I've been following these forums carefully since the release of iOS 7 beta, and some people really need to calm down a little. Why do so many people expect a "final product" every time a new beta comes out, although the Apple page unambiguously states that it's not final software and targeted at DEVELOPERS only (and not the end user with an every-day phone).
It's true that in the past, most of the times the visuals displayed in a beta didn't change much, but I think this time it might be a little bit different. Here's why:
1- In contrast to all the minor evolutionary steps that the iOS UI has undertaken up to v6, this is such a major redesign it's just out of comparison. My bet is there will be tweaks on the UI (including icons...!) all the way to the final release. It just takes a lot of time, and I bet the engineers and designers at Apple are working their butts off right now. They're not stupid and know what they're doing!
2- Supporting the above: no iPad beta version -- that's a very clear sign that the visuals are most likely not yet fully ready even on the "small" iPhone screens, let alone on the bigger pads.
3- And even more: do you really think they'd really push out the UI to the millions of iPhone 4 users the way it looks right now without all the effects? Apple just has gone through the Maps disaster, I'm pretty sure they will be VERY careful that they don't draw a similar amount of hate again...
I think this beta this time is really just for developers to let them get a fist impression on the new direction of the iOS style, so they can already start adapting their apps (and make use of the new API's as well). It has come to knowledge ahead of WWDC that Apple is a little behind, but it's also unthinkable they would hold the WWDC without showing a new version of iOS. So yes, what we have now might be a little "rushed", compared to previous betas.
To put things a little into perspective, look at the "major" changes from iOS 5 to 6:
* Apple Maps (ugh!)
* Google Services gone (ugh!)
* Passbook
* Only very subtle UI changes
This time, we get a full-fledged UI overhaul with many good ideas already in place PLUS very useful new features (control center, AirDrop, real multitasking, per-app VPN, and so much more...). And all that worked out from a team under new lead and in just a couple months. How can possibly everything be ready by now? It can not!
To summarize, this beta should be seen for what it is... a preview for WWDC devs so they can learn and make use of the new UI and API.
In my opinion, we should be really thankful that Apple finally is pushing iOS forward more aggressively, and cut the engineers some slack so they can finish and polish what they already have (very successfully) begun.
It's true that in the past, most of the times the visuals displayed in a beta didn't change much, but I think this time it might be a little bit different. Here's why:
1- In contrast to all the minor evolutionary steps that the iOS UI has undertaken up to v6, this is such a major redesign it's just out of comparison. My bet is there will be tweaks on the UI (including icons...!) all the way to the final release. It just takes a lot of time, and I bet the engineers and designers at Apple are working their butts off right now. They're not stupid and know what they're doing!
2- Supporting the above: no iPad beta version -- that's a very clear sign that the visuals are most likely not yet fully ready even on the "small" iPhone screens, let alone on the bigger pads.
3- And even more: do you really think they'd really push out the UI to the millions of iPhone 4 users the way it looks right now without all the effects? Apple just has gone through the Maps disaster, I'm pretty sure they will be VERY careful that they don't draw a similar amount of hate again...
I think this beta this time is really just for developers to let them get a fist impression on the new direction of the iOS style, so they can already start adapting their apps (and make use of the new API's as well). It has come to knowledge ahead of WWDC that Apple is a little behind, but it's also unthinkable they would hold the WWDC without showing a new version of iOS. So yes, what we have now might be a little "rushed", compared to previous betas.
To put things a little into perspective, look at the "major" changes from iOS 5 to 6:
* Apple Maps (ugh!)
* Google Services gone (ugh!)
* Passbook
* Only very subtle UI changes
This time, we get a full-fledged UI overhaul with many good ideas already in place PLUS very useful new features (control center, AirDrop, real multitasking, per-app VPN, and so much more...). And all that worked out from a team under new lead and in just a couple months. How can possibly everything be ready by now? It can not!
To summarize, this beta should be seen for what it is... a preview for WWDC devs so they can learn and make use of the new UI and API.
In my opinion, we should be really thankful that Apple finally is pushing iOS forward more aggressively, and cut the engineers some slack so they can finish and polish what they already have (very successfully) begun.
