The future of iOS

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chris_meier

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Interesting article by a developer on what he sees/hopes to see for iOS

iOS 6 was not a significant update for new end-user features. It brought a new Maps application, updated Siri with new capabilities, and added Passbook—significant updates, but not nearly on the scale of past updates. It’s easy to read this as a sign that iOS has matured, and Apple is simply polishing it as-is without changing much. I think that’s dead wrong.
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Speculating on what his own app could do based on a small behaviour change in Mail in iOS 6, he writes

For example, Basil could declare that it handles web URLs. Then, I could build the recipe saving feature of Basil as a mini application (stored in Basil) that users can use from any other application that deals with the web. If someone who uses Basil is browsing recipe websites in Safari, they could tap a “Basil” icon in the action sheet, and my mini application would pop up, save the recipe to Basil and get out of the way—all without the user ever leaving Safari. The same could be true for Reeder (save recipes from cooking websites you subscribe to while browsing your feeds), Twitter applications, or anything else—and those developers wouldn’t have to know that Basil even exists. If their application declares that it works with web URLs and Basil declares it can handle them, users will get the functionality without any special work between me and the other developer.
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And his conclusion

I want to note that while it does appear likely that Apple is building remote view controllers, my second idea—remote services along with a Siri API—is entirely speculation. I have no idea if that’s what Apple is planning. What I want to show, though, is that iOS is far from maturity. Whatever Apple decides on, we could see dramatic changes to iOS as we know it in the next few years.
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iOS needs a overhaul it feels dated when compared with rivals.A widget screen will be nice addition like how we have in our macs
 
I don't know if I would want widgets floating around on the home screen. The icons are functional as is. Perhaps however if you had widgets in the notification centre. Instead of stocks it could show your twitter feed for example. That would be great. Also allowing shortcuts from notifications, so putting a wifi and bluetooth toggle there. Quick an easy access. Would also be nice to see some new transitions and animations. Work something out with the dock for example. It looks pretty dated as is at the moment. One of the things everyone loves about a mac is the magnifying effect when you scroll over a icon in your dock. Find a way to make something similar. iOS is already pretty good at working out where your finger touched versus where you wanted it to touch, perhaps making the icons on the edge of the dock smaller and slightly angled away and when you touch them the pivot and enlarge before opening. Add some excitement into using it.
 
MrMocs said:
iOS needs a overhaul it feels dated when compared with rivals.A widget screen will be nice addition like how we have in our macs
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We do? :confused:

Oh - are you talking about Dashboard? In the seven years since it came out I've probably launched it a dozen times and those were generally by accident.
 
iOS 6 was not a significant update for new end-user features. It integrated a new Maps application (although it seems not to be pefect), updated Siri with new capabilities, and added Passbook.
If applications could work together, this would make iOS a much more powerful system. But it could be even better.
 
Jonny Ives is now in charge of iOS look and feel and he already stated that he will get rid of all the faux stuff in iOS and flatten the OS. So at least we know the GUI (look and feel) WILL change, probably in iOS 7. Sounds like Windows 8 ... :(
 
Flat and square (90° corners) are so not cool but MS thinks it is so we get fugly WinRT's Modern UI. I hope this is not what Ives has in mind for iOS. I will not survive such a design disaster at Apple too.
 
I just upgraded my iPhone 4 to 6.01 with a tethered jailbreak and I'm very impressed with the firmware. It seems a lot quicker and smoother than 5.1.1 and there some very handy new features.

Having said that my iPhone 4s is still on 5.1.1 untethered jailbreak with all the benefits that come with that like custom themes and iWidget.

Apple needs to strike a balance between efficiency and bling in order to bring iOS to 2012.

Something as simple as a few custom icon packs and a few widgets would go a long way.

[video=youtube;ww0Wn4yRmVA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww0Wn4yRmVA[/video]
 
And a concept video....

[video=youtube;yjt6YpgPelM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjt6YpgPelM[/video]
 
Quasar is a jailbreakers interpretation of multitasking and although only applicable to the iPad, I see this feature as a bit of a game changer if Apple were able to incorporate it into iOS.

This app is buggy as hell and comes with a hefty $10 price tag but it brings a level of functionality to the iPad that takes it to a different dimension.

[video=youtube;PwZkq37tovk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwZkq37tovk[/video]
 
The lack of skeuomorphism is at the heart of my hatred of Modern UI where everything is flat "iconish". Now Ives will take iOS there too. Ag nee hel pêl. This is not good. I would also not attend Ive's meetings if he wants to make iOS looks like it was designed by Microsoft.
 
That second video by sandman showed me why Apple leans away from widgets. That phone looks cluttered and intimidating. The first one is better, however still looks too much like Android and could make things cluttered. If they put widgets into the notification centre. So instead of getting a Twitter or Facebook notification it comes up into a widget in your notification centre, which you can place on different screens within the notification centre.
 
Guantanamo said:
That second video by sandman showed me why Apple leans away from widgets. That phone looks cluttered and intimidating. The first one is better, however still looks too much like Android and could make things cluttered. If they put widgets into the notification centre. So instead of getting a Twitter or Facebook notification it comes up into a widget in your notification centre, which you can place on different screens within the notification centre.
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But thats the thing about widgets, its as cluttered as YOU want it. For example the only widget I have on my phone is a clock.

jX7wC.jpg


I normally use Swypepad for my default or quick access apps the rest is in my Draw.

I must admit my second phone is a tad more "cluttered" :)

ouisOl.jpg


Note in both I only have 1 page. Not the 3 or 5 that people normally have.
 
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Widgets is cool and the beauty as AJ said is that you can have as many or as few as you like ... but they ARE available, and not being witheld because someone else doesn't like it.
 
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