Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
I can see this being quite a substantial beta test period. Certainly when compared to previous ones.
 
Does Jonny Ive really understand interface design?

I am going to say no. I was worried when they appointed him to this new position. He is a hardware guy, UI design is completely different.

My thinking is that his leadership in this new position is somewhat symbolic. How can you go from doing all the hardware only (and most likely working 60 hrs a week doing just that), to doing all the hardware AND being the head of iOS...it is too much work and the work is too different. (duh, I do not think he does it alone).

Ive has been Stretched too thin. An appropriate pun, seeing as ultra-thin, difficult to read fonts are now littered throughout the OS.

I honestly think Apple needs to hire someone else specifically as head of iOS.

I totally agree with this, might explain the odd mish-mash of icon styles in iOS 7 (beta of course, Apple don't change often though!).

I'm in the same position in my company, UK Sales Manager to Marketing Manager to Brand Manager - didn't like the expensive agency sourced product design so took it over myself, head of RnD leaves so I take it over and now do everything from the packaging and manuals to the full technical design (loudspeakers just FYI), to brochures and ads.

A few months back I hired an experienced Marketing Manager and now everything is better, less stress, less rush, better product being produced. I tend to think Apple need to do the same, take some of the load off of one guy and spread it around a bit...
 
Most of iOS 7 is absolutely fine - yes, it's playing catch up but I'm betting it will function well.

However, I do hope the Betas progressively tighten things up and that Apple aren't afraid to change some issues substantially between now and launch.
 
Again. I do think he definitely has an eye for visual aesthetics. I think the mavericks banner and the iOS WWDC banners were among the prettiest they have ever done.

And I do like the visual aesthetics of iOS 7 for most of the part. But what worries me is that a lot of visual "guidance" has been removed. The iOS 6 -while being antiquated - really was easy to the eye because it knew very well where to draw your eye.

iOS 7 while being prettier and looking a lot less "heavy" kind of looks cluttered and unorganized
to me thus making it look a less harmonic.


The icons themselves are a different topic. This can't also be explained with the short deadline they had. Most of them are just out of proportions. The head of the messages speaking bubble ist just way too big compared to the pointy part.

In general all the circled elements of the icons (app store , iTunes, clock, settings, safari,
Compass ) - they are too big and therefore give the icons a "trapped feeling". This is a small detail that can be changed in literally less then 5 minutes.
 
Mish mash. Confusing. Inconsistent.

All the terms that are being used usually indicate a design by committee, and/or an inexperienced leader.

J. Ive said he believed in more internal cooperation. That's good, but they need someone with a lot more UI/UX experience (and more empathy with new/casual users) to make the final reviews and decisions.

Giving the benefit of the doubt, perhaps this was rushed, and it'll get fine tuned before final release. This is one time that Apple needs to listen to their users, that's for sure.
 
Rushed

Like the rumors had it, the iOS team was falling behind and so they had to seek assistance from the OSX team and honestly it shows. I believe SJ would have not released iOS7 at this stage himself either he would have made sure everything was concrete and finished or he would have not shared it at all. Yes its Jony's first go at it and I am sure he knew exactly what he wanted but the current beta result is definitely not what he had planned for but due to time pressure had to released it. You guys have pointed out the inconsistencies, jony doesnt come around as the type who makes such mistakes especially in case of design - the only answer is, the iOS team was overwhelmed and didnt get the full time to implement all the design elements.

Now, will Jony update the rest of the UI elements throughout this Beta Phase, I doubt it, Apple doesnt normally go back to the drawing board cause it might make them look weak. That would be really unfortunate if they dont blend all these elements together, maybe we gotta wait till iOS8.
 
Well ios7 was definitely rushed. 7 months for a whole new look is just almost impossible to pull of. That's why I hope the inconsitensy will be ironed out in the following months n
 
I'm gonna guess that he understands it better than pretty much everyone here.

Yikes if that's an understanding then Apple is in trouble. Those stock icons are bad, really bad. Aside from that which is easily fixable, the rest isn't horrid although I don't really care for all the black and white inside some of the apps like mail.
 
So I am going to say yes, he does. There are some small things that are an issue at the moment, but really there is a fundamental shift in the way the device works. Looking at screenshots it doesn't look that great...but in actual use it feels so much better.

A lot of the change in iOS 7 won't be noticeable until 3rd party developers start using the new API's and designing apps for the platform. Old apps work fine, but they just don't quite feel as fluid - as if they were connected to the OS themselves.

Like I said though there are many little graphical issues at the moment, but that is why it is beta 1. Also I am hoping for some changes to the icons (Mainly Game Center, Camera and Settings.) Also I really dislike the new share button icon, but I doubt that will change.
 
They redesigned the entire OS in like 6 months. It's Ive's first major foray in to software design. I think we can cut Apple a little slack here. iOS 7 might not be perfect but it will get refined and improved upon. I suppose Apple could have waited until iOS 8 for the full redesign but then people would have complained about the UI being stale, Apple is doomed etc. I'm not judging iOS 7 until its installed on my phone and I get the opportunity to actually use it.

You're right, it will get refined and I hope it becomes a lot more polished before the final version comes out to everyone.

While details may change, I personally feel that the general design language is confusing and harder to use. I've been running iOS 7 on my iPhone 5 since WWDC and I've noticed a few things:

There are a lot of menus that just disappear. So, in order to do a function, the user needs to do an extra tap just to bring the buttons to view.

For example, changing pages in iOS 6 Safari involved:
1. Tapping the "page change" icon.
2. Changing pages.

Now it involves:
1. Quickly scrolling down or tapping the URL bar to reveal the bottom bar of Safari, and the "page change" icon.
2. Tapping the icon.
3. Changing pages.

Now, this sounds like a small annoyance but I think it's revealing of the general missteps that have been made in the new UX.

Also, the constant white, similar icons, and thinness of text (and at times icon glyphs) can feel overwhelming at times, and makes finding the button you need more difficult.

General readability also suffers. Safari provides another great example of this. Now, tapping 'reader' often makes the article harder to read, due to the thin text and bright white background.


There are some good features in iOS 7. No, Apple is not 'doomed', and I'm sure iOS 7 will improve and iOS 8 will be better still. But the problems with iOS 7 do, I believe, go beyond 'childish icons'. There are elements of the new design language that I believe are simply not the right way to go.
 

Attachments

  • Screen Shot 2013-06-12 at 10.39.49 AM.png
    Screen Shot 2013-06-12 at 10.39.49 AM.png
    184.3 KB · Views: 152
  • Screen Shot 2013-06-12 at 10.41.44 AM.png
    Screen Shot 2013-06-12 at 10.41.44 AM.png
    228.4 KB · Views: 151
but really there is a fundamental shift in the way the device works.

I don't think so. The visual style is completely different, but it's hardly a shift in how iOS functions. In terms of functionality, it's exactly the same (with the exception of multitasking) and the addition of control center. The basic concept is the same
 
I think they done a good job, but yes the icons are too bright and there is a bit too much bling / transparency. However this is what the beta's are for. It has already been mentioned that the icons will change, and so will also things such as themes and ability to tone down or bling up.
 
I don't think so. The visual style is completely different, but it's hardly a shift in how iOS functions. In terms of functionality, it's exactly the same (with the exception of multitasking) and the addition of control center. The basic concept is the same

Functionality is the same, but the visual flow is now completely fluid (Or will be, once developers start using the new API's). Going from springboard into a folder into an app into the content is can all be one smooth motion, rather than a bunch of disjointed ones in previous iOS versions.

Also in terms of the app design guidelines it is now focused entirely on content, and app chrome takes a back seat.
 
To answer the OP: Not as much as he thinks and not as much as everyone hoped. It could have been better. I think what was missing was someone that was willing to break it down and hurt some feelings by telling them that the design looks crap. I can't see Tim Cook one-sentencing someone back to the drawing board like Steve Jobs. They needed someone to say "No." more.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.