iOS 7 Expectations & Wants

[theheyes]

What's changed about Windows Phone? It's 'metro' and always has been.

Most tech heads agree that iOS is beginning to look a little stale, but I can see both sides of the argument. I err on the side of simplicity being a good selling point for the majority of Apple's customers, though.

The biggest problem with iOS over the next 5+ years runs deeper than widgets and stitched leather effects, and it's going to rear its head on the tablet form factor. It's that it's fundamentally derived from a phone OS.

If iOS and the app model doesn't evolve, then the utility of the iPad is not going to scale efficiently as more powerful hardware becomes available. As competition raises the expectations of what a supposed 'post-pc' device is capable of, then Apple has a serious problem on their hands.

 

[paradigm]

Eh? the iPhone 5 camera is fantastic. I was watching some of the video produced by it the other night on my TV and it was so sharp and smooth, it rivals my SLR.

Then you are either rubbish with your SLR, or you have no eye for photography.

My One X pees all over my iP5 from a great height, especially in lower light situations.

 

[squerble]

Quote from MacRumors:

Some suggested that in Apple’s next mobile operating system, Ive is pushing a more “flat design” that is starker and simpler, according to developers who have spoken to Apple employees but didn’t have further details. Overall, they expect any changes to be pretty conservative. For the past few years, Apple has unveiled versions of its mobile operating system in the summer.

Design is one example of the increased “collaboration across hardware, software and services” that Apple said it was aiming for when Cook pushed senior vice president and mobile software chief Scott Forstall out of the company last year.
In addition to Ive's command of the physical and software interface teams, Craig Federighi is looking at combining some Mac and iOS software teams when there is particular overlap, such as the calendar teams, while keeping the majority of the Mac and iOS engineering teams separate, the paper reports.

 

[Fallen god]

What's changed about Windows Phone? It's 'metro' and always has been.

Most tech heads agree that iOS is beginning to look a little stale, but I can see both sides of the argument. I err on the side of simplicity being a good selling point for the majority of Apple's customers, though.

The biggest problem with iOS over the next 5+ years runs deeper than widgets and stitched leather effects, and it's going to rear its head on the tablet form factor. It's that it's fundamentally derived from a phone OS.

If iOS and the app model doesn't evolve, then the utility of the iPad is not going to scale efficiently as more powerful hardware becomes available. As competition raises the expectations of what a supposed 'post-pc' device is capable of, then Apple has a serious problem on their hands.

Win mob 6/6.5 is totally different to wp7/8. Before iOS MSFT was a huge player, and I think only recently did wp over take WinMob.

I also know iOS is a bit boring at this point, believe me it gets mind numbing but that boring UI is also a strength and I think its very difficult to balance it.

I also agree the iPad is by far the biggest problem, right now its doing great cause of the apps but the UI really need more work then having a 2 panel design.

 

[Skyboat]

Quote from MacRumors:

If any hint of that is true, then it looks promising

There has been glimmers of UI refreshes in the dialler and Music app, it looks cleaner and slightly more modern (dare I say more up-to-date?). Some apps like Messages and Calendar pretty much look the same now as they did in 2007, so in that regard iOS is becoming a little inconsistent in the interface department. Hopefully with Jony Ive at the helm this will all change.

 

[Irish_Tom]

Skeuomorphic is a perfectly legitimate word to use to describe aspects of Apple's UI.

Carry on folks.

Huh?

Linky

It's a term that has been hijacked to mean something it isn't in order to make design bloggers look clever.

It's now become so overused that it has effectively adopted the incorrect meaning.

O'Hara's position is clear. His belief is that the word is being misused en masse. "What's being called 'skeuomorphic' is not at all skeuomorphic," he contends. "They're kitsch visual metaphors, but they're not the unintentional side-effects of technological evolution. In every case in the Apple UI debate, a designer is consciously responsible for the metaphor. Might be bad taste, but that's all."

He also believes that the Wikipedia entry for "skeuomorph" is "mostly rubbish," describes the online Oxford Dictionary definition as confusing and explains that skeuomorphs are in fact things, like ornamental pot handles or human fingernails, which appear over time in later iterations of objects or species. Significantly, they are directly descended from an original functionality. As such, if decorative qualities emerge, they do alongside the skeuomorph's inherent redundancy.

 

[Robbo]

This is very much a difficult position for Apple, because outside of all the Android people complaining and in the 'real world', iOS is fine for the vast majority of people, it's very stable and works very well, as well as providing the best app experience.

Also, if they make it more like Android it would mean they compete more directly as well, which wouldn't be good for them. I see the iPhone as very much an alternative package to other phone systems, and I like it for that.

It certainly could do with some more significant tweaking though.

My One X pees all over my iP5 from a great height, especially in lower light situations.

I have both and I disagree, there's no great difference either way. I find in most point and shoot situations the iP5 is better.

 

[theheyes]

Linky

It's a term that has been hijacked to mean something it isn't in order to make design bloggers look clever.

It's now become so overused that it has effectively adopted the incorrect meaning.

Sorry, but I'm going to get definitions from the dictionary. You are free to agree with his beliefs, but we're all quite clear on what we mean by skeuomorphism and that is ultimately all that matters.

 

[Irish_Tom]

Sorry, but I'm going to get definitions from the dictionary. You are free to agree with his beliefs, but we're all quite clear on what we mean by skeuomorphism and that is ultimately all that matters.

Fair enough.

I consider it to be on par with people who say 'brought' instead of 'bought', or 'nothink' instead of 'nothing'.

Everyone know what they mean but it doesn't stop them being wrong.

 

[ZG002]

I'd hate it if they moved closer to an android os. They can change the way it looks and add short cuts all they want as long as they keep it as simple as it is now. Everyone I know even my mum can use iOS, she looks at it and it doesn't scare the hell out of her. I personally think that is a big selling point for Apple.

 

[ShortWarning]

I don't think IOS needs to be as customisable as Android but it is getting a little stale.

So people are aware (sounds like a lot haven't used Android). Out of the box Android is very similar, it works in very much the same way as iOS. You only customise it if you want to and that is really the crux of the matter. You can leave it as is or you can customise; IT'S YOUR CHOICE. You think widgets are pointless? Simple, don't use them. (I am not a big fan of widgets).

They could even possibly get around this by having a basic or advanced mode when you set up your phone (and in the settings menu). Basic - it all stays the same. Advanced - allows you to customise. That way they are not alienating anyone.

 

[Skyboat]

Any substantial changes would have to be incremental over a rather significant period. The last thing Apple need to do is alienate their biggest customer base. If they add too many major features at once, such as overhauling the fundamentals of the UI, it will just confuse the user.

 

[ZG002]

They could even possibly get around this by having a basic or advanced mode when you set up your phone (and in the settings menu). Basic - it all stays the same. Advanced - allows you to customise. That way they are not alienating anyone.

See that is an actual good idea. Bet they don't do it though

 

[sbi5ar]

See that is an actual good idea. Bet they don't do it though

They could do this, and they could market it much better...

FOR EXAMPLE...

Do you want to install iOS Lion (simple) or iOS Mountain Lion (Advanced) - Yes I know Lion and Mountain Lion are OSX names but it is just as an example.

Personally... They only need the basic version as you can JB if you really want to fiddle etc...

 

[ZG002]

Personally... They only need the basic version as you can JB if you really want to fiddle etc...

See I'm one of these that JB, fiddled didn't really like it and found things were becoming unstable so just returned to normal.

 

[Morba]

I'd hate it if they moved closer to an android os. They can change the way it looks and add short cuts all they want as long as they keep it as simple as it is now. Everyone I know even my mum can use iOS, she looks at it and it doesn't scare the hell out of her. I personally think that is a big selling point for Apple.

Exactly. I can give my ipad to my nan, or my baby girl and both can use it for all that they want. My wife loves her iphone after hating her old android phone.

Too much change from the simplicity of iOS as it is now could be a very bad thing.

 

[shipinabottle]

I don't think anyone debates the usuablility of the iOS, however they've neglected to add features that are just common sense and would enhance/ease the user experience, i.e easy wifi/3G/brightness toggles, a notification bar that works better, multiple windows would be a nice edition but isn't necessary. But overall they just need to refresh the look, people get bored of seeing the same thing, it's a fact, iOS was never a Picasso, it was a nice view, but staring at a nice view for 6 years gets a tad boring and has people wanting to look elsewhere.

 

[Morba]

Why are you staring at a nice view? It's an app launcher, if you are sat looking at all the apps rather than using them then you are doing something wrong

 

[Johnny|lucidcomposure]

Why are you staring at a nice view? It's an app launcher, if you are sat looking at all the apps rather than using them then you are doing something wrong

Hes not. But even if great apps are awaiting to be launched you need that joyful engagement with your host device. I find myself using my iphone probably 30% more when I've jailbroke it. It just becomes a perfect companion customised to me and it makes me want to pick up the device more.

 

[shipinabottle]

Why are you staring at a nice view? It's an app launcher, if you are sat looking at all the apps rather than using them then you are doing something wrong

The app launcher launches apples own 'apps' that are built around the theme that coincides with the iOS itself, it's generally one look.

Okay more significant tweaks, being able to edit file names within my videos app, organise files within these types of apps into folders or sections, It's very basic at the moment.