Some design elements of iOS7 UI a unified contradiction

[Armen]

I've installed iOS 7 GM today and been very happy and impressed so far. However I'm starting to notice extremely annoying elements of the one minded minimalist approach that Jony Ive has produced.

In fact in design terms these ideas aren't progressive at all. They are a regressive approach in fact and make no sense.

One example is the dial pad, something that's at the heart of the iPHONE (a PHONE primarily). In all previous versions of iOS, when you made a mistake dialing a number, the delete button was not only accessible in terms of positioning on the UI but also big enough to be easily pressed and noticeable.

This takes a step backwards in iOS 7 where now it's so small and out of the way that it makes it a nuisance to use.

Another example is the extreme minimization of other UI elements such as the delete button in the camera/phone app. I don't have giant hands by any means but I found that it's so close to the edge of the corner and has been smooshed as much as possible that it makes misclicks quite common.

It's very strange to me that Jony Ive comes out as this knight in shining armor in his genius design re imagining of iOS yet fails to hit the mark on the small details.

If you look up a business on Yelp, Maps or Safari you will most likely find a phone number hyperlink to call. People you call often would be in your contact book. Who manually dials numbers these days?

The delete button only shows up when you actually enter a digit. When else would you be looking for it? makes perfect sense to hide the element when it is not needed.

 

[KALLT]

They haven't re-invented the wheel... The core remains the same...

Of course the core is still the same, but that's not what I meant. Just compare the keypad, passcode and simlock screens in iOS 7. They all have different designs and UI elements are arranged in another way. In iOS 6 this was was consistent; it was always the same arrangement. I think UI consistency is important, because it makes it easier for users to use every app without any problems and reduces the need to learn each app's peculiarities. The music app is not even consistent within itself: each tab has a different arrangement, different options (e.g. shuffle). It causes confusion, and it's not necessary. iOS 6 was better at this, and I don't understand why Apple had to change it. It brings problems and, dare I say it, complexity where there was none before. Hence, reinventing the wheel.

 

[ErikGrim]

You really think the iPhone is primarily a PHONE?

Here, maybe you need one of these instead:

 

[darngooddesign]

If you look up a business on Yelp, Maps or Safari you will most likely find a phone number hyperlink to call. People you call often would be in your contact book. Who manually dials numbers these days?

People who are using a computer and then want to make a call. Should we then have to go to yelp to get company info before we dial?

 

[ethanlee]

You really think the iPhone is primarily a PHONE?

Here, maybe you need one of these instead:

So? Just because I use my iPhone more for other things doesn't mean that I don't expect the telephony app to have seemingly misplaced elements.

Form follows function. Apple seems to have lost that somewhere on the way, partly blinded by de-Forstallizing everything.

 

[Spacial]

The controversy, if any, is what apple thrives on.

 

[Armen]

People who are using a computer and then want to make a call. Should we then have to go to yelp to get company info before we dial?

I'm not quite sure I follow. Are you suggesting they look something up on their computer and want to dial that number on their phone manually? If so, that's just fine. The Delete key the OP is complaining about appears where it should as soon as 1 digit is entered.

 

[darngooddesign]

I'm not quite sure I follow. Are you suggesting they look something up on their computer and want to dial that number on their phone manually? If so, that's just fine. The Delete key the OP is complaining about appears where it should as soon as 1 digit is entered.

If its just fine then why did you say, "Who manually dials numbers these days?"

 

[scottytwo]

the UI is not consistent across apps. music player for instance, didn't really have to change, maybe button design, include the transparency Yes!!!! .. but the white backround on 2/3 on native apps? no care to the detail there, and it shows.... just gahhhhhhh! bloody hate it!

 

[jtfolden]

Just to be clear, Ive didn't sit down and choose where to place specific elements on the screen. He's not a user interface expert. As far as I understand, he was simply a spiritual guide as to the overall look and minimalism of the UI.

I'm not sure Steve Jobs was a UI expert either but he certainly paid attention to every detail... and I certainly think Ive had the power to OK what others under him were doing.

 

[Carlanga]

agree