The Not-so-Earth-Shattering flattening of iOS 7

[Tk1917]

The stories about iOS of late have been about the restyling of the icons. Some like them, and some do not, but all of this talk misses the crucial issue. The real story here is that the iOS user interface is really dated. Aside from face-lifts and the small bits of ornamentation, this is the same user experience that has always been on the platform. Sure, it?s been good. In fact, it?s been great; it was a genius implementation to help get a lot of tricky functionality easily within grasp of the less tech-savvy. But for the rest of the world who lives well within the Late Adopter portion of the innovation curve, we?re quite used to what this stuff can do. We users need something more. Now is the time for making data relationships rather than continuing to make introductions to technology.

 

http://thebackbencher.co.uk/the-not-so-earth-shattering-flattening-of-ios-7/

[+Majesticmerc MVC]

But for the rest of the world who lives well within the Late Adopter portion of the innovation curve, we?re quite used to what this stuff can do. We users need something more. Now is the time for making data relationships rather than continuing to make introductions to technology.

This logic always seems really stupid to me. Why does a user interface need to change because "people are used to it"? Surely that's a good thing? Change for the sake of change is a dumb idea.

[(Account no longer active)]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

and this:

"it was a genius implementation to help get a lot of tricky functionality easily within grasp of the less tech-savvy" - "less tech-savvy" being 80% of the population. Those ads showing how simple things were on iOS must have really drew a lot of customers.

 

I'm glad iOS 7 is really just a major theme change with a bit added here and there. iOS 6 is polished, easy, and enjoyable to use, and there is no doubt that this will be the main focus of iOS 7 also.

 

If you can think of "something more", let me know. Good luck with doing so...

[The Norwegian Drone Pilot]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

That's the most stupid argument that exists today. Because if everybody would have the same thinking in the 1920's as you have, then we would by your definition use cars like this today, only because the cars at that time was working good. The only differences today would be to use more cooler bumpers, spoilers, wheels and so on just to let it look better (in the same way as styling / theming iOS that is an OS from the stoneage, just to let it look better).

 

 

Today, we fix something that "works" to something that "works better".

 

I had Windows Mobile 6.5 on my Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 some years ago. It worked fine for me. Does that mean it was unnecessary to fix the OS (even though it worked good) and release Windows Phone 7 /8 ?

 

Get it?

[threetonesun]

That's the most stupid argument that exists today. Because if everybody would have the same thinking in the 1920's as you have, then we would by your definition use cars like this today, only because the cars at that time was working good. The only differences today would be to use more cooler bumpers, spoilers, wheels and so on just to let it look better (in the same way as styling / theming iOS that is an OS from the stoneage, just to let it look better).

 

Once we got an internal combustion engine running off gasoline that didn't require a crank starter, everything else has been a refinement of that same car. It's not like every car has fundamentally changed the way the steering wheel works, or the way you get in and out of the car, or how it goes and stops. That's the user interface. If you got in a car from the 1920s, you could drive it just the same as your car from today.

[Sandor]

This logic always seems really stupid to me. Why does a user interface need to change because "people are used to it"? Surely that's a good thing? Change for the sake of change is a dumb idea.

In that case we should have just stuck with a normal keypad like your Nokia 3310 had. It worked and people were used to it.

 

Oh wait. Times change.

[XerXis]

Once we got an internal combustion engine running off gasoline that didn't require a crank starter, everything else has been a refinement of that same car. It's not like every car has fundamentally changed the way the steering wheel works, or the way you get in and out of the car, or how it goes and stops. That's the user interface. If you got in a car from the 1920s, you could drive it just the same as your car from today.

I hate the car analogy, but your idea of the way cars have evolved is seriously lacking. So you think the following advancements are cosmetic?

 

Servo steering followed by drive by wire

automatic transmission and tiptronic

safety glass

airbags

electronic injection

airconditioning

 

and so on and so on

[.Neo]

I hate the car analogy, but your idea of the way cars have evolved is seriously lacking. So you think the following advancements are cosmetic?

 

Servo steering followed by drive by wire

automatic transmission and tiptronic

safety glass

airbags

electronic injection

airconditioning

 

and so on and so on

Those are nothing more than improvements and added features. The car concept hasn't changed since the 1920s. threetonesun's point still stands.

[jamieakers]

Surely the car doesn't count because it is nothing more than a natural evolution of the horse and cart?

 

Which in turn is a natural evolution of slaves pulling a chariot,

 

Which in turn is an evolution of pushing a barrow,

 

Which in turn is an evolution of carrying goods on your back.

[Growled Member]

The stories about iOS of late have been about the restyling of the icons. Some like them, and some do not, but all of this talk misses the crucial issue. The real story here is that the iOS user interface is really dated.

 

It still sells well. That's the main thing. The media needs a story so if the can't find one they make one.

[the better twin]

Just because something has worked well doesnt mean it cant be improved.

[+Majesticmerc MVC]

In that case we should have just stuck with a normal keypad like your Nokia 3310 had. It worked and people were used to it.

 

Oh wait. Times change.

 

That's not what I meant. Improving in any area is good, but saying "You need a new UI because people are used to the old one" is dumb. By that logic, the car manufacturers should re-order the pedals in your car every few years because it looks like "we're all used to them in ABC order".

 

When someone comes up with a new UI that solves a significant problem with the old one, sure, bring it on, but don't change for the sake of change, because inevitably it'll just annoy a whole buttload of people.

[Sandor]

That's not what I meant. Improving in any area is good, but saying "You need a new UI because people are used to the old one" is dumb. By that logic, the car manufacturers should re-order the pedals in your car every few years because it looks like "we're all used to them in ABC order".

 

When someone comes up with a new UI that solves a significant problem with the old one, sure, bring it on, but don't change for the sake of change, because inevitably it'll just annoy a whole buttload of people.

The old iOS UI was far from spectacular. It just happened to be a bit better than the current lol-fest

[astrokat]

"Innovation" is a double edged sword.  Change something people already love, and they hate it until they love it.  Look at Windows 8.

[sanctified Veteran]

Just because something has worked well doesnt mean it cant be improved.

Nobody here is against improvement. But the word itself implies a refinement of a stablished context, not the inauguration of a new one.

[illage3]

"Innovation" is a double edged sword.  Change something people already love, and they hate it until they love it.  Look at Windows 8.

And the various updates to YouTube.

 

Honestly, I think the new iOS7 is ugly.   If it was on Android I could change that in 5 mins.  All apple have done essentially is polish a turd a little bit and spray airfreshner around it.

 

What's even worse is how Apple tout these "new" features as something they invented, when they didn't.  Most iOS features have been on Android for quite some time.