10.9 to be the last of the old school ?

[570934]

With Mavericks taking a lot of the design ques still from previous versions, don't you think that it will be the last on the "10" version before Apple bring the Mac OS in line with iOS7 and the flatter, animated UI ?

Would make sense if you think about it. I for one would be looking forward to a nice fresh UI for desktop.

 

[mcrum23]

I hope not

 

[kunai]

No.

Apple has made it pretty clear that OS X is going to remain fairly evolutionary from this point on. The UI may receive a refresh, but that seems unlikely. The last time the UI was overhauled, it took 4 years: 2007 was Leopard's release, and only in 2011 was it changed with Lion, which was again, very evolutionary. Since it's only been two years, why would you expect that next year there would be a major user interface change?

Besides, it's not like iOS, where Apple can force developers to refactor and redo the UIs on their apps to match. The Cocoa APIs have been steadily increasing, but have always been changing ever so slightly each revision. Apple can't risk breaking compatibility with tons of old apps, or creating a dichotomy between old and new like Windows 8.

We may see some new icons next year, or maybe a few more hints. But my theory is that in around 2 years, OS X will look and work much the same as it does now. I don't know why people clamor for change for the sake of change; OS X already looks pretty fresh and works extremely well. iOS was dated, clunky, and in need of an overhaul, which is why Apple changed it.

I don't see them doing the same for OS X, especially with Ive boldly claiming in the 5s promo that "we don't believe in rampant innovation for innovation's sake."

 

[Krazy Bill]

especially with Ive boldly claiming in the 5s promo that "we don't believe in rampant innovation for innovation's sake."

Go forbid we have innovation (which is a good thing) go rampant at Apple!

 

[570934]

No.

Apple has made it pretty clear that OS X is going to remain fairly evolutionary from this point on. The UI may receive a refresh, but that seems unlikely. The last time the UI was overhauled, it took 4 years: 2007 was Leopard's release, and only in 2011 was it changed with Lion, which was again, very evolutionary. Since it's only been two years, why would you expect that next year there would be a major user interface change?

Besides, it's not like iOS, where Apple can force developers to refactor and redo the UIs on their apps to match. The Cocoa APIs have been steadily increasing, but have always been changing ever so slightly each revision. Apple can't risk breaking compatibility with tons of old apps, or creating a dichotomy between old and new like Windows 8.

We may see some new icons next year, or maybe a few more hints. But my theory is that in around 2 years, OS X will look and work much the same as it does now. I don't know why people clamor for change for the sake of change; OS X already looks pretty fresh and works extremely well. iOS was dated, clunky, and in need of an overhaul, which is why Apple changed it.

I don't see them doing the same for OS X, especially with Ive boldly claiming in the 5s promo that "we don't believe in rampant innovation for innovation's sake."

Going by time frames as basis of when change will come isn't a perfect solution surely?

I personally thing we'll see wholesale change in the UI. It's a perfect time for marketing reason with version 11 potentially coming next, if they keep the numbering system. Also, look at the Mavericks logo, it's already hinting at the skinny font.
Keeping both ios and OSX makes perfect sense for a user. Just think of the first time you opened up you first iphone, very familiar in feel yo what you already know. Isn't iOS leading the look and feel now, seems as there are way more Apple users on iDevices than desktops?

Yeah innovation, people hate change lol.

 

[fisha]

Well I hope they dont go so far as iOS7 in some respects. Whilst its functionality is improved in areas, its just so regressive and garish in its colour scheme.

I imagine its like when you look back at the original aqua schemes ... they look so colourful but dated now compared to the subtle colourings of ML. I hope they dont go back to the over-bright colours.

 

[eladnova]

OSX to match IOS design

With the release of IOS7 and Apples "flatter" design, is there a chance that somewhere down the line that OSX will start to incorporate a similar design?

Personally I'm hoping this doesn't happen but what do you think? Could things be heading in this direction? A common, unified interface across IOS and OSX?

 

[570934]

With the release of IOS7 and Apples "flatter" design, is there a chance that somewhere down the line that OSX will start to incorporate a similar design?

Personally I'm hoping this doesn't happen but what do you think? Could things be heading in this direction? A common, unified interface across IOS and OSX?

It's heading that way for sure. I too hope they don't go too OTT with it, but I do like a lot of the design elements in iOS7. Although some of the icons are a little in your face at time.
I think when there is a huge change like this people start thinking they are getting less for their money, "hey where's my wood and my felt gone" lol

 

[scottrichardson]

I think when there is a huge change like this people start thinking they are getting less for their money, "hey where's my wood and my felt gone" lol

That's true. Most people don't understand just how much effort there is in making a GOOD flat design. Minimalism isn't just about taking away graphical elements, bevels, shadows and skeuomorphic elements. And simply stripping those elements out of a UI can often make an interface MORE cluttered than before (see Word in Windows 8, LOL). As the folk at Facebook realised when they went about doing a new version of their iOS app for iOS 7 - they had to do a LOT MORE work than just replacing some icons and stripping away effects. It all requires a visual rebalance where negative space is used more thoughtfully etc etc.

Anyway, I could rant on all day about design. My thought is yes, we will see a major UI overhaul in OS XI or OS 11 or whatever it's called. And yes it will resemble the flat UI in IOS, albeit tweaked to be more functional in a desktop/notebook paradigm.

 

[570934]

That's true. Most people don't understand just how much effort there is in making a GOOD flat design. Minimalism isn't just about taking away graphical elements, bevels, shadows and skeuomorphic elements. And simply stripping those elements out of a UI can often make an interface MORE cluttered than before (see Word in Windows 8, LOL). As the folk at Facebook realised when they went about doing a new version of their iOS app for iOS 7 - they had to do a LOT MORE work than just replacing some icons and stripping away effects. It all requires a visual rebalance where negative space is used more thoughtfully etc etc.

Anyway, I could rant on all day about design. My thought is yes, we will see a major UI overhaul in OS XI or OS 11 or whatever it's called. And yes it will resemble the flat UI in IOS, albeit tweaked to be more functional in a desktop/notebook paradigm.

Totally agree with you. I've recently been creating a web site along the lines of minimal look and feel. The functionality is zero difference regardless of having none the graphical appearance I could throw at it. And, yes it is very hard NOT to make things look like buttons, have have drop shadow, or reflections here there and everywhere.

Lets see what next year brings uh.

 

[BenTrovato]

If Apple is smart, they will look at the reaction to iOS 7, and see what changes need to be made, and hopefully not make the same mistake OSx. If my laptop was filled with all those bright icons it would give me a headache. It needs to be pleasant to view at all times and that's where it's at now.

 

[leman]

If Apple is smart, they will look at the reaction to iOS 7, and see what changes need to be made, and hopefully not make the same mistake OSx.

I was under impression that reaction to iOS 7 is overwhelmingly positive? Not a big fan of the icons (there could have been better alternatives for the flat icon collection) but the interface itself is a huge improvement over iOS 6.

Back to the topic: I think the new iTunes is a good indicator of the visual style OS X is going for long-term.

 

[570934]

I was under impression that reaction to iOS 7 is overwhelmingly positive? Not a big fan of the icons (there could have been better alternatives for the flat icon collection) but the interface itself is a huge improvement over iOS 6.

Back to the topic: I think the new iTunes is a good indicator of the visual style OS X is going for long-term.

Yeah you could be right, it's not over stated which is quite nice.

 

[kunai]

Going by time frames as basis of when change will come isn't a perfect solution surely?

I personally thing we'll see wholesale change in the UI. It's a perfect time for marketing reason with version 11 potentially coming next, if they keep the numbering system. Also, look at the Mavericks logo, it's already hinting at the skinny font.
Keeping both ios and OSX makes perfect sense for a user. Just think of the first time you opened up you first iphone, very familiar in feel yo what you already know. Isn't iOS leading the look and feel now, seems as there are way more Apple users on iDevices than desktops?

Yeah innovation, people hate change lol.

No, there won't be a "version 11." Federighi said that the new California-themed releases will be for the next ten years. The next release is 10.10.

In addition, there hasn't been so much changed in iOS 7 that OS X will feel unfamiliar to users coming from iOS, or vice versa.

 

[apple_iBoy]

With the release of IOS7 and Apples "flatter" design, is there a chance that somewhere down the line that OSX will start to incorporate a similar design?

Personally I'm hoping this doesn't happen but what do you think? Could things be heading in this direction? A common, unified interface across IOS and OSX?

I think if Ive believes that glossy ornamentation and pseudo-3D icons looks passé and fugly on his phone, he probably thinks the same thing on his computer screen. Do you think he's just going to live with it?

 

[MeUnix]

I'd rather OS X keep the look it has, with maybe a few minor UI upgrades. OS X is already super clean, there is no need to switch everything up.

 

[Ddyracer]

I'd rather OS X keep the look it has, with maybe a few minor UI upgrades. OS X is already super clean, there is no need to switch everything up.

Agreed.

IOS 6 was somewhat clean as well besides the icons and some ugly ass mimic life apps. And grey linen across the ui. But Apple got carried away and replaced everything, stuff that was fine and added windows 7 transparency.

It looks like windows 7, android mushy-mash. Ughhh.

And now everything seems less consistent too, the icons for example. Take a good long hard look at them. Crazy colors, gradients, some are still mimicking real life objects, whereas in iOS 7 all's apps had gloss so it was all inconsistent and dandy.

 

[Mr. Dee]

suspect in the next release or the release after, Apple will do the following to kind of bring some consistency between iOS and OS X.

- Return to the 10.0 to 10.4 Dock or the Public beta style dock.
- System 7x style theme

 

[nutmac]

OS X has always evolved UI wise. Jaguar (10.2) was the first update to receive UI tweaks, with Panther (10.3) receiving fairly significant UI changes. Many of subsequent updates brought fairly significant change, especially around the style of windows.

iOS, on the other hand, has largely unchanged from 1.0 to 6.0, except for on/off toggle redesign in iOS 5 and status bar and Phone app tweak in iOS 6.

 

[n-evo]

Apple has made it pretty clear that OS X is going to remain fairly evolutionary from this point on. The UI may receive a refresh, but that seems unlikely. The last time the UI was overhauled, it took 4 years: 2007 was Leopard's release, and only in 2011 was it changed with Lion, which was again, very evolutionary. Since it's only been two years, why would you expect that next year there would be a major user interface change?

Because a whole different person is in charge of interface design now with a different view of things. It isn't exactly far fetched that OS X will receive a similar redesign to match iOS 7. Personally I don't see how it's in Apple's best interest to have both their operating systems look so alien compared to each other. Especially after spending much effort to bring the two closer together.

 

[macintoshmac]

I think they have brought them closer together in working seamlessly, not looking enlarged/ shrunken versions of the same system. The desktop and pocket devices do still maintain clear distinctions and advantages/ disadvantages, and so long as they remain, their looks ought to maintain that difference. A MacBook is not a touchscreen device.

 

[Tar Sniffer]

The day OS X even begins to look like iOS 7 is the day I leave the Apple ecosystem.

iOS 7 is a backwards step in terms of functionality and design.

 

[n-evo]

The day OS X even begins to look like iOS 7 is the day I leave the Apple ecosystem.

iOS 7 is a backwards step in terms of functionality and design.

I fail to see how iOS 7 works different from iOS 6. You might dislike the new look but functionality-wise nothing has really changed.

----------

I think they have brought them closer together in working seamlessly, not looking enlarged/ shrunken versions of the same system. The desktop and pocket devices do still maintain clear distinctions and advantages/ disadvantages, and so long as they remain, their looks ought to maintain that difference. A MacBook is not a touchscreen device.

iOS 6 looked very similar to OS X in terms of graphics and icons. There's no reason why Apple can't adapt the iOS 7 look 'n' feel to OS X. Difference between desktop and touch devices has nothing to do with that.

 

[Tar Sniffer]

I fail to see how iOS 7 works different from iOS 6. You might dislike the new look but functionality-wise nothing has really changed.

Text that blends into certain backgrounds due to lack of shadowing.

Less visual cues, like buttons which makes it less intuitive for new users.

Removal of cut out cards. Eg. Contacts is now a cluster **** of information, when you could easily identify relevant info in iOS 6.

Removal of at-a-glance info in Notification Centre and Calendar.

The first version of iOS was better thought out than this garbage.

 

[ElectronGuru]

Any numerical significance of 10.9 was pretty well squashed in the keynote. When they laid out the new cat free naming system, they made it clear that the new set of names will still be X. So 10.10, 10.11, etc.

iOS will continue to be an influence, but I don't see it taking over any time soon. The major advantage of such a move would actually be leaving intel, but even the A7 is not yet up to that task.