to-be-released macOS Tahoe. It seems that while Apple continues its relentless march towards streamlined, modern interfaces, one tiny relic from a bygone era stubbornly persists, much to the delight (or bewilderment) of long-time users: the venerable “i” button.

For those unfamiliar, this isn’t just any “i” button.

This is the “i” button, the iconic information symbol that once graced the skeuomorphic designs of early iOS versions, particularly prominent in apps like Reminders and Calendar during the iOS 6 era and earlier. Back then, tapping this little circle of information would flip the card over, revealing a textured linen backside where you could delve into the task's details, set due dates, or assign priorities.

It was a charming, tactile interaction that defined an epoch of Apple's design philosophy.

Fast forward to today’s sleek, flat, and minimalist aesthetic, epitomized by iOS 7 and its successors. The mobile versions of Reminders on iOS and iPadOS have long since shed this skeuomorphic skin, opting for a more integrated, contextual menu or direct in-line editing.

The “i” button, as a standalone element, largely disappeared, replaced by more subtle indicators or gestures.

Yet, here we are, looking at screenshots of macOS Tahoe, and there it is: the little grey “i” button, still faithfully standing by each reminder. It’s a ghost from the past, a silent sentinel of an older design language that Apple seems to have forgotten to update on its desktop counterpart.

This creates a curious divergence, where the experience of managing your to-dos on a Mac is subtly different from doing so on an iPhone or iPad.

One might wonder: is this an intentional nod to heritage, a subtle Easter egg for design aficionados? Or is it simply an oversight, a low-priority item on the vast list of UI updates that Apple undertakes with each new OS cycle? Given Apple's meticulous attention to detail, especially in recent years as they’ve strived for greater app parity across platforms, this particular inconsistency feels all the more pronounced.

It’s a small detail, perhaps insignificant to the casual user.

But for those who've witnessed Apple's design evolution over the decades, it’s a fascinating quirk. It reminds us that even in the most polished ecosystems, echoes of the past can linger, offering a quiet testament to the journey from textured linens and glossy buttons to today’s seamless, boundless interfaces.

The “i” button on macOS Tahoe’s Reminders app isn't just an interface element; it's a tiny time capsule.