iOS 7 First Impressions

[MrX8503]

Ive was put in charge about 7-8 months ago, that's a super short time-line for a complete top-to-bottom rework. I'm sure some of it has been in the works for a while, but maybe not the UI, not to this degree. It comes out in the fall, there's time to fix that sort of thing.

It's still troubling that he put marketing people in charge. On the subject of the icons, anyone notice that there isn't a drop shadow on the icon or icon text? How the heck are you supposed to see your apps on a light wallpaper. *sigh*.

 

[Subyman]

It is obvious that this is a work in progress. I don't understand the massive backlash from some people. I like how they swung to the other extreme when approaching the design. I'm sure as they polish the interface, it will be less jarring for people. I have it on my phone, so I can't legally talk specifics, but the overall design is great in person. Everything is super clean and crisp.

I think they will revisit the buttons, but I hope they don't. I like how an interactive object is relayed by color now instead of looking like a physical button. I may be in the minority, but I like the new icons. Very simple, vibrant, and fresh.

I think they need a dark theme option as some may not like the stark white look.

 

[Subyman]

if you had ios6 on your 4 before, how does it compare as far as the speed of the ios goes? is it a lot laggier than ios6? because ios6 definitely hiccups for me a bit, compared to ios4 that i was on before.

Don't put it on your 4 unless its a spare. Its very sluggish and a lot of the transparencies do not work correctly.

 

[MrX8503]

The design of iOS 7 seems more rough the more I use it. Newsstand icon is a disgrace and buttons in some apps that were near the bottom are now located at the top. Whatever happened to one hand usage?

Launch the dialer app and dial some numbers. The delete button is now in the top right instead of the bottom right. The button is also smaller than 44px. Come on Apple!

 

[TheStu]

It's still troubling that he put marketing people in charge. On the subject of the icons, anyone notice that there isn't a drop shadow on the icon or icon text? How the heck are you supposed to see your apps on a light wallpaper. *sigh*.

The text changes to black. I tested with white, black, light and dark gray. Text was readable.

The real problem is when you start mixing colors and what not. But there are also very subtle drop shadows on text and icons.

But again, there is time until release for them to sort these things out, that's why they get it out there. And this is Jony Ive for crying out loud, you think he doesn't know that it isn't 100% yet?

 

[nickbits]

Newstand can be put in a folder. That's a win.

 

[bearxor]

I was just using the device and saw the new notification drop down from the top. I love it. Much better than the iOS 5/6 notification banner.

 

[Eug]

Newstand can be put in a folder. That's a win.

On my iPhone 4 in iOS 5:

Not jailbroken.

 

[nickbits]

On my iPhone 4 in iOS 5:

Not jailbroken.

Yeah, I used that trick too but it always reverted after a reboot. Maybe that was with ios6 I don't remember.

 

[Tyranicus]

On my iPhone 4 in iOS 5:
Not jailbroken.

You used the move into a folder you're creating trick, right? That worked for me in iOS 5, but I was never able to replicate it in iOS 6. Also, you couldn't actually use Newstand once you put it in a folder. iOS 7 lets you do it like any other app, which is a big plus.

 

[TheStu]

You used the move into a folder you're creating trick, right? That worked for me in iOS 5, but I was never able to replicate it in iOS 6. Also, you couldn't actually use Newstand once you put it in a folder. iOS 7 lets you do it like any other app, which is a big plus.

There was this other method to do it in iOS 6, some sort of desktop app or something.

 

[el-Capitan]

Wonderful! Of course ill use google but are you guys getting the image from torrents or a more official source?

Torrent. The official source requires you to login as a registered developer.

 

[nickbits]

Wonderful! Of course ill use google but are you guys getting the image from torrents or a more official source?

Official source. I am a registered dev and I have a few apps in there--I Love Music, Shopping Lust! and Nightstand Clock.

 

[BuCkDoG]

At first glance, I actually was not a fan at all. I thought it looked real bland and thought some of the icons were just too plain for my taste, but after watching the keynote in depth and actually seeing the screen a bit closer, it actually has multiple upgrades that I will be in favor of. iOS 6 is a pretty solid OS in my opinion, but iOS 7 does add many benefits slacking in iOS 6.

 

[Printer Bandit]

the zoom in / out effect when opening / closing apps is annoying.

 

[fr]

The battery drains more than twice as fast with iOS 7 on my 4S.

 

[TheStu]

At first glance, I actually was not a fan at all. I thought it looked real bland and thought some of the icons were just too plain for my taste, but after watching the keynote in depth and actually seeing the screen a bit closer, it actually has multiple upgrades that I will be in favor of. iOS 6 is a pretty solid OS in my opinion, but iOS 7 does add many benefits slacking in iOS 6.

That's how they get you. Keep adding little incremental changes and features that really make your live better, and then you realize when you run an old version that you can't handle it without them.

The battery drains more than twice as fast with iOS 7 on my 4S.

Try calibrating the battery by letting it run all the way down and then recharging. My friend and I have been having the same issues, he said after calibrating he didn't have as much of an issue. I just calibrated mine today, so I'll check it tomorrow.

But with iTunes Radio, I've been streaming a lot more, so the test may be a little skewed from normal.

 

[RampantAndroid]

The text changes to black. I tested with white, black, light and dark gray. Text was readable.

The real problem is when you start mixing colors and what not. But there are also very subtle drop shadows on text and icons.

But again, there is time until release for them to sort these things out, that's why they get it out there. And this is Jony Ive for crying out loud, you think he doesn't know that it isn't 100% yet?

I'm assuming you're on the iOS7 Beta? How much are we allowed to "disclose"? Nothing, right?

 

[TheStu]

I'm assuming you're on the iOS7 Beta? How much are we allowed to "disclose"? Nothing, right?

I have no idea actually... that's a good point.

Ok, everything I have said so far is based on my guesses about how the iOS 7 beta may do things... yea.

 

[fr]

I installed beta 2 yesterday and it runs a lot smoother. The Siri hiccups and crashes are gone and the battery drain issue seems to have disappeared as well.

 

[Megatomic]

I installed beta 2 yesterday and it runs a lot smoother. The Siri hiccups and crashes are gone and the battery drain issue seems to have disappeared as well.

Excellent news, thanks.

 

[Spineshank]

I am running beta 2 as well. Seems better so far than beta 1. I didnt have many issues with beta 1 however.

 

[Oyeve]

Im installing beta 2 on my 4. Beta 1 practically made it useless, let see what beta 2 does.

 

[purbeast0]

Im installing beta 2 on my 4. Beta 1 practically made it useless, let see what beta 2 does.

definitely interested to hear your impressions afterwards. i was going to install b1 on my 4 but didn't because of what i read on here.

 

[DnetMHZ]

Beta 2 is MUCH smoother on my 4S. There are a few odd bugs, for example the font color on the status bar at the top keeps changing from white to black making it almost invisible on a darker background.