What I never understood about iOS 7 haters

[.X.]

There are two kinds of people - those who prefer a stunningly good looking, fully functional OS like iOS6, and those who prefer a OS that is perceived as "modern", whatever that means at that particular time.

Apparentely the Microsoft look with flat ugly wireframes and white empty space and UI elements that sometimes are difficult to differentiate is "modern", for the time being.

Luckily, the horrible flatness will soon be perceived as "dated" by the very same people who praise it today.

Its a bit sad though - while it was expected that Apple would struggle a bit after the demise of Steve Jobs, I didn't expect them to screw up this bad this fast.

 

[sunking101]

There are two kinds of people - those who prefer a stunningly good looking, fully functional OS like iOS6, and those who prefer a OS that is perceived as "modern", whatever that means at that particular time.

Apparentely the Microsoft look with flat ugly wireframes and white empty space and UI elements that sometimes are difficult to differentiate is "modern", for the time being.

Luckily, the horrible flatness will soon be perceived as "dated" by the very same people who praise it today.

Its a bit sad though - while it was expected that Apple would struggle a bit after the demise of Steve Jobs, I didn't expect them to screw up this bad this fast.

I agree with your last paragraph. iOS7, however 'fantastic' it may look, has been a bag of bugs and is distinctly non-Apple in performance.

 

[Sound214]

There are two kinds of people - those who prefer a stunningly good looking, fully functional OS like iOS6, and those who prefer a OS that is perceived as "modern", whatever that means at that particular time.

Actually, I believe to iOS 7 to be - not modern, but - timeless, whereas skeuomorphic design found in iOS 6 and below aren't. I don't really get what you mean by "fully functional"? iOS 7 is perhaps a lot more buggy, but that's obviously not their intention, and it will most certainly change in the future. A horse and buggy is also, still, fully functional, although made obsolete by the car.

Like it or not, the aesthetic changes in iOS 7 makes sense. When the iPhone first arrived in 2007, it was so new, that the otherwise steep learning curve was given a steep start with the use of skeuomorphic design. Six years later, people knew how to use a smartphone; there was no longer a need of being redundant with skeuomorphim.

 

[C DM]

Actually, I believe to iOS 7 to be - not modern, but - timeless, whereas skeuomorphic design found in iOS 6 and below aren't. I don't really get what you mean by "fully functional"? iOS 7 is perhaps a lot more buggy, but that's obviously not their intention, and it will most certainly change in the future. A horse and buggy is also, still, fully functional, although made obsolete by the car.

Like it or not, the aesthetic changes in iOS 7 makes sense. When the iPhone first arrived in 2007, it was so new, that the otherwise steep learning curve was given a steep start with the use of skeuomorphic design. Six years later, people knew how to use a smartphone; there was no longer a need of being redundant with skeuomorphim.

As someone I believe mentioned the whole thing with setting time for alarms or timers where they still try to emulate a roller design without anything that actually identifies it as such beyond making numbers above and below simply appear shaded in a lighter way. That certainly doesn't make much sense in any way you want to look at it. Either find a better design or keep the actual roller look, but don't take away all elements that make it look like a roller while still keeping it working like a roller and in the process just make it look like a bunch of numbers on the screen without much feel for them.

 

[CutterSlade]

Either find a better design or keep the actual roller look, but don't take away all elements that make it look like a roller while still keeping it working like a roller and in the process just make it look like a bunch of numbers on the screen without much feel for them.

They did the same mistake in the new version of iBooks. They removed the book appearance but page turn animation is still there.

 

[MacDevil7334]

Like it or not, the aesthetic changes in iOS 7 makes sense. When the iPhone first arrived in 2007, it was so new, that the otherwise steep learning curve was given a steep start with the use of skeuomorphic design. Six years later, people knew how to use a smartphone; there was no longer a need of being redundant with skeuomorphim.

How exactly does removing all the borders around buttons make sense? UI elements can be identified in four ways: color, shape, texture, and text. The more of these traits are utilized, the easier it is to discern the UI at a glance. In iOS 6, buttons had a defined shape and color. They had a bit of texture thanks to the gloss effect, and the button's action was also identified with text. As a result of using all four of these elements, the UI in iOS 6 was pretty easy to discern at a glance. Not so in iOS 7. Now we are left with text and color (though not much of it since the text is rendered in such a thin font). I would also argue that text is the least useful of the traits I mentioned above since it requires the user to read it to figure out what the action does. Even worse, by going to text as the primary UI trait, Apple also made the touch targets smaller! Don't believe me? Set a 4 digit passcode on your device and then try to hit that little delete "button." I bet you miss it at least one out of every three times. I remember when Steve Jobs joked about needing to whittle down your finger tips to use those small Android tablets. Doesn't seem quite so funny now...

What about the Notes app? Are you seriously telling me that Apple's decision to use yellow text on a white background is an improvement? And while we are on the subject, why is there still a paper texture in the app? I thought skeuomorphism was the root of all evil in the universe. Incidentally, I'm betting the reason the text in the Notes app uses that pseudo-3D letterpress effect is because the yellow text would be illegible on the white background without some sort of shadowing to give it some definition.

How about all the cases of low contrast in iOS 7? We have white-on-grey text in the Weather app on a cloudy day, a lock screen clock that is hard to read if you pick the wrong wallpaper, and the yellow-on-white look of the Notes app detailed above just to name a few examples.

I'm not saying iOS 7 is all bad. Control Center, Siri, and Notification Center are all examples of how the UI has improved. But the UI has also taken some definitive steps backward, as evidenced by the points I raised above. Just because something is new doesn't make it automatically good. That's not to say that iOS 7 isn't fixable. But a blanket statement like the one I quoted is pretty hard to support right now.

 

[hungx]

How exactly does removing all the borders around buttons make sense? UI elements can be identified in four ways: color, shape, texture, and text. The more of these traits are utilized, the easier it is to discern the UI at a glance. In iOS 6, buttons had a defined shape and color. They had a bit of texture thanks to the gloss effect, and the button's action was also identified with text. As a result of using all four of these elements, the UI in iOS 6 was pretty easy to discern at a glance. Not so in iOS 7. Now we are left with text and color (though not much of it since the text is rendered in such a thin font). I would also argue that text is the least useful of the traits I mentioned above since it requires the user to read it to figure out what the action does. Even worse, by going to text as the primary UI trait, Apple also made the touch targets smaller! Don't believe me? Set a 4 digit passcode on your device and then try to hit that little delete "button." I bet you miss it at least one out of every three times. I remember when Steve Jobs joked about needing to whittle down your finger tips to use those small Android tablets. Doesn't seem quite so funny now...

What about the Notes app? Are you seriously telling me that Apple's decision to use yellow text on a white background is an improvement? And while we are on the subject, why is there still a paper texture in the app? I thought skeuomorphism was the root of all evil in the universe. Incidentally, I'm betting the reason the text in the Notes app uses that pseudo-3D letterpress effect is because the yellow text would be illegible on the white background without some sort of shadowing to give it some definition.

How about all the cases of low contrast in iOS 7? We have white-on-grey text in the Weather app on a cloudy day, a lock screen clock that is hard to read if you pick the wrong wallpaper, and the yellow-on-white look of the Notes app detailed above just to name a few examples.

I'm not saying iOS 7 is all bad. Control Center, Siri, and Notification Center are all examples of how the UI has improved. But the UI has also taken some definitive steps backward, as evidenced by the points I raised above. Just because something is new doesn't make it automatically good. That's not to say that iOS 7 isn't fixable. But a blanket statement like the one I quoted is pretty hard to support right now.

The new features in iOS 7 are nice, but the UI is horrible. If they had toned down some of the skeuomorphic aspects of iOS 6 (i.e. less reflection) and incorporated transparent layers (i.e. notification center) and other subtle iOS 7 UI elements, this would be the perfect OS. iOS 7 was a poorly thought out OS that seemed as if it was released at the last minute. The fancy animations use up a significant portion of RAM.

Apple shouldn't have released such a radically redesigned OS this time around until most if not all of the bugs are ironed out.

 

[I7guy]

I agree with your last paragraph. iOS7, however 'fantastic' it may look, has been a bag of bugs and is distinctly non-Apple in performance.

I remember bad battery life issues on IOS 6. To say IOS is a bag of bugs, I'm not sure how really widely an opinion it is. I have very few issues with IOS 7 bugs. Most of my apple owning associates say the same. However, with millions of iphones, I'm sure there are weird glitches now and then.

 

[duffman9000]

What do you find "exciting" about it? I don't understand how anyone could think it's exciting. It's all fluffy colored and flat.

Personally I liked the icons that looked more 3d. Same thing with the other buttons. At least you knew they were buttons. There are too many places where the text is clickable but you can't tell because it's just text. And not all text is clickable. So you just have to search for it.

This, this, and more this. Do you want to see a horrible instance where the design team couldn't decide WTH it was doing? Check out the App store:

Blue text is special here since it is clickable. The black "Featured" text is not.
Apple then makes it super obvious that "Redeem" and "Send Gift" are buttons. But these seem out of place since the text right above these buttons is clickable.
Furthermore, the "Terms and Conditions" is a hyper link. Is this supposed to be obvious because ">" is used? So when ">" is used in menu bars it will mean "go to next" screen, but when it's in the body of the app, it means hyperlink?

For people who say turn on button shapes: that is the ugliest feature I've ever seen.

 

[Paddle1]

This, this, and more this. Do you want to see a horrible instance where the design team couldn't decide WTH it was doing? Check out the App store:
Image

Blue text is special here since it is clickable. The black "Featured" text is not.
Apple then makes it super obvious that "Redeem" and "Send Gift" are buttons. But these seem out of place since the text right above these buttons is clickable.
Furthermore, the "Terms and Conditions" is a hyper link. Is this supposed to be obvious because ">" is used? So when ">" is used in menu bars it will mean "go to next" screen, but when it's in the body of the app, it means hyperlink?

For people who say turn on button shapes: that is the ugliest feature I've ever seen.

But ">" is not used in menu bars. Unless you mean in menus.

 

[duffman9000]

But ">" is not used in menu bars. Unless you mean in menus.

Yes, you're right. In Menus, not menu bars*. Sometimes it means hyperlink. Sometimes it means "next-window". In the App Store, "See All >" is also used. What's the difference between the blue "App Collections", black "See All >", and black "Terms and Conditions >" texts? Nothing, I believe. It's as if Apple couldn't decide which button-replacement to use.

But it depends on what defines a menu bar. The Music app has "Now Playing >". Is that a menu or menu bar?

 

[deluxeshredder]

Apparentely the Microsoft look with flat ugly wireframes and white empty space and UI elements that sometimes are difficult to differentiate is "modern", for the time being.

Such "minimalistic" trends have only one reason to exist - to push the lack of design as "new" design.

 

[Paddle1]

Yes, you're right. In Menus, not menu bars*. Sometimes it means hyperlink. Sometimes it means "next-window". In the App Store, "See All >" is also used. What's the difference between the blue "App Collections", black "See All >", and black "Terms and Conditions >" texts? Nothing, I believe. It's as if Apple couldn't decide which button-replacement to use.

But it depends on what defines a menu bar. The Music app has "Now Playing >". Is that a menu or menu bar?

Now Playing > is on a menu bar I suppose.

 

[LOLZpersonok]

I honestly think that the sole reason of people disliking iOS 7 is due to its design. The same can be said for Windows 8, because it features a new design. There's nothing wrong with either OS, they are just different from previous versions.

Personally, I'm alright with iOS 7. Some of the new features are very welcome, such as folders having more space and the new Control Centre. I'm not 100% for the design, but then again I don't use anything simply for its appearance.

 

[sunking101]

I honestly think that the sole reason of people disliking iOS 7 is due to its design. The same can be said for Windows 8, because it features a new design. There's nothing wrong with either OS, they are just different from previous versions.

Personally, I'm alright with iOS 7. Some of the new features are very welcome, such as folders having more space and the new Control Centre. I'm not 100% for the design, but then again I don't use anything simply for its appearance.

I hate it because my battery life is 2-3 hours less than it was with iOS6. If performance was equal then I would probably prefer it.

 

[duffman9000]

I honestly think that the sole reason of people disliking iOS 7 is due to its design. The same can be said for Windows 8, because it features a new design. There's nothing wrong with either OS, they are just different from previous versions.

Personally, I'm alright with iOS 7. Some of the new features are very welcome, such as folders having more space and the new Control Centre. I'm not 100% for the design, but then again I don't use anything simply for its appearance.

But some design choices ended up being worse. Like the Music app: if you have many albums under an artist you have to parse through songs to look at all of the albums. It's as if some fool(s) at Apple thought a user would only have 1 album per artist.

In iOS6, clicking on an artist displayed the albums, not the songs.

 

[C DM]

I honestly think that the sole reason of people disliking iOS 7 is due to its design. The same can be said for Windows 8, because it features a new design. There's nothing wrong with either OS, they are just different from previous versions.

Personally, I'm alright with iOS 7. Some of the new features are very welcome, such as folders having more space and the new Control Centre. I'm not 100% for the design, but then again I don't use anything simply for its appearance.

Quite a few people dislike it because of battery issues or performance issues or stability issues that have showed up after they upgraded.

 

[LOLZpersonok]

I hate it because my battery life is 2-3 hours less than it was with iOS6. If performance was equal then I would probably prefer it.

Actually I did notice this when I first upgraded. I did forget to mention that, along with a little "lag" after some animations play out, where you can't do anything for about a second after an animation in the UI plays out.

 

[aidenh37]

I didn't like iOS 7 at first, but then I actually used it for a bit and adjusted. It is truly better than iOS 6, that's for sure.

 

[Paddle1]

I honestly think that the sole reason of people disliking iOS 7 is due to its design. The same can be said for Windows 8, because it features a new design. There's nothing wrong with either OS, they are just different from previous versions.

Personally, I'm alright with iOS 7. Some of the new features are very welcome, such as folders having more space and the new Control Centre. I'm not 100% for the design, but then again I don't use anything simply for its appearance.

No, Windows 8 is "ugly" because it is an unfinished mix of Windows 7 Aero design and Windows 8 Metro mixed together, it is also functionally much more frustrating to use because of the way there was no start button/menu, and the touch interface is forced on users, the only nice thing about it is that it isn't really buggy. It is tolerable to use but feels unfinished.

iOS 7's design is simple and will get stale more quickly than the original. iOS 7 also has usability issues and uses too many resources, plus it is often buggy. iOS 7 has potential, but we have to wait and see if Apple will use it.

 

[LOLZpersonok]

No, Windows 8 is "ugly" because it is an unfinished mix of Windows 7 Aero design and Windows 8 Metro mixed together, it is also functionally much more frustrating to use because of the way there was no start button/menu, and the touch interface is forced on users, the only nice thing about it is that it isn't really buggy. It is tolerable to use but feels unfinished.

iOS 7's design is simple and will get stale more quickly than the original. iOS 7 also has usability issues and uses too many resources, plus it is often buggy. iOS 7 has potential, but we have to wait and see if Apple will use it.

Just note that Windows 8.1 does fix many of these "problems" that you mentioned. By default, if you don't have a touchscreen it boots directly to the desktop. And, even Metro apps are still easy to use with a keyboard and mouse.

And, as for appearance, it is merely a matter of opinion. I don't care for its design either.

 

[byke]

skeuomorphic design is apparently really cheesy according to one designer.
But gif style animations are hot.

/Sarcasm

 

[TechGod]

I guess you also love the constant tab refreshing, more aggressive background app killing and many more. Seriously, I cannot even pause a video now, because if I pause a video exit out, check something online, then the YouTube app or whatever video app will refresh itself. I have to reload the entire god damn video again.

That's a RAM issue because Apple is either too stupid to add more RAM or since RAM uses power, adding more RAM could destroy the battery and since the battery on the iPhones are so small anyways Apple figured not to do it.

I sincerely hope the 4.7" iPhone happens so they can actually add decent battery. So many idiots here(sorry) seem to think Apple can magically add a 3000Mah battery or magically boost the battery life without seriously making it bigger.


-Someone that likes iOS 7 on his iPad 2 btw.

----------

No, Windows 8 is "ugly" because it is an unfinished mix of Windows 7 Aero design and Windows 8 Metro mixed together, it is also functionally much more frustrating to use because of the way there was no start button/menu, and the touch interface is forced on users, the only nice thing about it is that it isn't really buggy. It is tolerable to use but feels unfinished.

iOS 7's design is simple and will get stale more quickly than the original. iOS 7 also has usability issues and uses too many resources, plus it is often buggy. iOS 7 has potential, but we have to wait and see if Apple will use it.

Obviously it's been redesigned basically ground up, I would give it a few versions before judging. Besides iOS 7 is more resource intensive simply because the iPhones are under specced in terms of battery and RAM(display too, but thats my opinion)

 

[abshole765]

I honestly think that the sole reason of people disliking iOS 7 is due to its design. The same can be said for Windows 8, because it features a new design. There's nothing wrong with either OS, they are just different from previous versions.

Personally, I'm alright with iOS 7. Some of the new features are very welcome, such as folders having more space and the new Control Centre. I'm not 100% for the design, but then again I don't use anything simply for its appearance.

Only thing I like about 7 is Control Center.

The lack of navigation in the notes app, all of the white wasted space, the terrible music application, the keyboard & its autocorrect (or lack of), the general terms used for weather while in Notification Center (what does '15 mph winds out of the southwest.' tell me? Nothing). Not even being able to set a photo as a wallpaper that I took without it zooming in. It all makes for a bad experience going from something that 'just works' to 'just work, just maybe not how you expected'.

 

[jonnyb098]

There are two kinds of people - those who prefer a stunningly good looking, fully functional OS like iOS6, and those who prefer a OS that is perceived as "modern", whatever that means at that particular time.

Apparentely the Microsoft look with flat ugly wireframes and white empty space and UI elements that sometimes are difficult to differentiate is "modern", for the time being.

Luckily, the horrible flatness will soon be perceived as "dated" by the very same people who praise it today.

Its a bit sad though - while it was expected that Apple would struggle a bit after the demise of Steve Jobs, I didn't expect them to screw up this bad this fast.

Swipe gesture and control center. Those two features alone make iOS 7 much more functional.

Yes there are some annoying bugs from time to time but that's to be expected of a complete overhaul. Remember OSX 10.0???? iOS 8 will no doubt refine things even further.

Overall iOS 7 , love it or hate it, it's much more alive and interactive feeling than iOS 6 which now feels lifeless and old style.