Rumor: iOS 7 to see significant overhaul, development running behind schedule
According to the well-connected John Gruber, iOS users will see a difference in the operating system's UI when iOS 7 is released presumably alongside the next-generation iPhone, but Apple is struggling to implement the changes on time.
Gruber, who runs Apple blog Daring Fireball, said Senior Vice President of Industrial Design and new head of Human Interface Jony Ive has apparently made noticeable visual tweaks to Apple's mobile platform. So much so, that "word on the street" has it that iOS engineers are required to put a polarizing filter over their iPhone displays to prevent onlookers from getting a glimpse of the new UI.
The rumor was revealed in a Branch discussion regarding the latest Apple talk, with a number of well-known bloggers airing out their thoughts on what the company has in store for 2013.
Rene Ritchie of iMore, another well-informed blogger, chimed in, saying, "Ive's work is apparently making many people really happy, but will also apparently make rich-texture-loving designers sad." The quip is in regard to the skeuomorphic designs seen in iOS 6, such as the stitching elements found in Apple's Find My Friends app.
Gruber claims that iOS 7 development is "running behind," prompting OS X 10.9 engineers to be pulled from their work to lend a hand in getting the mobile OS ready in time for launch.
Gruber, who runs Apple blog Daring Fireball, said Senior Vice President of Industrial Design and new head of Human Interface Jony Ive has apparently made noticeable visual tweaks to Apple's mobile platform. So much so, that "word on the street" has it that iOS engineers are required to put a polarizing filter over their iPhone displays to prevent onlookers from getting a glimpse of the new UI.
The rumor was revealed in a Branch discussion regarding the latest Apple talk, with a number of well-known bloggers airing out their thoughts on what the company has in store for 2013.
Rene Ritchie of iMore, another well-informed blogger, chimed in, saying, "Ive's work is apparently making many people really happy, but will also apparently make rich-texture-loving designers sad." The quip is in regard to the skeuomorphic designs seen in iOS 6, such as the stitching elements found in Apple's Find My Friends app.
Gruber claims that iOS 7 development is "running behind," prompting OS X 10.9 engineers to be pulled from their work to lend a hand in getting the mobile OS ready in time for launch.
Comments
So, if Apple is moving away from rich-texture designs and is opting for simple, then what's the point of a retina display, if the OS won't be taking full advantage of it? I'm not sure what I think of this new direction, but I guess that we'll know soon enough.
As for OS X and iOS, I hope that an OS X user sitting on a Mac Pro is not using an iOS desktop in the future. As for me, I haven't upgraded past Snow Leopard yet, and it's not because I don't have 19 dollars.
That's stupid. Look at the passbook app for example, very flat and simple. Compare it on an iPhone 3GS and iPhone 5. The differences are huge.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Apple ][
So, if Apple is moving away from rich-texture designs and is opting for simple, then what's the point of a retina display, if the OS won't be taking full advantage of it? I'm not sure what I think of this new direction, but I guess that we'll know soon enough.
You're right. The OS design is the only reason to have retina display.
So let's see if I can predict the FUD that's going to come from the usual trolls:
- Apple is incompetent since they are behind schedule.
- Apple will have bugs because they didn't take their time releasing it.
- Apple is arbitrarily changing the UI and confusing users.
- Apple's UI is stale and needs to be changed.
There will be 100 other self-contradictory complaints, but I'm to tired to write them all down.
Quote:
Originally Posted by island hermit
You're right. The OS design is the only reason to have retina display.
It's not the only reason, but it is interesting and perhaps a little bit ironic that Apple is going more and more retina, and people keep whining about a mythical iPad Mini retina, and the OS is getting simpler looking at the same time.
I'm not passing any final judgement on the new OS, I haven't seen it and used it yet. It may end up being great, we'll see.
iOS will not stop displaying text.
"Textures" are not needed to get value from a retina display. (For that matter, even pure solid colors look better: less "screen door" effect.)
And I'll pile on with: take your time, Apple!
Quote:
Gruber claims that iOS 7 development is "running behind," prompting OS X 10.9 engineers to be pulled from their work to lend a hand in getting the mobile OS ready in time for launch.
Doesn't Apple have enough money to hire some more good engineers?
They need to have a transformable iOS.
1) The tried and true iOS
2) A new button or down load that has the ability to load the new version.
This is the only way they can proceed without alienated everyone that loves and is familiar with the current iOS.
If they just create a new version with a shiny new coat they may just piss everyone off. The fan droids will say its lipstick on a really pretty pig, while the others will cry that everything's unfamiliar.
They will have new features perhaps maybe even some customization, but if they just take off the skewmorphism and add simplistic shades, icons, colors and interfaces, I'm afraid it may take just a short couple months beofre people start to cry....
iOSgate -Softgate?-Skewgate-IveGate-whatever gate.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Slurpy
... Whatever new UI paradigms they implement will need to last for the next decade...
So we can continue to hear bitching from all those people out that keeps complaining that the iOS looks the same from the day of iPhone inception?
Quote:
Originally Posted by jragosta
So let's see if I can predict the FUD that's going to come from the usual trolls:
- Apple is incompetent since they are behind schedule.
- Apple will have bugs because they didn't take their time releasing it.
- Apple is arbitrarily changing the UI and confusing users.
- Apple's UI is stale and needs to be changed.
There will be 100 other self-contradictory complaints, but I'm to tired to write them all down.
You forgot:
- Apple is just copying Halo and Metro
Quote:
Originally Posted by smalM
Doesn't Apple have enough money to hire some more good engineers?
Um, go look at their job openings. Lots of reqs for software engineers.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jragosta
So let's see if I can predict the FUD that's going to come from the usual trolls:
- Apple is incompetent since they are behind schedule.
- Apple will have bugs because they didn't take their time releasing it.
- Apple is arbitrarily changing the UI and confusing users.
- Apple's UI is stale and needs to be changed.
There will be 100 other self-contradictory complaints, but I'm to tired to write them all down.
Ya know Rag, when you try to beat them to it, it becomes sort of a self fulfilling prophecy.
And my only complaint with iOS is that last part you mentioned: It's stale. Not the UI, the OS itself and it's functionality. There is a lot that Android clearly wins at when it comes to innovation, and I would really like to see Apple try some new things and shake it up a bit. You know what I miss about the early days of the iPhone? That "wow" factor. When you pulled one out in public, people instantly cluttered around it because it looked like nothing else out there. The same goes for products like the original iPod, the iPad, heck even the iMac. A friend of mine who works for AT&T corporate has been field testing the new HTC One, and he gets the same reactions when using it in public that I used to with my iPhone. People are excited, ask questions, want to try using it. I don't think Apple has seen anything like that since the 4 was released, and that's sad.
Quote:
Originally Posted by smalM
Doesn't Apple have enough money to hire some more good engineers?
More engineers is not always better!
Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mythical_Man-Month
I am curious why this is happening again. It first happened with the development of the original iPhone and iOS causing delays for a Mac OS update Wouldn't you think that Apple with all their billions would hire more engineers in general to handle these inevitable development overloads? Maybe I'm wrong and throwing warm bodies at the problem is not the right way . . . but it seems like something needs to change.
Quote:
Originally Posted by WelshDog
"Gruber claims that iOS 7 development is "running behind," prompting OS X 10.9 engineers to be pulled from their work to lend a hand in getting the mobile OS ready in time for launch."
I am curious why this is happening again. It first happened with the development of the original iPhone and iOS causing delays for a Mac OS update Wouldn't you think that Apple with all their billions would hire more engineers in general to handle these inevitable development overloads? Maybe I'm wrong and throwing warm bodies at the problem is not the right way . . . but it seems like something needs to change.
Echoing my answer above! More engineers can be like a football team where every player thinks they are the Quarterback! No, you're doing it wrong. No you are doing it wrong! Well, what I did in my last project was...
Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Silver_Bullet
More Engineers is what created Windows Vista! At the time Microsoft had unlimited resources!