Previewed at WWDC, launching in the fall.
Apple Engineers Working Overtime on iOS 7's 'DeForstallization'
Under the direction of Jony Ive, who took charge of Apple's user interface teams last October, iOS 7's redesign is said to be "flatter" with fewer skeuomorphic design cues and an interface that focuses on simplicity.
Skeuomorphism, a real-world design concept that was favored by former Apple senior vice president of iOS software Scott Forstall, is found in many of Apple's default iOS apps. For example, apps like Notes and Find My Friends both feature leather design accents and Game Center offers up a felt pool table texture. These are all elements that are expected to be removed in iOS 7, as AllThingsD points out in a new report covering the design changes.
Skeuomorphism, a real-world design concept that was favored by former Apple senior vice president of iOS software Scott Forstall, is found in many of Apple's default iOS apps. For example, apps like Notes and Find My Friends both feature leather design accents and Game Center offers up a felt pool table texture. These are all elements that are expected to be removed in iOS 7, as AllThingsD points out in a new report covering the design changes.
With Scott Forstall — an advocate for flashy, skeuomorphic design and its stitched-leather and faux wood grain flourishes — now gone from Apple, and Ive in an expanded role, the current and former Apple employees I've spoken to say iOS 7 was destined for a new coat of paint. As one said, "Sounds like a much-needed 'deForstallization.'"As noted by AllThingsD, Apple's iOS has not had a serious design overhaul since the original iPhone was released in 2007, making it long overdue for an update.
If the company has good ideas for design tweaks, it's about time it implemented them. With new mobile operating systems like BlackBerry 10 and Windows Phone proving that there's plenty of room left for innovation in the market, Apple can ill afford even the risk of the perception that iOS might be getting dusty.According to a report from Bloomberg earlier today, Apple has been forced to delay its internal timelines for iOS 7, but the company’s engineers are said to be working overtime to get a preview ready for the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference in June. Multiple sources have indicated that Apple is pulling engineers from OS X 10.9 to help the company stay on schedule with iOS 7.
Apple's challenge, then, is to overhaul the look and feel of the OS while retaining the intuitiveness that's made it so popular.
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68 months ago
For the love of God, hire more damn engineers and stop being so greedy with your damn cash reserves.
So annoying.
So annoying.
68 months ago
I hope they keep the Forstall version "just in case."
Forstall was pushed out because he emulated the behavior and detail oriented meme of Jobs, but that was less tolerated in anybody but Jobs. It was political. Jobs hired/promoted Forstall at NeXT. NeXT saved Apple.
Forstall was pushed out because he emulated the behavior and detail oriented meme of Jobs, but that was less tolerated in anybody but Jobs. It was political. Jobs hired/promoted Forstall at NeXT. NeXT saved Apple.
68 months ago
So iOS is going to look bland and boring. Awesome.
If you are feeling uplifted by skeumorphic interfaces, you need to enrichen your life.
I for one think that the best interface is no interface. I'm not here to mess around with turning App Store bookshelves or whatever. I'm not here to manipulate the operating system in the first place. I'm here to use its apps. The rest? The less of it, the better.
68 months ago
To be honest I don't see what the big deal over getting rid of this 'skeuomorphism' is. I don't mind it. They can make other changes to make iOS 7 radically different.
68 months ago
Bring back Forstallllll!
Is this more media hating on him? I love the wood, the leather and the tape reels. I like the shredder in passbook. Nice touches to software that works. If I wanted a flat lifeless windows phone i would have bought one.
Is this more media hating on him? I love the wood, the leather and the tape reels. I like the shredder in passbook. Nice touches to software that works. If I wanted a flat lifeless windows phone i would have bought one.
68 months ago
I'm actually starting to get a little excited about an iOS release :) First time that's happened in a very *long* time!!
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