iOS 7.1 Beta 3 Tidbits: Revamped Keyboard, Darker Icons, New Phone Look, and More

[Neodym]

Since you think they're doing such a terrible job, why are you using Apple products?

Because Apple did more or less a fine job before.

People are writing as if iOS 7 is useless or broken.

It IS broken - both visually and functionally.

Again, this has ALWAYS been Apple's way. If choice is the most important thing, then go with Android

As someone else in this thread already wrote: The lack of choice was much less of a problem as long as Apple nailed it. And they obviously didn't with iOS7. No other iOS release has ever kindled such controversial discussions that don't even stop months after public release.

Apple limits *some* aspects of the UI for 4 reasons (IMHO):
1) They try to maintain a certain minimum design flavor that is distinctly Apple.

iOS7's design flavor is _not_ "distinctly Apple" (such as the iOS versions before were). Instead it is a mix of various "me too" elements from other platforms done poorly.

 

[nomore]

Overwhelming number ? A bunch of forum whiners ? They are going to complain whatever Apple does.
A white keyboard ? They whine about a black.
A round button ? They whine about a square.
A translucent menu ? They whine about an opaque.

Notification center is an improvement.
Control center is an improvement.
More efficient multitasking is an improvement.
AirDrop is an improvement.
Selectable apps with data access is an improvement.
....
I can go on quite a bit ...

iOS 7 just needs to be refined, and they are working on it.

Really untrue. Many people, myself included rarely complained about other updates. It's not because of change, or because of complaining just for the sake of it. There are 100's of well thought out and justified arguments. For you to dismiss those because it's bashing your beloved Apple is not a clever thing to do.

From my point of view, I've always really liked Apple products, and until iOS 7 was revealed, I would look down on Android with it's iffy scrolling and not-so-nice-looking UI.

But iOS 7 is poorly designed from a UI/aesthetics point of view. This has prompted me to start looking elsewhere, where as before I wouldn't have because my experience with the competition was that they were inferior.

I purchased a Nexus 7 tablet to give Android a good try, and it's growing on me. I now think it's nicer to use and better looking that iOS 7.

When it's time to upgrade my iPhone 5, I will seriously consider an HTC One, or something similar.

People have a right to complain. Apple do a good job at locking people into their ecosystem with iTunes, apps, books etc. Customers willingly buy into it because they enjoyed the experience that was. But iOS 7 is seriously messed up.

 

[RedOrchestra]

"People have a right to complain. Apple do a good job at locking people into their ecosystem with iTunes, apps, books etc. Customers willingly buy into it because they enjoyed the experience that was. But iOS 7 is seriously messed up."

Nicely put.

 

[apollo1444]

In what way? I asked politely what way it cam make my life better. Then I stated my last experience with jailbreaking - (on iOS5) THAT'S ALL. I am not an expert and that's why I asked. No need to be complete arse about it.

Then the guy wrote back a nice list of some great reasons to jailbreak. Which I am looking at the apps and they look great. So perhaps you need to learn to read and understand a bit more....now that was obnoxious.

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Thanks, Looks like things have improved a lot since iOS5 Jailbreaking.

I've done some research into it and can see there is a lot of good reasons to do it for tech guys. I'd never recommend it to Joe Public, but i suppose thats the point of the iPhone isn't it.

With all due respect, you should not recommend nothing about tech or iPhone to anybody giving your proved complete lack of knowledge about jailbreaking.

 

[bruno7]

Give us more apps in folders!

Yeah, I know, there is unlimited amount you can have...

But - you open a folder and you see 9 apps. If you have10, you have to scroll once. If you have 19, you have to scroll twice.

Now I would understand this solution on iPhone 4 as there is a lack of screen estate.

But iPad?

Come on! On my old iPad I can see 20 apps in the folder at once! I don't have to scroll at all!

And I guess on iPhone 5 it would easily be16 apps...

So what is the reason for 9 apps only?

 

[macUser2007]

Silly changes.

iOS has a terrible, primitive keyboard and only someone who has never used something trully predictive like Swiftkey for Android for any length of time can actually like this dinosaur.

If Apple can't come up with anything better than a shade change, they should open up iOS to third-party keyboard software. I am sick of being stuck in 2007.

 

[Seandroid]

Oh, for Christ's sake. None of you even know what you're talking about.

The aesthetic changes are all that's mentioned, but my phone has been extremely reliable, fast and responsive since updating to Beta 3. Touch ID has been far more reliable for me, and fingers that hadn't worked prior to updating work perfectly now.

If you don't have the beta installed, stop commenting with the limited information you've been provided.

I hate the smaller call button and moving the slide to open bar to the top makes it harder to open quickly for people with smaller hands. Please go back the the "bar" call button and slide bar the way it used to be.

Other than those two things, I like the changes.

Slide to unlock has not changed. That's slide to power off, which has always been at the top. And the smaller call button is just as easy to tap in use.

 

[WilliamG]

Give us more apps in folders!

Yeah, I know, there is unlimited amount you can have...

But - you open a folder and you see 9 apps. If you have10, you have to scroll once. If you have 19, you have to scroll twice.

Now I would understand this solution on iPhone 4 as there is a lack of screen estate.

But iPad?

Come on! On my old iPad I can see 20 apps in the folder at once! I don't have to scroll at all!

And I guess on iPhone 5 it would easily be16 apps...

So what is the reason for 9 apps only?

I agree with this. I think Apple is really realizing their folly with some of iOS 7 (not all). After all, that's why we keep seeing so many changes to the ui. When was the last time icons changed COLOR in an iOS release? I believe iOS 7 is the first. Why it took this long for them to figure out is just beyond me. Many of us complained about the neon green (especially the in-call timer when you're on the home screen/another app) the day iOS 7 beta was released.

Sometimes I wonder what goes on at Apple. If they'd just chat to me before releasing their latest iOS iteration , there'd be fewer issues, I guarantee it!

 

[GregAndonian]

1) there has always been an option to turn off parallax if you don't like it.

Yes, but only if you use "reduce motion" in the accessibility settings- and then you're left with a very basic interface. Now you can turn off parallax without affecting anything else, which is really nice.

 

[Tech198]

that fair enough.

 

[sand_man]

There's quite a bit of aggro in this thread and rightly so! Apple has 200 000 000 customers to satisfy, they unlikely to satisfy all but if they appease 90% of their client base they'll be pretty chuffed with themselves and that's most probably the case.

All Apple has to do for the remaining 10% is endorse Jailbreaking! Let those that want to tinker, tinker! (with a disclaimer of course).

I don't get their animosity towards the concept? Hell, they should be selling it in the AppStore, Cydia app -$50!! They could make some serious money off it and at the same time there is their R&D!

It will never happen though, but for me (and millions more I suspect) Apple is missing a trick here!

 

[jauhari]

Does this is new on iOS 7.1 Beta 3?

Persistent Slide To Unlock

 

[prowlmedia]

With all due respect, you should not recommend nothing about tech or iPhone to anybody giving your proved complete lack of knowledge about jailbreaking.

You really are arrogant aren't you. I am a TD for a 3d animation company and yes I am very technical. As stated I have not looked at it for 2-3 years... because I've been away travelling a lot.

I am exactly the person to recommend not to jailbreak to A NON TECHNICAL PERSON because if it causes me issues. It's only going to be worse for them.

I asked a completely valid polite question and all I have had from you is abuse.

 

[Tar Sniffer]

It's interesting that Apple has focused it's attention on the Phone App and introduced so many circles. Could this be a hint as to what the iWatch's interface will look like?

Squares = Apps
Circles = Interactive buttons
Text = content

Somebody make a mockup!

 

[macUser2007]

You really are arrogant aren't you. I am a TD for a 3d animation company and yes I am very technical. As stated I have not looked at it for 2-3 years... because I've been away travelling a lot.

I am exactly the person to recommend not to jailbreak to A NON TECHNICAL PERSON because if it causes me issues. It's only going to be worse for them.

I asked a completely valid polite question and all I have had from you is abuse.

My last JB was on iOS6. What I noticed is that there is much less development than there was a few years ago, and barely a handful of remotely useful (IMO) applications.

I spent $5 on the only plausible attempt at predictive keyboard (a BB10 copy), but it was so poorly executed that it was pretty much unusable.

I wouldn't advise anyone to JB, unless you have specific requirements (maybe tethering, but why bother if you also have an Android, since most of them do it out of the box). Development on that side seems to have almost completely stalled (unless you want to pirate a bunch of outdated copies of mostly 99 cents apps).

With iOS7 Apple has finally implemented multitasking, which was the sore thumb of iOS, plus what is basically a new launcher, but it still needs to open up stuff like native keyboard to gain back users (yep, Apple's primitive keyboard is my biggest gripe right now - it is a complete joke compared to what's available on Android).

So, don't feel bad because some fanboy touts the wonders of JB, with a few rare exceptions, it's a pointless exercise.

 

[secDJ]

i completely agree with you! And what the heck is going on with the phone app. It was so stylish before, now the overall look is ruined by those circular buttons, there is no simetry. Before beta 3 everything was perfect if you ask me. The only thing I was hoping for was they turn the option to make the font ultra light everywhere like it was on 7.0 beta 1. And if you ask me 7.0 beta 1 was the best looking iOS ever.

So so so so true! Apple has to revert this.

 

[Masquerade]

7 SUCKS. You must be too young to remember the early computing days when everything was flat. In this case, retro is not cool.

how boring it was to look at gem 3 desktop comared with windows!
You got insane just if someone et you use windows on a new 386... With all those icons

 

[Tar Sniffer]

Is this what an iWatch FaceTime call could look like?

 

[jcaramanica]

Funny how everyone has a million little things to complain about but as soon as Apple releases something new how many of you are camping outside the Apple Store? Exactly. You guys do know that you don't need to use an iPhone, right? Just letting everyone know.

 

[prowlmedia]

My last JB was on iOS6. What I noticed is that there is much less development than there was a few years ago, and barely a handful of remotely useful (IMO) applications.

I spent $5 on the only plausible attempt at predictive keyboard (a BB10 copy), but it was so poorly executed that it was pretty much unusable.

I wouldn't advise anyone to JB, unless you have specific requirements (maybe tethering, but why bother if you also have an Android, since most of them do it out of the box). Development on that side seems to have almost completely stalled (unless you want to pirate a bunch of outdated copies of mostly 99 cents apps).

With iOS7 Apple has finally implemented multitasking, which was the sore thumb of iOS, plus what is basically a new launcher, but it still needs to open up stuff like native keyboard to gain back users (yep, Apple's primitive keyboard is my biggest gripe right now - it is a complete joke compared to what's available on Android).

So, don't feel bad because some fanboy touts the wonders of JB, with a few rare exceptions, it's a pointless exercise.

Thanks. Informative response. Even Android's tethering can be disabled by the network. Some countries charge for it. How that actually works in practice I don't know with android being more open.

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As I wanted to listen to some audiobooks over the holidays and couldn’t due to the last beta, I’m happy to report that they’ve also fixed audiobooks this time ‘round!

Hi, with chapters and proper scrubbing?

 

[C DM]

Does this is new on iOS 7.1 Beta 3?

Persistent Slide To Unlock
Image

It was like that even in 7.0.

 

[MonsieurA]

So what is the reason for 9 apps only?

The reason is that the folder icon preview on the home screen shows 9 apps and the idea is that when you tap the folder icon, your finger already knows where to go because it expands into those same 9 apps. I'm not saying I agree with this approach, but there you go.

Sometimes I wonder what goes on at Apple.

I, too, wonder what really goes on at Apple. On the one hand, we assume there's a team of extremely smart, competent, creative people... on the other hand, we keep seeing easy-to-fix mistakes in iOS 7.

So who are the people working there and are they really all that smarter than the people at this forum? Granted, their engineering, coding, and design experience probably outweighs all of us, but what of their taste, sense of intuition, and attention to details?

 

[bueller1]

Don't feel like reading through 85% of the whining but 7.1 beta 3 is a huge improvement in terms of performance from 7.0.4. Way more snappy. Sorry if it's been discussed but is there no dark keyboard option?

 

[ThunderSkunk]

deck chairs on the titanic

 

[C DM]

Don't feel like reading through 85% of the whining but 7.1 beta 3 is a huge improvement in terms of performance from 7.0.4. Way more snappy. Sorry if it's been discussed but is there no dark keyboard option?

The dark keyboard option has not returned.