Apple Executives Talk About iPhone 14 Pro's Dynamic Island in New Interview

[spinedoc77]

Then why did you voluntarily buy one with the cutout?

While I haven't purchased an iPhone 14, my point still stands that regardless of whatever feature they build around it, it's still a big black blob(s) where there should be screen. Android has had overlap alerts for a while now, so an app can decide to do the same thing in software. I can also multi screen, which I like better because then I get the full app, but I can see the appeal of a small overlay at times. But with Apple you can't move it and are stuck with it.

 

[transpo1]

Yes! It still is a Notch, only pill shaped and more in your face. The gap above it is hideous and a waste of real estate.

I can see your point— as I’ve mentioned, I really never minded the notch. But this is just an iterative process of integrating the Face ID/camera system into the display.

 

[boyarka]

Of course you can compensate. But at the end of the day, you’re making it worse.

Suppose their current sensor has quality level 1. They could

• use the same sensor, under the screen, and reach level 0.8.
• use a sensor with level 1.25, and reach the same level 1.
• avoid this altogether, use that sensor, and reach level 1.25.

Which are worse than non-under-screen fingerprint sensors, and which notably Apple has so far not used.

Point 1: yes but better than gimmick island that still hampers fullscreen use

Point 2: nope not at all. On my mobile phone nr2 where it works flawlessly and occupies exactly zero extra space. Unlike gimmick island or any other camera pinhole/cutaway that eats up screen area.

 

[Kagio]

It’s way too over-hyped. Not at all that useful especially since it’s way up on the top of the screen. I do like seeing the waveform of music I’m playing though.

I feel like people give it too much credit. I was blown away by the reveal like everyone but essentially, it’s just a different way to show notifications. The interactions with it are mostly optional. It’s a UI change, not UX!

Yes but easy keyword to keep in mind here is "potential"

 

[raccoontail]

Stop the madness! Just bring back the bezel. I like my screens rectangular.

 

[MacGekko]

Buddy you don’t understand it.

It’s a distraction. It’s pathetically bad design.

They literally out the SECONDS in the Timer in the island lmao. It draws your attention away from the rest of the screen.

They put a useless and completely distracting waveform during audio playback.

Apple designers are

hahahah No IT IS INCREDIBLY DISTRACTING.

That’s exactly why it’s such a terrible terrible unintelligent design

To Apple: Why can't you turn dynamic island off, why can't the Apple Watch play music/podcasts through its external speakers, why did it take so long to have an always on Iphone screen, why did Federighi state that the dynamic island almost gave the Iphone a life saving identity, why did you remove Jony Ive from your company, was it because he felt technology should disappear and that the Apple Watch should eventually replace the Iphone?

 

[Silverado]

The only ting i see is like apple saying “look at us…we have found a way to hide our big black pill in the screen”…rather then making a small pinhole for the camera and making fingerprin reader under the screen like all the other mobile manufactures…
apple was once an innovative company and esthetic company…..now it’s just old wine in old bottles…boring an predictable

The user experience with Face ID is miles ahead of fingerprint readers. iPhones would suck if they went backwards to fingerprint readers, under glass or not. Other manufacturers would kill to be able to have a solution as good as Face ID but they still can’t, 4 years hence.

 

[Silverado]

More like a desert island than fantasy island

All the money , all the know how that Apple have can’t engineer a zero notch , I just don’t believe this at all

You can’t believe it? What, do you think they have a solution and they’re hiding it? Or that they’re inept?

 

[frownface]

So far my experience with Di feels limited, not enough apps make use of it, and we’re back to the fragmented ecosystem that Apple loathed at one point.

It's not fragmented if everyone tows the line and upgrades to the latest and greatest.
Which is what they're trying to encourage.

But yes, the amount of form factors, screen sizes & capabilities across their current models is staggering.

They've gone a full 180 and you basically need a product feature grid to navigate their offerings these days. Whereas 15 years ago they marketed based on simplicity and 'just working'

 

[GermanSuplex]

You’re misremembering. What were the “rapid innovations” between the iPhone and iPhone 3G?

(The last iPhone intro Steve did was the 4. So, the only year-over-year rapid innovations he presided over were the 3GS, which was mostly a speed bump and a few better internals, and the 4, which was indeed a big upgrade.)

They had other products besides the iPhone…

 

[Artemis70]

It also hides map navigation while in the background. You need to literally press and hold to bring it back, which is a safety hazard while driving. This is also temporary since it hides again so you have to keep doing it.

I don't understand what you are saying. Are you saying that it affects map navigation, while the map is on screen. Or are you saying that you use map navigation in the background, and it has become problematic to get it into the foreground when you need it in the foreground? I use map navigation a lot, and the map is in the foreground. If it will automagically go into the background, that would be bad.

 

[Artemis70]

I doubt this user wants Android. He wants an *iPhone* without blobs.
Samsung don’t have black blobs on their
Phones, do they? So if they can do it, so can Apple, right?

Apple can certainly do it .... if they get rid of FaceID .... or when the technology allows it. I hope they don't go like Samsung but rather wait for the technology

 

[GeoStructural]

I don't understand what you are saying. Are you saying that it affects map navigation, while the map is on screen. Or are you saying that you use map navigation in the background, and it has become problematic to get it into the foreground when you need it in the foreground? I use map navigation a lot, and the map is in the foreground. If it will automagically go into the background, that would be bad.

Previous iPhones (13 Pro Max, for instance) you could use Maps in the background and get a little navigation tool at the top. Now the Dynamic Island doesn’t do that, it becomes a teeny tiny bar the size of the notch and you need to press and hold on it to bring up the equivalent that you used to get in previous iPhones. This still is not permanent and you have to do it several times while driving.

 

[transpo1]

Apple can certainly do it .... if they get rid of FaceID .... or when the technology allows it. I hope they don't go like Samsung but rather wait for the technology

Apple’s seems to (obviously) be going in the other direction…if they wanted to get rid of FaceID, they could go back to a fingerprint sensor but it doesn’t seem like they want to. Furthermore, there are rumors going around that the iPhone Ultra could have dual selfie cameras next year, which means they will be adding more things to the display over time to make use of the Dynamic Island area. Personally, I’d rather have dual cameras and FaceID.

 

[Artemis70]

Previous iPhones (13 Pro Max, for instance) you could use Maps in the background and get a little navigation tool at the top. Now the Dynamic Island doesn’t do that, it becomes a teeny tiny bar the size of the notch and you need to press and hold on it to bring up the equivalent that you used to get in previous iPhones. This still is not permanent and you have to do it several times while driving.

I have never seen this option on my 12 Pro Max. What does it take to use it?

Edit: I think you put the Maps app in the background, right? I'm curious why you would want to do that. What is so essential to view while driving that is not your map?

 

[ric275]

I love the Dynamic Island, can’t wait to see 3rd party devs going wild with it

 

[caribbeanblue]

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.

 

[ric22]

Stop the madness! Just bring back the bezel. I like my screens rectangular.

I'd pay a 50% premium at this point to get a bezel and be rid of this monstrosity.

 

[ric22]

I see why Apple did it- same as with the notch- it's a differentiator. People want other people to know they just bought Apple's most expensive phone, and this is basically the only way to do that.

 

[ric22]

Come 2024 and we'll have an iPad Pro with 4 dynamic islands at this rate...

 

[DeepIn2U]

Interesting interview! I would like to see more new innovative features with Dynamic Island. Make it more user-intuitive, please.

As you previously stated, at using the 14 you’ve noticed and stated that ‘shouldn’t short press have the quick view & long press have jump into the app.

Both well stated! I agree.

Yet just that snap & pop action reminds me too much of Blackberry 10 OS.

Still a more natural & intuitive UI is needed in Di.

It’s a great concept that doesn’t come into play much during most of my use cases, but it’s cool that it exists.

I found the same, with the significant added or perceived weight shift to the top back in the 14P it went back for me.

So far my experience with Di feels limited, not enough apps make use of it, and we’re back to the fragmented ecosystem that Apple loathed at one point.

My findings exactly. Maybe it’ll evolve as apps get updated implementing the API

I feel like people give it too much credit. I was blown away by the reveal like everyone but essentially, it’s just a different way to show notifications. The interactions with it are mostly optional. It’s a UI change, not UX!

It is a UI, and it does what it’s designed to do well. There was no reference to a new UX yet it hints of a way to be thought of as such. Frankly a separate notification toggle with more in preferences > notifications should’ve been created.

Give it time this may be a precursor to ArOS

Love it or hate it. I think it was a brilliant use of space where ‘needed’ hardware is at right now. I don’t even notice the pill anymore and the only time I remember it’s there, is when the software makes a cool animation out of it.

Looking forward to the future with it, or without it.

I like it, but it doesn’t want enough initially. It’ll come if it’s own quit well I’m sure. Add eye tracking n this’ll light up!