Aqua Interface to be updated?
It seems the aqua interface was invented back in the days of b/w G3 and fruit flavored imacs.
I have always found the interface nice for consumer machines but too round and colorfull for professional use.
Since then the hardware design line has changed quite a bit to a much more sleek and minimalistic design. Is the Aqua interface due to an update too? In my opinion the interface could use some optimizations here and there.
ap
I have always found the interface nice for consumer machines but too round and colorfull for professional use.
Since then the hardware design line has changed quite a bit to a much more sleek and minimalistic design. Is the Aqua interface due to an update too? In my opinion the interface could use some optimizations here and there.
ap
Comments
Check out the <a href="http://www.apple.com/macosx/server"; target="_blank">Mac OS X Server</a> page. Look closely at the X on the box, it doesn't appear to be transparent, just very sleek and reflective.
I hope this is the direction for future interface designs...
[EDIT: Added image.]
[ 11-28-2002: Message edited by: Spart ]</p>
By the way, several Aqua elements were recently changed with 10.2.
But I do agreee with Spart, the stripes must go.
<strong>Why would you think it's not transparent? It's on a white packground; so, you wouldn't be able to tell anyhow.
By the way, several Aqua elements were recently changed with 10.2.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I simply assume, it doesn't give the same obviously gel-tab appearance of the current aqua, more of a hardened quicksilver.
We all know they were changed...very slightly. The feel of aqua really hasn't changed at all.
And they only updated a few of the widgets....the scrollbars, menubar widgets and whatnot have been left untouched.
I completely agree. Regardless of how it's perceived as an OS interface, from a purely graphic design point of view it's really not up to date. I always thought Aqua would have gone just right with the orignal rounded Bondi blue iMacs/G3's and clamshell iBooks. That was how many years ago? A long time in graphic design years. By making Aqua have a "look" much stronger than the generic OS9, Apple has kind of put themselves in a position where they need to evolve Aqua to keep up with what is fresh in graphic design the same way they keep up with good industrial design.
At least there are some decent themes around to use in the meantime.
[ 11-28-2002: Message edited by: jw34 ]</p>
<strong>I liked Jaguar's aqua interface.
But I do agreee with Spart, the stripes must go.
I actually ddon't mind the stripes.
-stipes minimized-
-reg-
[ 11-29-2002: Message edited by: ast3r3x ]</p>
<strong>I liked Jaguar's aqua interface.
But I do agreee with Spart, the stripes must go.
liked...you dont use it anymore?
I'm sure that the look of Aqua will develop and transform quite a bit over the next several years. It will probably get more heavily modified in the long run than the behavior of the UI.
Aqua should be more optimized.. And just sooo slow right now!
Other than that, im happy..
<strong>
The stripes do work. The alternative looks blank, flat and, basically, crappy.
</strong>
<hr></blockquote>
I have noticed that the stripes look rubbish in thousands of colours which seems like a major oversight.
I used a theme called Rhapsodized for a while, and I really liked that one. But it was a bit too much gray for my tastes, it didn't go too well with a lot of applications.
EDIT: Oh, both the above themes (neither of which have stripes) sped up the OS noticeably. If you have an older Mac running OS X, that's one thing you can do to speed it up... get a theme that removes the stripes (and preferably one that removes transparency as well).
PS I think I just realized that SmoothStripes is so fast because it removes menubar transparency. So I would definitely recommend it to anyone using an older Mac.
[ 11-29-2002: Message edited by: Luca Rescigno ]</p>
<strong>Remove the stripes and you have a bland white expanse. If Aqua has it's stripes removed then they need to come up with a back ground that's less white ( bland ). I would find just white annoying and bland. A sort of unfinished look. Too simple.</strong><hr></blockquote>
That's your opinion, but I disagree. I want my windows to look "bland", so they don't get in my way. A well designed GUI is one that is as unintrusive as possible. The pinstripes are very intrusive to me. I've been using the SmoothStripes theme with Duality for months now and I'm very happy with it. here is a sample:
Call it boring and plain if you like, but I find it much easier to read and access information in windows than with useless stripes that try to make the GUI more pretty.
eVo, that theme truly is a thing of beauty.
<strong>But I do agree with Spart, the stripes must go.
I'm positive they will disappear in the not so distant future. Personally I do like the brushed metal look but there must be some alternative themes based on the purpose of use.
I would suggest the following 4 themes.
<strong>...Of course, to do that, they would probably have to improve on the metal UE guidelines first...</strong><hr></blockquote>
You're right. They are completely confusing. <img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" />
<a href="http://developer.apple.com/techpubs/macosx/Essentials/AquaHIGuidelines/AHIGWindows/Textured_Windows.html#CHDHHBGJ"; target="_blank">Aqua HI Guidelines/Windows/Textured Windows</a>
[ 11-29-2002: Message edited by: Quick ]</p>