Not only does the human eye perceive a huge array of colors, we quickly come to reflexively and unconsciously use them as cues for situations, actions, locations, and a host of environmental circumstances. Color can be a subtle and effective way to convey large amounts of information without distraction, clutter, or perception glut. Used well, it also prevents fatigue, focuses attention, and encourages interaction.
Certainly Aqua is overdue for an overhaul, but this isn't so much a haircut as a decapitation. A monochromatic virtual environment is a crippled virtual environment. Lion's inarticulate visuals impress me as quite literally stupid: their ability to convey information is drastically and pointlessly reduced.
This nonsense with tabs appears equally misguided. Good engineering isn't about fixing what isn't broken.
This is the point where marketing becomes destructive... It doesn't have to be better, it doesn't even have to be good. It just has to be new.
I agree the button style tab is less confusing than the slider, but now it is inconsistent with radio buttons.
In the bottom screenshot, look at the Speakable Items radio buttons: the highlighted one is bright and blue coloured, and yet the tab above it has the highlighted choice dark.
Remember when tabs were like real tabs (in a looseleaf binder)? Maybe not enough people see looseleaf binders these days.
Not only does the human eye perceive a huge array of colors, we quickly come to reflexively and unconsciously use them as cues for situations, actions, locations, and a host of environmental circumstances. Color can be a subtle and effective way to convey large amounts of information without distraction, clutter, or perception glut. Used well, it also prevents fatigue, focuses attention, and encourages interaction.
Certainly Aqua is overdue for an overhaul, but this isn't so much a haircut as a decapitation. A monochromatic virtual environment is a crippled virtual environment. Lion's inarticulate visuals impress me as quite literally stupid: their ability to convey information is drastically and pointlessly reduced.
This nonsense with tabs appears equally misguided. Good engineering isn't about fixing what isn't broken.
This is the point where marketing becomes destructive... It doesn't have to be better, it doesn't even have to be good. It just has to be new.
The idea that 'it just has to be new' does not make marketing destructive. Apple OS's have always evolved functionally, stylistically and visually. Lion is the same. If Apple was happy with their OS and just let it be it would effectively go backwards. Within a year or two it would look old.
I don't necessarily love all things Apple - I dislike the blue gray in ios, for instance. I much prefer neutral greys. My theory is that as Apple always strives to minimize and simplify they have deemed color and loud signalling unnecesary. The point is that we KNOW where stuff is. We have been around computers for a while now and we don't need to told where the file menu is, for instance. The fact that it is always in the same place makes life simple. It is about conventions. When you go into a white room you KNOW where the light switch is and you don't complain when that it is white. The itunes school of file management is an accepted convention, for better or worse. I suspect it will stay that way forever and that's fine with me. What Apple is doing is fine tuning and reducing.
Personally I am enjoying this design development. I feel pretty safe in Apple's hands and don't worry about falling off the edge of a cliff. Don't worry so much about the light switches - enjoy the room.
What's the use of having a high-def monitor if the sliders and buttons are monochromatic. I hate the new look! What's the obsession with removing colors?? It looks so dull
Probably because Apple thinks that the use of a high-def monitor is NOT to look at the ...sliders and buttons, but rather at your, you know, CONTENT.
Documents, images, web pages, movies, porn collection, you know...
Gimmicks for the sake of gimmicks and changing the UI for the sake of justifying your job do nothing to add functionality or improve clarity. Just because they have a core animation tool is not a good reason for using it.
I like grey. Most of my desktops are various shades of grey. The days of gel-like aqua buttons are coming to an end. Aqua has been around for more than ten years already. I like less colors in my interfaces and windows, so as far as Lion is concerned, I say bring it on!
I like grey. Most of my desktops are various shades of grey. The days of gel-like aqua buttons are coming to an end. Aqua has been around for more than ten years already. I like less colors in my interfaces and windows, so as far as Lion is concerned, I say bring it on!
I don't mind if controls are grey but I think icons should be coloured. The grey sidebar icons in iTunes I find hard to distinguish, and in Lion they are doing the same to Finder.
I don't mind if controls are grey but I think icons should be coloured. The grey sidebar icons in iTunes I find hard to distinguish, and in Lion they are doing the same to Finder.
I like the grey, but I understand why others wouldn?t. I don?t understand why Apple doesn?t a basic monochrome/colored icon option under System Preferences » Appearances for those that want or need the flashier icons.
Probably because Apple thinks that the use of a high-def monitor is NOT to look at the ...sliders and buttons, but rather at your, you know, CONTENT.
Documents, images, web pages, movies, porn collection, you know...
after all the very eloquent arguments here, and the overwhelmingly negative response to this ui direction by pretty much everyone here, do you really think your supposed quip cuts it? Sure we all want to use our CONTENT (sic) the best way possible, and that's precisely why we require colour cues and a proper interface so we can do so more easily, with less fatigue, more intuitively, etc. etc. What you are saying is rather inane, to be blunt, surely the next step for you is to grey everything out, emboss everything out in monochromatic backgrounds, so we can properly focus on content, as if proper (colour coded) ui for navigating said content is superfluous. Buttons, sliders, menus, icons, tabs, sidebars are all there to navigate and use your content, if they get lost in a monochromatic sea and they blend together, guess how well you are going to be using your content...
On another note, wasn't Steve proclaiming how great aqua was and still is and what a staple of os x it was in the lion preview? Wtf has happened since then?
I like the grey, but I understand why others wouldn?t. I don?t understand why Apple doesn?t a basic monochrome/colored icon option under System Preferences » Appearances for those that want or need the flashier icons.
Yes, seems like icons could be drawn color but programmatically made greyscale in real time for users who want that. Under Universal Access you can already make the whole screen greyscale in real time.
Apple sure benefited from colors when Steve turned the companies fortunes to Rosie (get it?)! Now maybe Steve is getting a little morbid with his colors because of his present health, but I pray not...
Agree. The slider effect looks nice. Certainly the selected tab ought to be lighter with dark text, the unselected with a darker background. This works with the slider concept and is the cleanest and in my view clearest way of presenting the tab choice. Having the selected tab darker looks wrong to me though I guess it makes sense following a depressed button concept.
You might immediately think that, but after using the sliders in the previous builds, I've come to realise this is completely topsy turvy.
Thank god they have changed it back.
You see the real thing is, that it is actually less important to highlight the current tab. You are on that tab, the rest of the window also confirms that. From a useability perspective, what you want to see in the actual tab bar, is the tabs you are not currently on. The tabs that you can move to are the ones that need to be more readable.
What's the use of having a high-def monitor if the sliders and buttons are monochromatic. I hate the new look! What's the obsession with removing colors?? It looks so dull
I have an idea they're doing it so the focus is on the content. I like the aqua blue look and was initially sad to see the brushed metal looks go, but I now think that was for the best.
Now that Microsoft et al have effectively "cheapened the brand" by plastering overly glossy textures and transparency effects everywhere (even in places it doesn't make sense to include them!) Apple has to distance themselves from the gaudy sideshow.
This is all about focus, reducing visual distractions and understanding that the weight of visual information projected by particular interface element should be proportional to it's relevance to the task at hand.
I don't know why Apple can't simply let users select themes. There's no technical reason why they can't. It would make everyone happy, and not get in the way of anyone nor make it harder/complicated for anyone. Microsoft can do it. You can make Windows 7 looks like classic Windows 95 / 98 again if you wanted to. All supported by Microsoft. So why can't Apple? I personally like the new color, but I do agree, it sucks forcing a new theme on everyone just because they can. Be nice if they just gave us more control/choice.
Also, didn't OS 9 have themes with the appearance manager?
I like the animated tabs, but this is a classic example of where a touch of color would help clue the user which tab is selected ? especially if there's only 2 tabs. If it's a matter of shades of grey then it's completely arbitrary which one represents selected and which one unselected.
Color. Please.
Goad to see I'm not the only one who thinks that. As simple as it might be to some my brain has trouble which of the two opposite colors means that is the selection.
Not only does the human eye perceive a huge array of colors, we quickly come to reflexively and unconsciously use them as cues for situations, actions, locations, and a host of environmental circumstances. Color can be a subtle and effective way to convey large amounts of information without distraction, clutter, or perception glut. Used well, it also prevents fatigue, focuses attention, and encourages interaction.
Certainly Aqua is overdue for an overhaul, but this isn't so much a haircut as a decapitation. A monochromatic virtual environment is a crippled virtual environment. Lion's inarticulate visuals impress me as quite literally stupid: their ability to convey information is drastically and pointlessly reduced.
This nonsense with tabs appears equally misguided. Good engineering isn't about fixing what isn't broken.
This is the point where marketing becomes destructive... It doesn't have to be better, it doesn't even have to be good. It just has to be new.
I agree. The new interface is not only drab (much like AppleInsider's forums), but also impossible to read the currently selected tab. It is bass ackwards.
Comments
Certainly Aqua is overdue for an overhaul, but this isn't so much a haircut as a decapitation. A monochromatic virtual environment is a crippled virtual environment. Lion's inarticulate visuals impress me as quite literally stupid: their ability to convey information is drastically and pointlessly reduced.
This nonsense with tabs appears equally misguided. Good engineering isn't about fixing what isn't broken.
This is the point where marketing becomes destructive... It doesn't have to be better, it doesn't even have to be good. It just has to be new.
In the bottom screenshot, look at the Speakable Items radio buttons: the highlighted one is bright and blue coloured, and yet the tab above it has the highlighted choice dark.
Remember when tabs were like real tabs (in a looseleaf binder)? Maybe not enough people see looseleaf binders these days.
http://www.lime-office.com.au/img/pr...en/2745u99.jpg
Not only does the human eye perceive a huge array of colors, we quickly come to reflexively and unconsciously use them as cues for situations, actions, locations, and a host of environmental circumstances. Color can be a subtle and effective way to convey large amounts of information without distraction, clutter, or perception glut. Used well, it also prevents fatigue, focuses attention, and encourages interaction.
Certainly Aqua is overdue for an overhaul, but this isn't so much a haircut as a decapitation. A monochromatic virtual environment is a crippled virtual environment. Lion's inarticulate visuals impress me as quite literally stupid: their ability to convey information is drastically and pointlessly reduced.
This nonsense with tabs appears equally misguided. Good engineering isn't about fixing what isn't broken.
This is the point where marketing becomes destructive... It doesn't have to be better, it doesn't even have to be good. It just has to be new.
The idea that 'it just has to be new' does not make marketing destructive. Apple OS's have always evolved functionally, stylistically and visually. Lion is the same. If Apple was happy with their OS and just let it be it would effectively go backwards. Within a year or two it would look old.
I don't necessarily love all things Apple - I dislike the blue gray in ios, for instance. I much prefer neutral greys. My theory is that as Apple always strives to minimize and simplify they have deemed color and loud signalling unnecesary. The point is that we KNOW where stuff is. We have been around computers for a while now and we don't need to told where the file menu is, for instance. The fact that it is always in the same place makes life simple. It is about conventions. When you go into a white room you KNOW where the light switch is and you don't complain when that it is white. The itunes school of file management is an accepted convention, for better or worse. I suspect it will stay that way forever and that's fine with me. What Apple is doing is fine tuning and reducing.
Personally I am enjoying this design development. I feel pretty safe in Apple's hands and don't worry about falling off the edge of a cliff. Don't worry so much about the light switches - enjoy the room.
What's the use of having a high-def monitor if the sliders and buttons are monochromatic. I hate the new look! What's the obsession with removing colors?? It looks so dull
Probably because Apple thinks that the use of a high-def monitor is NOT to look at the ...sliders and buttons, but rather at your, you know, CONTENT.
Documents, images, web pages, movies, porn collection, you know...
What happened to simple and consistent clarity?
I like grey. Most of my desktops are various shades of grey. The days of gel-like aqua buttons are coming to an end. Aqua has been around for more than ten years already. I like less colors in my interfaces and windows, so as far as Lion is concerned, I say bring it on!
I don't mind if controls are grey but I think icons should be coloured. The grey sidebar icons in iTunes I find hard to distinguish, and in Lion they are doing the same to Finder.
I don't mind if controls are grey but I think icons should be coloured. The grey sidebar icons in iTunes I find hard to distinguish, and in Lion they are doing the same to Finder.
I like the grey, but I understand why others wouldn?t. I don?t understand why Apple doesn?t a basic monochrome/colored icon option under System Preferences » Appearances for those that want or need the flashier icons.
Probably because Apple thinks that the use of a high-def monitor is NOT to look at the ...sliders and buttons, but rather at your, you know, CONTENT.
Documents, images, web pages, movies, porn collection, you know...
after all the very eloquent arguments here, and the overwhelmingly negative response to this ui direction by pretty much everyone here, do you really think your supposed quip cuts it? Sure we all want to use our CONTENT (sic) the best way possible, and that's precisely why we require colour cues and a proper interface so we can do so more easily, with less fatigue, more intuitively, etc. etc. What you are saying is rather inane, to be blunt, surely the next step for you is to grey everything out, emboss everything out in monochromatic backgrounds, so we can properly focus on content, as if proper (colour coded) ui for navigating said content is superfluous. Buttons, sliders, menus, icons, tabs, sidebars are all there to navigate and use your content, if they get lost in a monochromatic sea and they blend together, guess how well you are going to be using your content...
On another note, wasn't Steve proclaiming how great aqua was and still is and what a staple of os x it was in the lion preview? Wtf has happened since then?
I like the grey, but I understand why others wouldn?t. I don?t understand why Apple doesn?t a basic monochrome/colored icon option under System Preferences » Appearances for those that want or need the flashier icons.
Yes, seems like icons could be drawn color but programmatically made greyscale in real time for users who want that. Under Universal Access you can already make the whole screen greyscale in real time.
Silly rabbit, candy colors are for kids.
Like this?! and this?!
Apple sure benefited from colors when Steve turned the companies fortunes to Rosie (get it?)! Now maybe Steve is getting a little morbid with his colors because of his present health, but I pray not...
/
/
/
Nothing Apple's done is superior to the existing idiom, including the latest two experiments.
The fact that Apple is fooling around with this solved problem is just sad.
Agree. The slider effect looks nice. Certainly the selected tab ought to be lighter with dark text, the unselected with a darker background. This works with the slider concept and is the cleanest and in my view clearest way of presenting the tab choice. Having the selected tab darker looks wrong to me though I guess it makes sense following a depressed button concept.
You might immediately think that, but after using the sliders in the previous builds, I've come to realise this is completely topsy turvy.
Thank god they have changed it back.
You see the real thing is, that it is actually less important to highlight the current tab. You are on that tab, the rest of the window also confirms that. From a useability perspective, what you want to see in the actual tab bar, is the tabs you are not currently on. The tabs that you can move to are the ones that need to be more readable.
What's the use of having a high-def monitor if the sliders and buttons are monochromatic. I hate the new look! What's the obsession with removing colors?? It looks so dull
I have an idea they're doing it so the focus is on the content. I like the aqua blue look and was initially sad to see the brushed metal looks go, but I now think that was for the best.
Now that Microsoft et al have effectively "cheapened the brand" by plastering overly glossy textures and transparency effects everywhere (even in places it doesn't make sense to include them!) Apple has to distance themselves from the gaudy sideshow.
This is all about focus, reducing visual distractions and understanding that the weight of visual information projected by particular interface element should be proportional to it's relevance to the task at hand.
Also, didn't OS 9 have themes with the appearance manager?
I like the animated tabs, but this is a classic example of where a touch of color would help clue the user which tab is selected ? especially if there's only 2 tabs. If it's a matter of shades of grey then it's completely arbitrary which one represents selected and which one unselected.
Color. Please.
Goad to see I'm not the only one who thinks that. As simple as it might be to some my brain has trouble which of the two opposite colors means that is the selection.
Probably because Apple thinks that the use of a high-def monitor is NOT to look at the ...sliders and buttons, but rather at your, you know, CONTENT.
Documents, images, web pages, movies, porn collection, you know...
Then why not just make them identical to OS 1? Simple, elegant, and monochrome!
Not only does the human eye perceive a huge array of colors, we quickly come to reflexively and unconsciously use them as cues for situations, actions, locations, and a host of environmental circumstances. Color can be a subtle and effective way to convey large amounts of information without distraction, clutter, or perception glut. Used well, it also prevents fatigue, focuses attention, and encourages interaction.
Certainly Aqua is overdue for an overhaul, but this isn't so much a haircut as a decapitation. A monochromatic virtual environment is a crippled virtual environment. Lion's inarticulate visuals impress me as quite literally stupid: their ability to convey information is drastically and pointlessly reduced.
This nonsense with tabs appears equally misguided. Good engineering isn't about fixing what isn't broken.
This is the point where marketing becomes destructive... It doesn't have to be better, it doesn't even have to be good. It just has to be new.
I agree. The new interface is not only drab (much like AppleInsider's forums), but also impossible to read the currently selected tab. It is bass ackwards.