IOS 7 design - advantages, disadvantages, and a complete failure

There is no doubt, iOS 7 has gripped the world - it is already installed on 250 million devices. However, the debate about whether it is better than its predecessor "six" or worse - do not stop. The site webdesignshock.com conducted his comparison of the two operating systems and found out - what has changed for the better, that - for the worse, and that was all terrible.

iOS 6: skeuomorph conquers the world

A characteristic feature of iOS 6 was skeuomorph. Steve Jobs has always wanted a realistic and easy-to-use design for each device that was created with him. When cell phones became available to everyone, flat design was the rule. However, Jobs has violated this rule by offering people an interface that looks like a real three-dimensional and that it irresistibly want to touch. And it is so pleasant to buyers that skeuomorph became the main focus in the design of the next 5 years, and iOS 6 - its symbol.

iOS 7: New plane

In the case of iOS 7, we do not see such a revolution. We see only a company that has decided to pick up rapidly gaining momentum trend. However, Apple has a certain reputation, and can not simply "borrow" flat design, not add something unique. "Seven" with all its outward "plane" is trying to keep some realistic features, such as using animations (such as "live" wallpaper).

When you type on the keyboard appear subtle shadows. This is contrary to the principles of a flat design, and the use of shadows on such obvious functional elements like the keyboard may seem useless. However, it differs from the other seven flat operating system and it is a fact.

What was the best?

Specifically, the new OS looks much smoother and more uniform throughout. We can see how the background is combined with typography and icons like a single unit. It's not like those scattered "blocks" of information that was in iOS 6.

Also, the allocation of a smaller area for each element allows the use of large fonts and positioning of these elements so that it feels as if the iPhone screen has become larger.

Another example of the excellent implementation of the simplified design - Compass application. All its elements are preserved, becoming flat, but it had no effect on the functionality and ease of use. All in their places, the interface does not look overloaded and looks perfect.

What was worse?

Most of it is due to design flaws heterogeneity and uncertainty of style. iOS 7 is not until the end of the flat and uses transparent effects, which undoubtedly leads to some problems. Take a look at the dock (dock) at the bottom of the home screen. He moved here from the sixth iOS, where he was an elegant glass "shelf" and became a rectangular container of unknown purpose, for some reason, out of the general picture.

Or, for example, an application with which we make calls. Icons "Add to Contacts" and "Undo" significantly decreased and "stuck" input line number, while in iOS 6, they were much more logical and is conveniently located on the sides of the call button.

What was the worst?

In a sense, the failure - the stage in the product life cycle needed to improve its quality. This failure occurred with applications Game Center and Kiosk. Game Center looks like it has created a team of designers, which is in complete isolation from the rest, worked on the Group of Seven. Here we see a truly monstrous mixture of minimalist design and a flat skeuomorph that does not belong to any of these destinations. Username, profile icon, status, glasses - all this looks as if it was created the night before the deadline. And these bubbles? Of course, they are quite cute, but where in the flat operating system volume bubbles superimposed on each other in several layers? And finally, what you need on one screen are two icons for the same action?

With regard to the kiosk application that appeared in iOS 6 and due to shadows and wooden textures looked like a neat bookshelf, he did not even need to turn on the full screen. In iOS 7 it became a full-screen and no longer even slightly resemble a bookshelf. Instead, the logs look like stickers on the white blackboard. Nevertheless, we can see the gradient - "hello" from skeuomorph. Unfortunately, it is extremely inappropriate.

In conclusion, it is worth adding that iOS 7 - new operating system, and therefore is only the beginning of his journey. Imagine how it will change in the future - it is impossible, as the industry is constantly in development and changing incredibly fast. One thing is certain: only time will tell whether it was a massive update error or step on the step above.

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Do you agree with the author of the article and what else you could be attributed to the advantages and disadvantages of iOS7? Share your opinion in the comments that they would like to see in the OS you personally and what, in your opinion, it would be necessary to get rid of?

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