Brushed Metal? Discuss.

ghost_user_name · May 6, 2002 4:10PM

What are your opinions of it? <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" />

I hate it.

I think it is a terrible decision to push the metal UI back into Sherlock and adding it to iChat and Address Book.

Previously, the metal UI was reserved for "media" apps only like QuickTime, FCP, and iTunes. Now it seems that Apple is just slapping it onto any random app. The metal UI was spawned from the QT4 UI which itself stands high in the <a href="http://www.iarchitect.com/shame.htm"; target="_blank">Interface Hall of Shame</a>.

Brushed metal, it would seem, is supposed to simulate real-word objects. With Sherlock, iChat, and Address Book, that convention is thrown out the window. Now only does this metal UI clash with the Aqua UI look, it does not even conform to standard Aqua *behavior*. Furthermore, by not "eating their dogfood" and using Aqua in these common apps, Apple is giving the okay to creating custom UIs for your software. Don't like Aqua? Fine! Make your own UI! Apple does it; so, why shouldn't it?

Comments?

Please, remember to send Apple your <a href="http://www.apple.com/macosx/feedback/"; target="_blank">feedback</a>!!

[ 05-06-2002: Message edited by: starfleetX ]

hmurchison · May 6, 2002 4:15PM

You're right...it sucks! Aqua has grown on me enough. Brushed Metal must go!

cinder · May 6, 2002 4:15PM

I think it's horrible.

Smudged grey noise.

Period.

I think they should default to the standard Aqua white with 'wet' blue buttons.

slight deviance is ok but this grey noise is getting tired.

sc_markt · May 6, 2002 4:28PM

Don't much care for it myself.

Did read somewhere today that there is an option to turn it on/off. Can anybody confirm this?

seb · May 6, 2002 4:32PM

Don't see anything wrong with it. Would look quite nice running on a brushed metal Titanium powerbook, I think.

Perhaps they'll have a Brushed Metal theme they just aren't telling us about.

People complain about the whiteness and the colors, saying they want the "platinum look" back. Now there is a Brushed Metal look and I guess that's bad too. Hmmm....

Oh well.

quarem · May 6, 2002 4:43PM

I really hate the brushed aluminum theme. I was happy that Apple had transitioned Sherlock away from brushed Al but now it's back and with a couple friends to boot.

[quote] Brushed metal, it would seem, is supposed to simulate real-word objects. With Sherlock, iChat, and Address Book, that convention is thrown out the window. Now only does this metal UI clash with the Aqua UI look, it does not even conform to standard Aqua *behavior*. Furthermore, by not "eating their dogfood" and using Aqua in these common apps, Apple is giving the okay to creating custom UIs for your software. Don't like Aqua? Fine! Make your own UI! Apple does it; so, why shouldn't it?

<hr></blockquote>

I couldn't agree more. It's hypocritical UI design. Apple claims they want consistency of the UI and they don't allow themes, but they don't follow their own standards.

If the graphics professionals don't want color and lots of white, Apple should just expand color schemes in OS X. There could be a color scheme that would make Aqua more grey and neutral, but instead we get brushed Al. **YUCK**

Maybe if we make enough of a fuss about this, they'll kill brushed Al in iChat, Sherlock 3, and Address Book before the Jaguar release. And maybe just maybe they'll be smart enough to start to transition the iApps and Quicktime back to Aqua.

What can you really expect from a company that doesn't use your ~/Library/Application Support directory but creates ~/Library/i(something) instead???

sc_markt · May 6, 2002 4:44PM

I have good news and bad news regarding the brushed metal look.

The good news: I found the site which mentions that it can be turned on or off.

The bad news: Its Spymac.

blue2kdave · May 6, 2002 5:12PM

Well, I like the brushed metal look. Although I can understand the argument that it should stick to media apps.

tht · May 6, 2002 5:18PM

I like it. What I like most is the philosophy of single window design using simplistic and well spaced elements. I also like the draggable hit spots anywhere on the brushed metal (need to confirm for all of the iApps though).

Only works for certain types of apps, but where it does, it works very well. For complex, palette heavy apps, I think brushed metal can be used as long as the palette UIs are done well. Something like proximity-based palette merging, window shrinking or simplification a la iTunes and the font palette, and magnetic edges. Or something.

I'd like Apple to use the style for all of their apps including the Finder, the Dock and the Menubar. I like the idea of 3rd party apps using the style but with different metal colors. I like the idea of eliminating the Classic desktop and replacing it with multiple windowed desktops. I'd like a lot of changes actually, but the users aren't really ready for it.

What I don't like is putting text on top of gel cap buttons (and the like) because it doesn't make the text as legible as it could be.

junkyard dawg · May 6, 2002 5:25PM

I don't have much of a problem with it. One advantage of the brushed metal windows is that you can click and drag on virtually any part of the window. That's an option that these windows wouldn't have with plain Aqua. And you'll notice that all of the brushed metal apps are ones that you would probably have running in the background often, and would want to be able to drag them around often for optimal positioning. Also, any app with lots of unused window space seems to be brushed metal.

Another point about brushed windows in OS X, is that you can double click on the top of the window, and it minimizes. So there is really no loss of functionality with brushed windows, only a gain of window area that can be clicked and dragged.

Really I can't understand why anyone would so vehemently hate them--they are MORE functional than Aqua windows! It might even be cool if Apple made a brushed metal theme, with EVERY window using the brushed metal. It sure would be easier to drag windows around.

bodhi · May 6, 2002 5:49PM

I like the brushed metal windows.

hobbes · May 6, 2002 5:50PM

[quote]Originally posted by Junkyard Dawg:

I don't have much of a problem with it. One advantage of the brushed metal windows is that you can click and drag on virtually any part of the window. That's an option that these windows wouldn't have with plain Aqua. And you'll notice that all of the brushed metal apps are ones that you would probably have running in the background often, and would want to be able to drag them around often for optimal positioning. Also, any app with lots of unused window space seems to be brushed metal.

Another point about brushed windows in OS X, is that you can double click on the top of the window, and it minimizes. So there is really no loss of functionality with brushed windows, only a gain of window area that can be clicked and dragged.

Really I can't understand why anyone would so vehemently hate them--they are MORE functional than Aqua windows! It might even be cool if Apple made a brushed metal theme, with EVERY window using the brushed metal. It sure would be easier to drag windows around.<hr></blockquote>

Agreed, JD.

The only problem I have w/ brushed metal (which has looked pretty nice since QT 5, imho) is trying to figure WHY an app looks brushed metal or traditional Aqua.

It used to be media and iApps, but now Address Book...? And Sherlock, from brushed metal v.1, (which wasn't so nice), back to Aqua, now back to brushed metal (v.2)?

I don't think even Apple knows at this point, and it's beginning to become a weird hodge-podge.

eman · May 6, 2002 6:04PM

When Quicktime 4 came out I originally like the Brushed Metal... but now it's a little old.

pookjp · May 6, 2002 6:07PM

I agree it's getting a bit old, but I find it aesthetically successful. And for those of you saying it clashes with Aqua, I suppose all I can say is that there is no accounting for taste. But ask any color expert, and you'll be told light blues and silver work beautifully together.

I enjoy the look, though I wouldn't mind something new just for a change.

alexander · May 6, 2002 6:28PM

Nope, don't like it.

Alex

burningwheel · May 6, 2002 6:32PM

it's not as inviting as Aqua. it doesn't excite me, it's kinda depressing and a step backwards

graphiteman · May 6, 2002 6:55PM

I hate it.

buonrotto · May 6, 2002 6:59PM

[quote]Originally posted by Hobbes:



Agreed, JD.

The only problem I have w/ brushed metal (which has looked pretty nice since QT 5, imho) is trying to figure WHY an app looks brushed metal or traditional Aqua.

It used to be media and iApps, but now Address Book...? And Sherlock, from brushed metal v.1, (which wasn't so nice), back to Aqua, now back to brushed metal (v.2)?

I don't think even Apple knows at this point, and it's beginning to become a weird hodge-podge.<hr></blockquote>

Address book is out of place there, I agree. But I think you can succesfully lobby that Sherlock is another iApp in purpose and function. Now if they would only drop the damn "i" from those other apps' names. I hate that more than brushed metal. To me, I never thought of iApps as being tied exclusively to media, just to those common activities consumers use their computers for. In that sense, I think Mail is an iApp, again without the cliché "i" placed in front of it.

brendon · May 6, 2002 7:37PM

Don't like it, because it sucks!!

Maybe with different colors, that might work.

burningwheel · May 6, 2002 7:39PM

it's not as inviting as Aqua. it doesn't excite me, it's kinda depressing and a step backwards

ghost_user_name · May 6, 2002 9:04PM

DIE YOU BRUSHED METAL VERMIN! DIE! YOU'RE LIKE A PLAGUE CAUSE YOU KEEP COMING BACK! DIE!

Really though. I prefer Aqua to Brushed Metal because it's just much better looking and lighter feeling. This Draconian relic from the past must be put away in place of Aqua's GUI. Please.

[ 05-06-2002: Message edited by: sjpsu ]