Lucky Number iOS 7: The iPhone gets a whole new look
18 October 2013 ∙ Originally published in The Muse at Dreyfoos
The yearly release of a new iOS operating system has become a first world holiday since the advent of the iPhone in 2007. Every summer, eager fans and even more eager critics await the moment when Apple pridefully announces their newest system to the world more fervently than the birth of the Royal Baby. The baby’s name this year was iOS 7.
Marketed as “the world’s most advanced mobile operating system,” it is clear that Apple is going after the simplicity of Windows phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S4. With a much cleaner and nearly all-white interface, the new layout might come as a shock to fans of the previous systems, who preferred the old bubble-style icons and backgrounds. As a whole, the phone looks less cluttered and more concise, with the lock screen featuring a large digital clock and a full-screen moving background.
All new notification and control centers enable users to control settings such as brightness and volume by swiping up or down on the screen. However, the ability to tweet and update your Facebook status from anywhere on the phone has been removed, making it harder to stay connected to social networks. The camera app has been completely refurbished with new effects, such as the option to take Instagram-ready square pictures, which makes the popular picture-taking app even more useful.
As with every new iOS release, users start out by staring at their phones in complete shock and disbelief, then let their opinions soften as they become accustomed to the layout and functionality. While some people praise the new software’s elegance and clear design, others criticize Apple for chasing after the Windows model and going after an almost childish design. In his review of the system, TechRadar’s Gary Marshall claimed the layout is the main issue.
“Let’s name the elephant in the room: Windows.” Marshall writes. “In some instances iOS 7 reminds us of Windows Vista, especially in apps such as Maps and Videos where the background shows through the interface chrome, and in others it reminds us of Windows Phone in its use of white space and text.” Marshall said.
Whatever opinion you have about iOS7, its undeniable freshness is something that will keep users entertained as they discover each new feature. Love it or hate it, each Apple release is a landmark in modern user-friendly technology. iOS 7 is merely the most recent step in the long trail that the iPhone has made on its walk to smartphone glory.