Three causes iOS 19 redesign could possibly be larger than iOS 7

I began utilizing OS X full-time after I was 18 and the Mac was 25. Booting up my first Apple laptop, a 2009 MacBook Professional operating OS X 10.5 Leopard, was like getting behind the wheel of a Porsche for the primary time after being raised on pedestrian PCs.

Now it’s the iPhone and its software program which are 18. In Macintosh phrases, the iPhone and iOS are within the iMac G4 “iLamp” operating OS X 10.2 Jaguar period — maturing merchandise and platforms that also have room to develop up.

For that reason, I’m nonetheless one to welcome adjustments to the best way issues look with open arms. ‘It appears to be like totally different’ is a good characteristic if the best way it appears to be like is cool. “Does it look cooler” is a special query than “does it look higher.” The previous has extra to do with tendencies whereas the latter is a matter of longevity.

If a change might be each trendy and sensible such that it may well final for years, then that’s a design change success. iOS 7 was too polarizing and required too many iterations earlier than reaching stability to actually hit that mark. iOS 19 has the potential to fulfill each metrics. It is also a much bigger deal than iOS 7 for 3 causes.

Apple’s iOS 7 design reset in 2013 was largely fueled by a personnel change. Steve Jobs had a larger-than-life presence that balanced variations between Scott Forstall and Jony Ive. After Jobs died, Tim Cook dinner acknowledged an imbalance that brought about the brand new CEO to fireplace Forstall, elevate Craig Federighi, and provides software program design to Jony.

The employees change that led to an redesign performed out in a matter of months. Earlier than 9to5Mac revealed the breadth of change in iOS 7, folks fairly predicted that we wouldn’t see a lot of a departure from iOS 6. Apple revealed its press launch titled “Apple Declares Adjustments to Enhance Collaboration Throughout {Hardware}, Software program & Providers” on October 29, 2012. In simply 224 days, iOS 7 was unveiled.

Within the years since, Apple has regularly constructed upon the wireframe design basis set by iOS 7. The unique iPhone software program by way of iOS 6 appears to be like like a online game as we speak whereas some elements of iOS 18 are nearly unchanged from iOS 7 — icons included.

First, the circumstances of the iOS 19 redesign are fairly totally different. There isn’t any main personnel change between polar personalities to expedite a brand new design. As a substitute, the principal designers of iOS 19 have been in place for years, contemplating the longer term path of Apple’s software program design. This could lead to a extra considerate look that doesn’t want as a lot correction as early iOS 7 builds.

Second, the redesign might go deeper than how issues look. This Slate piece from Farhad Manjoo argued on the time that as totally different as iOS 7 regarded, the iPhone software program principally labored the identical. That was a characteristic, not a bug. 4 years later, the best way issues labored modified with the software program operating on the iPhone X. If iOS 19 is each a software program design and interplay mannequin change, it is going to arguably be larger than iOS 7.

Third, iOS 19 will run on upgraded {hardware} that additionally appears to be like new. iOS 7 regarded dramatically totally different, however it was tied to the iPhone 5s that regarded almost similar to the iPhone 5 (which was re-cased because the iPhone 5c). iOS 19 will probably be tied partly to the rumored iPhone 17 Air. The extremely skinny design would look futuristic even when it ran iOS 18.

iOS 19 can be a redesign that ought to make issues for a brand new type issue: a foldable iPhone. The iOS 7 design was extra adaptable and fewer pixel excellent, serving to builders adapt apps for bigger shows the next yr. iOS is already resizable at this level, however iOS 19 and iOS 20 may have to organize the best way for a model of the OS that adapts to altering type components.

No matter Apple has in retailer for us, we’ll quickly be taught as WWDC is formally set for June 9, 2025.