Jony Ive Details Apple Design Process, iPhone 6 Design Choices in New Interview

[kemal]

I have (hate) to admit I rely like how the plastic bands on the iP 6 curve around the ends of the phone.

But in my opinion, Apple designs have been epic failures since the second G5 iMac. A successful design must also be a design for repairability.

 

[anova]

because apple has NEVER stolen an idea from someone else...gimme a break you wanna-be James Bond

 

[neuropsychguy]

The question and comment about Xiaomi is appropriate. If people think Samsung is bad, they have nothing on Xiaomi. Xiaomi is an intellectually dishonest company to put it mildly. Huawei, another rising "star", is equally bad or worse. I hope that their phones don't become more popular in the U.S. because that will only encourage intellectual (property) dishonesty and theft.

There's a huge problem with counterfeit items in China that extends way beyond Apple products so unfortunately this is true for many other Chinese companies. Stealing of ideas and research is also, parenthetically, a concern of many in science.

 

[samcraig]

because apple has NEVER stolen an idea from someone else...gimme a break you wanna-be James Bond

Well they did run into that wee bit of problem with their clock face

 

[eddieaus]

Xiaomi copies Apple is theft, i have to agree with Jony.

 

[Foss]

Apple is the master of self promotion, programming it's customers to follow Apples lead and it all works out. Apple builds it, customers money makes Apple the massive cash cow it is. So deeply in tune and emotionally connected with Apple they brag almost as though they're sharing in the profits.

Mercedes customers don't brag about that companies wealth, that's just one example of the deep emotional connection unique to Apple. It's quite the accomplishment.

I wouldn't call it programming customers at all. It's called user experience. That term has been evolving and just getting bigger every year in the IT industry. How is the end user experience is the most critical element in every piece of consumer and enterprise software now a days. And the end user experience overall is better on IOS/Mac. This is why 70-80%+ of IT professionals that I know work on the Apple ecosystem at home (and at work if possible.)

Part of the experience in some cases is the brand and the feel of the product. Do you think most high end watch brands do things others do not? People like the feel of the Tag, Rolex, etc. Just like I like the feel of my new iPhone 6.

 

[TallManNY]

While I agree with you, I must highlight that you can always swipe back from reading an email to your mailbox (exactly like you can go pack to the previous page in Safari with a swipe), this is a function that was implemented in iOS 7, didn't you know about it? Unlike the sloppy "reachability" thing, I find this one really neat, I always use it even on my iP5.

No I didn't know about that. Game changer! It works really well. Thanks.

 

[brianvictor7]

I think Johnny Ive is a pompous ass.

I've seen at least 2 people on this forum already who said something like this. I curious as to why. I've watched Mr Ive since 2009. Why is a self-confident artist pompous? Why is he arrogant? Perhaps I'm missing something you aren't.

 

[Foss]

I've seen at least 2 people on this forum already who said something like this. I curious as to why. I've watched Mr Ive since 2009. Why is a self-confident artist pompous? Why is he arrogant? Perhaps I'm missing something you aren't.

Because anyone with a clear vision that is successful is a pompous ass to some. Those some also have produced lots of successful products too.

I noticed a lot of the Ive hate started with IOS 7 and the new flatter UI. The hate was completely hive mind and irrational IMO. Have you seen someone still using IOS 6? I have, and it's ridiculous.

 

[H2SO4]

I wouldn't call it programming customers at all. It's called user experience. That term has been evolving and just getting bigger every year in the IT industry. How is the end user experience is the most critical element in every piece of consumer and enterprise software now a days. And the end user experience overall is better on IOS/Mac. This is why 70-80%+ of IT professionals that I know work on the Apple ecosystem at home (and at work if possible.)

Part of the experience in some cases is the brand and the feel of the product. Do you think most high end watch brands do things others do not? People like the feel of the Tag, Rolex, etc. Just like I like the feel of my new iPhone 6.

You’re in the minority. Whilst I don’t mind saying that Mac/OSX is nicer than PC, (for me at least), if 70-80% of the IT Professionals you know aren’t on Windows, I’d suggest you don’t know that many. Some of those with Macs will be running Windows exclusively too, and some will dabble in both.
You can’t argue with that surely?
Remember, just because you have an iOS device doesn’t mean you have the rest of the family that make up the ecosystem. 70-80% of the people I know with iOS do not have a Mac.

 

[topmounter]

I liked it better when this guy was behind the scenes doing what he does (or did) best rather than out front pontificating on what he is supposed to be doing. Where are all the things we've been waiting years for in some cases, e.g. the updated Mac Mini, Cinema Display, Retina MBA and Retina iMac?

 

[doelcm82]

Are you really saying the iPhone 5S wasn't thin enough?

It was thin enough for a 4" phone.

 

[bpcookson]

The full paraphrased text...

Wait, wut?

 

[doelcm82]

I've seen at least 2 people on this forum already who said something like this. I curious as to why. I've watched Mr Ive since 2009. Why is a self-confident artist pompous? Why is he arrogant? Perhaps I'm missing something you aren't.

He has the confidence of his convictions. The people who call him pompous aren't really sure about it, because that would make THEM pompous.

 

[Macist]

Bragging about design with a protruding lens, hideous antenna lines and the bending factor? Mhm.

Apple durability is now utterly shocking. The MBP2011 models all fry their GPUs after a couple of years and Apple will not admit the flaw. The iPad Air is much more fragile than previous models. Many iMacs have had various overheating issues. The iPhone 6 we shall see.

If you don't actually have to make the designs practical and durable that makes it a lot easier.

 

[SvK]

Apple needs to maintain a sense of mystery. Jony Ive is far to visible.

 

[jweinraub]

Do you know what the trade-offs were for those? What would an attractive (to you) antenna design have meant for signal strength, device width, battery life etc?

Since I am using an Apple case the protruding lens isn't as obvious as a naked phone is, but if they had made the phone a little thicker to keep the lens flush I would had been okay with that. I don't need to have the thinnest phone on the planet. Functionality is high but battery life is also high too. If they had made it a little thicker to keep lens flush and perhaps squeeze a little more mAh, I would been very okay with it. I don't get Sir Ive's fascination in keeping the phone this as paper.

 

[H2SO4]

He has the confidence of his convictions. The people who call him pompous aren't really sure about it, because that would make THEM pompous.

You are joking right? The guy is not as good as he appears to be. Trust me, try making a product, any product serviceable/practical as well as pleasing to the eye, that’s real design.
If your only consideration is that it looks good and feels nice you have a lot more to play with. If the back had to be removable and a slot appeared in the side it wouldn’t be so coherent or solid.
He’s good at his job no question, but some here make him out to be a genius.

Case in point, car design has changed a lot because of the constraints put upon the manufacturers by cooling, air intake, grip, interior space, performance, safety considerations etc. If those designers didn’t have to worry about pedestrian safety or crash tests for instance they’d have a lot more rope to swing.

 

[Lepton]

... hideous antenna lines...

I still don't get those lines. How could they be antennas? They seem merely cosmetic. Looking at the photos of the inside of the case, it seems like the case is one single chunk of metal. Is it?So the lines don't insulate, as they do on the iPhone 5s. I'd like to see a photo with those lines peeled off.

 

[samcraig]

Because anyone with a clear vision that is successful is a pompous ass to some. Those some also have produced lots of successful products too.

I noticed a lot of the Ive hate started with IOS 7 and the new flatter UI. The hate was completely hive mind and irrational IMO. Have you seen someone still using IOS 6? I have, and it's ridiculous.

Really? Someone that uses iOS is ridiculous? Thanks for weighing in on your opinion. Personally, I think what phone, OS, etc is completely up to an individual and their use case. I never find them ridiculous for doing so. To each their own.

 

[bronzini]

So how did the ipad with the vertical video stereo system get approved and what banana approved hard soldered macbook pro laptops? Both of those are design decisions from the school of the epically ungifted!!! My late parrot could have made a better decision!!

Ex staff talk about the culture of Apple and it is not moonbeams and rainbows and free coffee, it is a brutal regime, and one of fear, staff fear for their jobs/careers, so I do not for 1 second believe a word Jony or any VP says..

So the culture at Apple is now like most of corporate America?

 

[brianvictor7]

Because anyone with a clear vision that is successful is a pompous ass to some. Those some also have produced lots of successful products too.

I noticed a lot of the Ive hate started with IOS 7 and the new flatter UI. The hate was completely hive mind and irrational IMO. Have you seen someone still using IOS 6? I have, and it's ridiculous.

You make sense to me. Thanks.

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He has the confidence of his convictions. The people who call him pompous aren't really sure about it, because that would make THEM pompous.

That made me laugh. Very true.

 

[Lepton]

Well they did run into that wee bit of problem with their clock face

That wasn't purposeful. They assumed it was a public domain design. And the Swiss said it was flattering. And Apple said it was very sorry and then paid $12 million to license the design. Compare that to the blatant ripoffs Ive is talking about.

 

[jrswizzle]

I'd rather have a thicker, non-wobbly device with a bigger battery. Are you really saying the iPhone 5S wasn't thin enough?

Then slap a battery case on it and stop whining.

Yes - there are those of us who want thinner devices. Especially as the size of the display grows. Thinner and rounded means easier to hold.

They considered far more than anyone here would. Gotta love the armchair designers.

 

[samcraig]

That wasn't purposeful. They assumed it was a public domain design. And the Swiss said it was flattering. And Apple said it was very sorry and then paid $12 million to license the design. Compare that to the blatant ripoffs Ive is talking about.

Relax. It was a joke.