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Daring Fireball: 'This Is Our Signature': iOS 7

daringfireball.net

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Re: Daring Fireball: 'This Is Our Signature': iOS 7

#11

Post by jwilliams »

j0ev wrote: post #6
jwilliams wrote: post #3

One thing I never understood with Aero -- which has been repeated here -- is the frosted glass effect. I don't see the purpose or how it's useful. You can't see what's behind it. You don't even get an impression. So it's just squinty-visual noise.

I disagree, it gives the gist of what is in the background. You can easily tell if the layer is over the homescreen or Mail or Safari etc. I like the blur effect because it makes it easier to read text than on just say a 80% opaque layer (and I think it looks cool).

That's the thing - you can't see what's behind - take a look at the shot here: http://www.apple.com/ios/ios7/

If you look at control center - the flashlight glows green and the camera red. Why? Because some arbitrary icon that you can't even make out is that color behind it. I find that really odd.

Even if you could actually make out what's behind the layer, I don't see the utility (and I'd argue it's even more distracting).

Re: Daring Fireball: 'This Is Our Signature': iOS 7

#12

Post by collypops »

seanmcdirmid wrote: post #8
collypops wrote: post #4

I may be looking too much into it, but I'll post my thoughts anyway for the sake of discussion... "There is a deep intellectual rigor to the design of iOS 7" ...sounds like he's validating his own intelligence by noticing how intelligent the design is. Only time can validate great design, and it's very early days. It's almost like this article is preparing us for the inevitable(?) "I told you so" moment that we also…

> ..sounds like he's validating his own intelligence by noticing how intelligent the design is. Only time can validate great design, and it's very early days. Sounds like you are just grinding an ax because use of the word "intellectual" to you seems way too egotistical? Well, they could have validated the design via lots of user testing; they could have done A/B testing on multiple great designs (not just the chosen…

Of course they could validate the product to the best of their ability through user testing. I'm not disputing that. I'm sure they validated the iPhone 4's exterior antenna before it launched too. There's just so much you can't discover about a product until it's released into the wild.

I was wary of posting my comment because it comes off as ax grinding, which is why I prefaced it the way I did. I'm genuinely interested to see if anyone shares my opinion, or if I'm nuts. I can accept either outcome.

Re: Daring Fireball: 'This Is Our Signature': iOS 7

#14

Post by anondesign »

Ugh. I am usually a DF fan, but this article is riddled with worthlessness:

"The design of iOS 7 is based on rules."

iOS 6's design certainly was not inferior due to lack of rules

"a Z-axis of layers organized in a logical way"

That's the basis of every UI.

[/rant]

Anyways, here is a summary of the article, for those not interested in digging meaning out of it:

1. Blurred transparent layers are cool and useful (Ubuntu has known this for years now).

2. Apple is finally making software whose elegance and design captures the essence of their hardware design (yay!). You get that same "just works" feeling (like sliding shut a heavy, mechanical dead bolt with no resistance).

[/summary]

Here's my review of Apple's iOS6 UI, if anyone is interested (note: I have used and loved Apple products my entire life):

1. Finally catching up to the flat UI trend. +1

2. LINKS instead of navigation buttons? I'm not a fan, but okay, as long as the "tappable" area is the same.

3. LINK instead of [SEND] button in Messages? Why?

4. Safari's icon is so ugly

5. Mail's icon is so ugly. Wtf!

6. The "Control Center" screenshot looks hideous on that backdrop, darken the background of your modals!

7. wtf@the default homescreen background! I don't even remember what that trend is called.. bokeh? bokah? Hang on one sec, gotta take this, the early 2000s are calling.

8. LOVE the look of the new bottom bars

9. LOVE the switch to helvetica neue with a skinny font weight

10. hate the buttons in safari, why are they so huge and freaky

11. Mail looks awesome, as does Weather and Messages

12. Weather needs a bit more contrast

13. LOVE safari's new address bar

But overall good job apple, it's a huge step to take and looks like the first iteration will go well.

[/review]

Re: Daring Fireball: 'This Is Our Signature': iOS 7

#16

Post by seanmcdirmid »

collypops wrote: post #12
seanmcdirmid wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> ..sounds like he's validating his own intelligence by noticing how intelligent the design is. Only time can validate great design, and it's very early days. Sounds like you are just grinding an ax because use of the word "intellectual" to you seems way too egotistical? Well, they could have validated the design via lots of user testing; they could have done A/B testing on multiple great designs (not just the chosen…

Of course they could validate the product to the best of their ability through user testing. I'm not disputing that. I'm sure they validated the iPhone 4's exterior antenna before it launched too. There's just so much you can't discover about a product until it's released into the wild. I was wary of posting my comment because it comes off as ax grinding, which is why I prefaced it the way I did. I'm genuinely intere…

Fair enough. Writing is actually kind of hard, and we should have some leeway in word choice and in forming our narratives without being constantly accused of egoism.

My wife is a designer, and her job involves lots of rigor even if her role is classified as creative (10% creativity, 90% perspiration!). I'm willing to give a pass to anyone who says a professional design involved "deep intellectual rigor" even if the design has yet to be evaluated by the marketplace.

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