iOS7: The Jony Ive Era of Modernization.

Jony Ive wants to ‘modernize’ Apples’ user interface.  If you don’t already know; Jony Ive is the Industrial Designer in Chief who was responsible, in collaboration with Steve Jobs,  for the hardware designs of the iPod, iPad, iPhone and iMacs.

Jony was originally the hardware designer  but Tim Cook advanced Ives’ position to encompass the user interface (home screen and icons) for the new iOS 7. It is set to preview in June and release around September.

They  plan to ‘Flatten’  and simplify Apples’ current bubbly  realistic looking apps. This means that shadows, reflections, gloss, 3D and texturing of Apps and designs will all be thrown away. Think of a flat colored box with an Application logo in the middle. This is what they are rumored to be doing; streamlining the interface. Current applications are digital representations of their real world counter parts like the ‘Notes’ or ‘Calendar’ App. This is called Skeuomorphism, and Jony wants it gone so the interface can be a simplistic stripped down interface. We can see his hardware designs beginning to form now can’t we?

The Windows Apps are similar to what Jony moving towards.

That is not all that Apple is doing with iOS 7; they are also looking into Gesturing and automotive integration.

Gesturing is the idea of swiping your fingers in a specific direction to get to pointed information. With the simplistic design-work being implemented, gesturing may be a great addition for ‘Glance-able’ information.  The idea is that we wouldn’t have to open the mail app to see our new messages.

The Automotive rumor is based on getting Siri and Maps to seamlessly integrate with your driving experience. The idea is to have iPhone ready hook-ups that would allow Apples’ user interface on the vehicle display. If they ever get Maps right, this would be a great utility. You could even interface with Siri hands free, and not have to worry with looking at your phone ever again.

Hardware changes have really modernized and traversed time since the iPhones inception, but the user interface has barely changed at all. Jony Ive has done so well with the hardware designs, that I can trust the new iOS 7 will be cleaner, modern, simplistic and easier to use. The design work of Ive’s has seemingly overshadowed any rumored technical advancements. This is ok though, because design can mean everything sometimes.