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Apple's Designers Clashing Over 'Tacky' Software Skeuomorphisms

Windows 8 as an example? Please tell me they mean it as an example of what NOT to do!

I think the Metro interface is a very poor design, especially for non-touch devices, so I hope they don't towards it as an idea of what they should do.
 
Looks are looks right?

I'm not saying I'm in love with all of the leather-bound iPhone and Mac apps and what not, but, the fact is, if we wanted pure functionality, we'd be running very basic plain black and white UI's. Remember the Apple II vs Macintosh debate years ago? The idea was Macintoshes were pretty, but unnecessarily so and the 'bulky' UI was a case of form over function, and REAL power users only used command line interfaces like the Apple II.

This is the same argument. If you make it extra pretty, power users will questions how they can get as much work done as if it was purely functional. I think Apple does a good job of combining function with form, even if I'm not always a fan of the way their stuff looks.

It's interesting they brought up Windows 8. After all, Windows has traditionally been the function over form company (even though they've had their issues from time to time of accomplishing neither, as has Apple I suppose). So are we surprised that the latest versions of iOS and Mac OS X are more attractive, while the latest versions of Microsoft Windows and Windows Phone are more 'practical' in their UI?
 
Anuba said:
Maybe not, I haven't followed its evolution with much interest... I just watched this clip a couple of days ago and was rather impressed until around 0:25 when I had to vomit a bucketful as he clicks the Desktop tile and up comes a nasty familiar sight...
Click to expand...

Dunno why I'm asking this, considering you still think Windows runs on DOS...

What's so bad about the Windows desktop that it requires you to vomit bucketloads?
 
I think that Skeumorphisms make the software seem cheap and hurts productivity. The post of the brushes that come up in iPhoto for iOS is a perfect example because the visual appearance of the brushes doesn't help me in choosing between them at all but the animation takes a second and unnecessarily impedes productivity if I have to watch it every time I change brushes.

The old tape player in the iPad version of the Podcast app is also dumb.

The notes app doesn't bother me so much.
 
And Steve jobs said, 'Father, forgive them, for they have not known what they do;' and ... The thing for which we should pray for them is that "Apple"
would pardon .... He owned that he deserved what was done to him.
 
Apple without fun design is the most boring company in the world. The paper shredder is really cool, and what the hell, everyone has seen one in real life I would assume? Either way, it's fun, it's something I love about Apple. They brought up Windows (which is obviously a poor example) and WINDOWS 8 IS SO UGLY! Be different Apple, be beautiful. (beautiful does not equal tacky)
 
Personally i think there are a number of areas within recent apps that, although well done, just seem.. nasty, garish and out of sync with everything else.

Game Centre: Is definitely one of them, personally never liked the styling of it. Would like to see that dragged away from the pub/bar look and back into something contemporary.

Calender: The faux leather. Its like a smelly old couch you see at a thrift store.

Contacts: The general old book/bookmark look. Again, its well done, just looks odd in context with everything else.

Photo Booth: The old wood/curtains... looks like a peep show! *cough*

I dont know where that stuff is coming from, but i'd like less of it. That said i DO like the new shared photo-stream, use of helvetica light in areas, the styled thin scroll bars, new Mountain Lion dock. THIS is what Apple have always been GREAT at. Modern, efficient, contemporary and of course, functional and easy to use.
 
first thing i did with ical was to reskin it with a grey gradient to match the rest of the gui.

i'm with ive on this one. these skeuomorphic elements are tacky and feel like they came from a microsoft os
 
cmwade77 said:
I think the Metro interface is a very poor design, especially for non-touch devices, so I hope they don't towards it as an idea of what they should do.
Click to expand...

Other than being a little too flat visually (a couple gradients and a few drop shadows wouldn't exactly kill anyone, MS), I actually prefer some things in Metro over iOS.

It's easy to navigate, everything is obviously laid out, it draws the eye, flows well, and app switching is far, far smoother than how it's done on the iPad. Once you play with it a bit, you'll see there's a ton to like.
 
Anuba said:
Using the Pepsi logo as an analogy, Windows 8 corresponds to 'current design' while OS X/iOS is on 2003...
Click to expand...
Can we count on Windows 8 to change its design every year to stay current, or will we look at Windows in 2017 and say "Oh, Tiles. How 2012"?

Are you someday going to be embarrassed that you could have ever liked something as dated as Windows 8? If not, rest assured the next generation will be embarrassed for you and your primitive tastes.

Will there be a market for Windows "skins", or will people think that "skinning" is an unfortunate vulgar throwback to a time when people had no sense of style?
 
Anuba said:
Well, OS X was in fact designed to match the hardware. The original Aqua UI was more or less an extension of the blobby plastic Macs of the time -- the turquoise G4, the first iMac, the 'clamshell' laptop etc. The colors, the translucency, the pinstripes, it was all reflected in the UI. Then of course the hardware changed radically, while Aqua has been phased out gradually... though it lingers in spirit.

Aqua was refreshing at the time. The iPhone brought similar refreshment to a world of ugly UIs on mobile devices. But lately the pendulum has been swinging away from that style. It's been-there-done-that, no more childish glee over bevels, gloss and drop shadows. Every time that UI or website graphics get revamped these days, it's towards a cleaner and more streamlined design that looks more like print. Using the Pepsi logo as an analogy, Windows 8 corresponds to 'current design' while OS X/iOS is on 2003...

Image
Click to expand...
The argument can definitely be made that the 2003 Logo is much better, it makes it clear what company it is, it is easily distinguishable. The current Pepsi logo looks a lot like various other company logos out there. Now, if this is just on a soda can, it's obvious what it is, but not if it is somewhere out of context.

Windows 8 is no different, it might work in context (i.e. on touch screen devices), but on the average PC, it's interface is terrible, the old start menu is much more intuitive and works quite well.
 
Silver Box said:
Personally i think there are a number of areas within recent apps that, although well done, just seem.. nasty, garish and out of sync with everything else.

Game Centre: Is definitely one of them, personally never liked the styling of it. Would like to see that dragged away from the pub/bar look and back into something contemporary.

Calender: The faux leather. Its like a smelly old couch you see at a thrift store.

Contacts: The general old book/bookmark look. Again, its well done, just looks odd in context with everything else.

Photo Booth: The old wood/curtains... looks like a peep show! *cough*

I dont know where that stuff is coming from, but i'd like less of it. That said i DO like the new shared photo-stream, use of helvetica light in areas, the styled thin scroll bars, new Mountain Lion dock. THIS is what Apple have always been GREAT at. Modern, efficient, contemporary and of course, functional and easy to use.
Click to expand...

I agree with this -- I've always thought those apps just feel 'out of place' based on their looks.
 
skeuomorphism should be abandoned if there are better ways to represent the same thing. Doing away also lets you concentrate on new ways to present the UI not bound by anything physical.

We need to let loose in order to advance to the next level, were are really just at the infancy of creating great GUI interfaces not bound by any physical metaphor, not much has happened after the invention of the window in a big way. It just has gotten more candy like.

Now I haven't looked at windows 8 yet.
 
cmwade77 said:
Windows 8 as an example? Please tell me they mean it as an example of what NOT to do!

I think the Metro interface is a very poor design, especially for non-touch devices, so I hope they don't towards it as an idea of what they should do.
Click to expand...

Metro is going to be the death of Windows 8! After Microsoft realizing the big mistake Windows 9 will be introduced abandoning Metro and going back to Aero!
 
Needs a more modern look

The apps are not terrible, I mostly like the way they function which is what really matters (with the exception of address book which could do so much more). But I would prefer a clean, simple and more modern style to them. The absolute worst are the images of torn pages at the top of the iCal app - I am just obsessive enough that there is no way I would leave those on a desk calendar in real life, I would definitely clean up those little pieces. Clean it up Apple, please.
 
...

Get rid of the visual candy and iOS is truely a stripped down crappy version of android. The animations and visual effects are what people like about iOS imo
 
I like the look of this style. It sets it apart over the dead feel of other OS's.

Desk top resolutions are getting larger and larger. The extra pixel space isn't killing anyone.
 
Some skeuomorphism can be a good thing. It helps to introduce people to new technology, by keeping familiar elements i.e. The Calendar App

But when the skeuomorphic elements start to inhibit usability, it becomes a case of visual masturbation i.e. The Podcasts App.
 
roosta said:
first thing i did with ical was to reskin it with a grey gradient to match the rest of the gui.

i'm with ive on this one. these skeuomorphic elements are tacky and feel like they came from a microsoft os
Click to expand...

Which past of a Microsoft OS looks like that?

Or just because you think they are tacky you have to throw MS in with it without explaining yourself with an example?
 
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