I feel that the tentpole features for iOS6 both bombed. iOS Maps is no longer referred to (by Apple) as “the most beautiful, powerful mapping service ever” and Passbook's real world use hasn't really become the kind of industry changing application that Apple was promoting.
The rest of iOS6 is a series of adjustments that don't really amount to a major OS update.
This whole OS seems to lack the focus and attention to detail that Apple has been known for in previous iterations. It's as if they were too busy working on something else.
I think Scott Forstall has pulled the bulk of his team into working on the next big OS and left a smaller team to address this maintenance update that is iOS6. It no doubt takes more than the single year cycle for the iOS team to re-write the OS from the bottom up to look and feel brand new and to adjust to the new realities of what consumers want in a smartphone.
iOS7 will probably bring into coherence the changes that Apple has been making since iPhone OS 1.0. Right now the home screen, Siri, Notifications Centre, and Passbook all feel separate, as if they were added in (they were). But one thing is clear: the original idea of a bunch of icons on a home screen is no longer the only way or even the main way that people are interacting with their iPhones.
- Siri has the potential to become the main user interface with the assistance of the touch UI. For the silent types, Siri could become integrated into the Search screen. Just start typing your instructions and SilentSiri™ will respond. When in the search screen, Siri would listen for her name should you decide to speak. This would be a great driving mode where calling up Siri would mean you just have to ask for something by calling her name.
- App Store with Apps, Services and Widgets. Some apps are single purpose or would work better if integrated into iOS rather than as their own app. Some of them could become services, or plug-ins if you will. Do we really need a Yelp app if it can be built into Siri and Maps? Do we really need stocks and weather apps if they already exist as widgets in Notification Centre? Isn't Fandango (or other movie theatre apps) not less intrusive and works better as a service in Siri? Why look for and open an app if you can just ask Siri to perform the task that that app is good at?
- Passbook as a collection of single purpose apps. Following up on the idea from the previous point, Passbook has the potential to completely replace several apps. A Starbucks pass now displays your QR code for payment but what if you could do more? What if a ZipCar pass served as your car key but also allowed you to book a car near you? Passbook has the potential to become a holder for every day use apps that are simple enough that they can run in Passbook instead of as their own app. Heck, if you look at it that way, Passbook could in another universe be the way to launch apps, instead of icons.
If Passbook takes on a leadership role in iOS, then perhaps it could be brought up by swiping from below.
You'd have the main UI elements within a swipe:
- Swipe to the left Search screen screen, you'd have a universal search and Siri.
- Swipe from the top, you'd get the Notification Centre with widgets
- Swipe from below you'd have Passbook with it's collection of daily use mini apps.
Despite my best intentions as a fan of iOS, I can't help but admit that UI with the icons on a home screen are becoming a bit stale. Apple has never been know as a company that sits still and rests on their laurels. Look at the iPod Nano. Look at the entire iPod line. Apple killed both by moving to the next generation before its competitors could catch up to the current one.
I believe something big is coming, and I think we'll see it in iOS7.
The rest of iOS6 is a series of adjustments that don't really amount to a major OS update.
This whole OS seems to lack the focus and attention to detail that Apple has been known for in previous iterations. It's as if they were too busy working on something else.
I think Scott Forstall has pulled the bulk of his team into working on the next big OS and left a smaller team to address this maintenance update that is iOS6. It no doubt takes more than the single year cycle for the iOS team to re-write the OS from the bottom up to look and feel brand new and to adjust to the new realities of what consumers want in a smartphone.
iOS7 will probably bring into coherence the changes that Apple has been making since iPhone OS 1.0. Right now the home screen, Siri, Notifications Centre, and Passbook all feel separate, as if they were added in (they were). But one thing is clear: the original idea of a bunch of icons on a home screen is no longer the only way or even the main way that people are interacting with their iPhones.
- Siri has the potential to become the main user interface with the assistance of the touch UI. For the silent types, Siri could become integrated into the Search screen. Just start typing your instructions and SilentSiri™ will respond. When in the search screen, Siri would listen for her name should you decide to speak. This would be a great driving mode where calling up Siri would mean you just have to ask for something by calling her name.
- App Store with Apps, Services and Widgets. Some apps are single purpose or would work better if integrated into iOS rather than as their own app. Some of them could become services, or plug-ins if you will. Do we really need a Yelp app if it can be built into Siri and Maps? Do we really need stocks and weather apps if they already exist as widgets in Notification Centre? Isn't Fandango (or other movie theatre apps) not less intrusive and works better as a service in Siri? Why look for and open an app if you can just ask Siri to perform the task that that app is good at?
- Passbook as a collection of single purpose apps. Following up on the idea from the previous point, Passbook has the potential to completely replace several apps. A Starbucks pass now displays your QR code for payment but what if you could do more? What if a ZipCar pass served as your car key but also allowed you to book a car near you? Passbook has the potential to become a holder for every day use apps that are simple enough that they can run in Passbook instead of as their own app. Heck, if you look at it that way, Passbook could in another universe be the way to launch apps, instead of icons.
If Passbook takes on a leadership role in iOS, then perhaps it could be brought up by swiping from below.
You'd have the main UI elements within a swipe:
- Swipe to the left Search screen screen, you'd have a universal search and Siri.
- Swipe from the top, you'd get the Notification Centre with widgets
- Swipe from below you'd have Passbook with it's collection of daily use mini apps.
Despite my best intentions as a fan of iOS, I can't help but admit that UI with the icons on a home screen are becoming a bit stale. Apple has never been know as a company that sits still and rests on their laurels. Look at the iPod Nano. Look at the entire iPod line. Apple killed both by moving to the next generation before its competitors could catch up to the current one.
I believe something big is coming, and I think we'll see it in iOS7.
