The discontent with iOS is evident. Even those who are the most ardent Apple fans, and flock to sites like MacRumors, are beginning to bore of the design of iOS. Ever since 2007, when Steve Jobs unveiled the future, the basic design has remained the same: a grid of apps. Competitors, like Android and Windows Phone, have invented new paradigms, such as widgets and Live Tiles. If Apple doesn't do something with iOS soon, users may leave the platform in search of new waters.
In a Branch conversation between John Gruber of Daring Fireball, Rene Ritchie from iMore, MG Siegler, Tim Stevens from Engadget and Matthew Panzarino from The Next Web, Gruber revealed that Apple may be running behind on iOS 7 development, forcing them to pull engineers from the OS X division to help.
What I've heard: iOS 7 is running behind, and engineers have been pulled from OS X 10.9 to work on it. (Let me know if you've heard this song before.)
Back in 2007, Apple had to delay the release of OS X 10.5 "Leopard" because extra engineering was required for iOS. Gruber also stated that engineers working on the new iOS operating system were required to have a "sort of polarizing filter" on their iPhone screen to prevent colleagues seeing the redesign (Gruber described it as a "rather significant system-wide UI overhaul.") Clayton Morris, Fox News anchor, weighed in, agreeing with Gruber, and adding that he had heard employees had been moved from their "non-profit generating projects" to work on "high priority software projects," i.e. iOS 7.
Throughout the conversation, many made references to the changes in iOS 7, especially in terms of design. MG Siegler said the hold up for iOS was "perhaps not shocking given the [sic] all the changes up top." The Wall Street Journal previously reported that changes to iOS 7 would be "pretty conservative," contrasting with the general opinion of those involved in the Branch chat.
Siegler also talked about "whispers" he'd heard regarding a new "biometric scanner" embedded in the iPhone. Siegler, and Panzarino, both claim to have heard that Apple will introduce a new way of paying for products, possibly integrated with Passbook. Siegler also claimed the Passbook team are in a "shambles," possibly because of the firing of Scott Forstall, the head of iOS development.
According to those involved in the chat, iOS 7 will be revealed at Apple's 2013 WWDC in June, alongside the iPhone 5S.
Source: Branch | Image via GHDiscount.com
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