Apple’s next-generation mobile operating system iOS 7 will be much ‘flatter’ than previous iterations, according to reports on Monday evening.
9to5Mac claims to have spoken with Apple sources familiar with the OS who say a lot of the sheen, gloss and life-like elements will disappear from the software when it is launched at WWDC in June.
In fact, it’ll be so flat that it will resemble Microsoft’s Windows Phone Live Tiles user interface, those familiar with the software have said.
The sources told 9to5Mac that “the operating system sports a redesigned user-interface that will be attractive to new iOS users, but potentially unsettling for those who are long-accustomed to the platform.”
Gone will be the “heavy textures and digital metaphors of real-life objects found in skeumorphic interfaces,” in apps like Calendar, Reminders and Contacts, the report says, in favour of a more streamed approach.
The report also claims that the company will not sacrifice the usability offered by the current version of the operating system, while ‘fundamentals’ like the lock screen and home screen will look much the same as they do now.
The report also provides insight into Apple’s efforts to make information within iOS 7 more ‘glance-able’. It claimed Apple has considered employing a notifications side panel a la Mac OS X Mountain Lion, which could be accessed via swiping gestures.
If these changes come to fruition, they’ll surely be attributable to Apple’s Senior Vice President of Industrial Design Sir Jonathan Ive, who is now in charge of the Human Interface software teams across the company.
Ive replaced Scott Forstall, who was fired late last year, as the head of iOS late last year and many observers are now expecting big changes following criticism the OS has become dated.
The software is expected to be unveiled at Apple’s WWDC conference in June and will feature in the next generation iPhone and iPad models.
What do you make of these potential changes? Let us know in the comments section below
Via 9to5Mac
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
