The Layers Of Apple

The linen layers of iOS has driven me crazy for years. There always seemed to be dark linen under the main interface. Then the came out with notification center that pulls dark linen down over the top of the interface. Our iPhones were in a linen sandwich and I never understood it. Now iOS 7 is all about layers. Hopefully it is handled in a more consistent manner this time around.

“The old design of iOS 6 took advantage of that lack of limits, to its detriment. In iOS 6, you open a folder on the home screen, and linen is something you see underneath. You pull down Notification Center, and linen is something you see over. It’s both over and under. Hardware doesn’t work like that, but software can, because software can show you anything, conceptual logic be damned.”

➔ Daring Fireball: ‘This Is Our Signature’: iOS 7

Fertile Ground

There is a transitionary period coming that could mix up the app hierarchy. I’m sure most devs will do all they can to get synced up to iOS 7. If adoption is as quick as iOS 6 it shouldn’t be much of a problem.

I don’t think most developers of mature, non-trivial apps are going to have an easy time migrating them well to iOS 7. Even if they overcome the technical barriers, the resulting apps just won’t look and feel right. They won’t fool anyone.

Viticci on iOS 7

Frederico has a thorough post over at Macstories on his impressions of iOS 7. Similarly, I was not sure how to react to the aesthetic changes in iOS 7. I am excited to use it, but I’m afraid it will be a little annoying to look at. But, like Viticci, I need to remember that the paint job is less important than what is under the hood.

And that is, I believe, why Apple said that iOS 7 isn’t simply change, it’s a new beginning. It’s not an understatement: iOS 7 is not about the icons, labels as buttons, translucency, questionable Lock screen gestures, or a new Spotlight as design choices taken individually – it’s about a single, precise idea: to make iOS simpler and more enjoyable, but at the same time more useful. Control Center, multitasking APIs and background refresh, the new Calendar and Safari, AirDrop and Siri, iBeacons and Sprite Kit for developers – these are all features aimed at making iOS simultaneously familiar and future-proof.

➔ iOS 7: Thoughts and Questions | MacStories » wwdc 2013

Frank Chimero × Blog × Generosity of Perspective

Good point.

Luckily, things like icons, colors, and typography are easier to iterate than userflows, information architecture, and features. They’re also the elements that take more time than expected to craft, so I can see all of these refinements being the most likely to be cut from a tight deadline, and the first up to be revisited by the design team before the official release, or quickly thereafter. If that awful Safari icon bugs you, imagine how the designers at Apple must feel.

Fixing The iOS 7 Icons

The new iOS icons are ugly for sure. His are better, but I am still not sold. I’m sure Apple will release a few different icon packs. They are all about giving their customers options.

The icons in the new iOS 7 are just a mess. My first impression when seeing them before the keynote, was that this couldn’t possibly be what they looked like. But when they presented iOS7 on the stage, I was flabbergasted by … well, I’m sorry … but they are ugly.

Search for a Google Reader Replacement

A few days ago I found Newsblur and thought it would suffice as a Google Reader replacement if nothing else came along. Today I have moved onto feedly as the most likely candidate for my rss reading enjoyment.

Feedly announced they are working with third party apps, namely Reeder for iPhone and iPad. Reeder is an excellent RSS reading app and Feedly looks to be a competent back-end with a nice web interface.

When I heard Google Reader was shutting down I was pretty bummed. I figured I’d find something that was okay, but not as good. While it is way too early to evaluate what Feedly will deliver, I think for the first time that it might be an improvement.

Best part is they will have everything ready to go before July 1 when Google shuts down reader.

➔ feedly: your news. delivered.

Byword gets an update

My favorite “minimal iOS text editor” got an update this morning. They’ve updated the interface a little bit, added the ability to save offline, and even gave you the ability to change font and text size. I never thought I would see that last one. They are all welcome updates.

The biggest update for me is a premium feature that they’ve added as an in-app purchase. For $4.99 you can unlock the ability to post your text directly to Blogger, Wordpress, or Tumblr sites. I haven’t tried it out yet, but I am excited for a way to easily post to my blog using markdown from my iPhone and iPad.

The implementation looks very basic for now, but it also looks simple. If it works well it is going to be an excellent feature. It definitely further elevates Byword above the sea of text editors for iOS.

➔ Byword • Simple and efficient text editor for Mac, iPhone and iPad.

The NewsBlur iPad & iPhone App

Since the death of Google Reader was announced a couple months ago I have been on the lookout for a replacement. I was hoping the Mr. Reader app would announce something soon, but I have t heard anything yet.

There was a lot of buzz last week about Newsblur, so I tried it out yesterday. Initially the format for reading was so different then what I was used to and I didn’t like it. After a while it started growing on me, but I really wish you could view the articles in a full screen mode instead of always having the split panes.

I’m glad I found something viable, but I am still hoping for something better.