Other Apple is Really Bad at Design - Joshua Topolosky [MERGED]

[roeiz]

This is the design I would have chosen, but I would have flipped it and put the camera row on top:

either something like you say or similar,
the point is, the screen is SACRED. you don't push into a screen because you couldn't find a solution,
or was afraid to be to similar to competition.
or as he would say:

get that..that..that... THING - outta ma face!!!!

 

[kazmac]

The Pencil sticking out of the lightning port and having the charge port on the bottom of the MM 2 are absolutely bone-headed, poorly executed ideas. With the MM design, they could have put the port on the side and made it more accessible. And WTF with the laptop keyboards?

I'd agree with the notch as well. That not only breaks the flow of whatever you're watching or reading, it sticks out just as much as the examples I gave above. Potentially dropping their routers and doing away with the team that designs Mac OS are more moves that I just do not understand.

Like several here, I've had ridiculous problems with Apple's software and some hardware since late 2013. I tried to be less harsh on Cook and co. after they finally did right with me as far as iPhones, but recent moves are pushing me away. iTunes is bloated and increasingly a PIA (why must we relearn where simple controls in iTunes with every update?)

Perhaps the biggest offense are the price hikes and gauging a day after saying Apple do not make products for the rich. Yeah, okay. Unfortunately their price points and hardware gimps have influenced Microsoft which is a shame. Add to this, 's insistence on joining the Hollywood fray you wonder if Apple really gives a crap about their hardware and software at this point.

That article has some valid arguments, but I think many of us knew this. If anything perhaps this will light a fire under Cupertino's butt...or just my own? I am rapidly running out of excuses to remain Apple only. Their security, privacy and ease of use being the only elements I can get behind right now.

 

[_Refurbished_]

either something like you say or similar,
the point is, the screen is SACRED. you don't push into a screen because you couldn't find a solution,
or was afraid to be to similar to competition.
or as he would say:

get that..that..that... THING - outta ma face!!!!

Jobs (cliches aside), would have never gone for the notch. I’m shocked Ive went for it.

 

[Jimmy James]

Nearly everything Apple has done in its wildly successful post-1997 Jobs era has been iterative. iPod? Check. Smartphone? Check. Apple just did it better. That's what built this nearly trillion dollar company.

I'm tired of articles and posts stating that the absence of a unique-to-Apple product release is a sign that they've lost it. From that perspective they never had it. At least not for decades.

I do agree that Apple has lost its way in terms of cohesiveness. Part of the problem is customers. We want now staple products to look and feel different when all that's really needed is incremental, thoughtful improvement to a segment that is becoming mature.

 

[Macalway]

All the mock-ups of the X make it look terrible, and all the actual photos make it look desirable. The reviews are completely subjective.

 

[eyoungren]

I think the notch is great! We need to step outside of this traditional square and rectangle screens. The notch just adds to the flavor of what else can we do?

Do you, or have you ever owned a Pontiac Aztec?

 

[tatsuki]

I agree with him mostly, it's kind of sad that Apple are slowly becoming like Microsoft was, stuck in their way, reiterating the same product with very little invention and now charging stupid money too. Sure they work well generally but heck this is Apple I want to be excited by what they do, been safe and boring isn't why I love Apple stuff. The X is not revolutionary in any way whatsoever.
I guess all they care about is share price and constantly beating earnings expectations instead of been exciting and taking risks.

 

[isaac123]

and as 90% of people here will reply -
"well, it's just your subjective opinion blah blah blah.. doesn't bother me at all blah blah..

it's not just on here, in the real world no one will give a ****, just a handful of retards cant let it go.

 

[Count Blah]

That video is unwatchable.

All it is, is ME ME ME ME ME!

Pffft...

He may have something to say, it i’ll Never endure the video enough to get to it.

 

[roeiz]

it's not just on here, in the real world no one will give a ****, just a handful of retards cant let it go.

yea, kinda like today's music.. people will accept whatever shoved down their throats.

 

[CreatorOfWorlds]

Who's this josh? Has he held the iphone x before? Does he know how apps and developers will work with the new design? I think not. The guy is just in need of attention with an opinion that means absolutely nothing until we use these phones in our hands. The phone is gonna sell millions, still gonna have the highest customer satisfaction over any other phone, so why does it matter what this fool thinks? Just wait till we actually get the phone and how the OS changes with it

 

[booksbooks]

This is the design I would have chosen, but I would have flipped it and put the camera row on top:

No. There is no "top" of a smartphone or tablet. Both sides need to be able to be symmetrical to avoid the very problem you're trying to solve: the iPhone X is not symmetrical, so there is now a "top". What you have proposed is in many ways just as bad.

 

[_Refurbished_]

No. There is no "top" of a smartphone or tablet. Both sides need to be able to be symmetrical to avoid the very problem you're trying to solve: the iPhone X is not symmetrical, so there is now a "top". What you have proposed is in many ways just as bad.

I’m not trying to solve a symmetrical problem. I’m trying to solve a notch problem...a problem that shouldn’t be there in th first place.

 

[booksbooks]

I’m not trying to solve a symmetrical problem. I’m trying to solve a notch problem...a problem that shouldn’t be there in th first place.

I guess you're not getting it. And in the image you posted, it looks like the curve on the left and right of the bottom bezel isn't even the same curvature as the top left and right. This implies obvious problems. This is no longer a device without a top and bottom: it has a defined top and bottom. Apple pioneered the smartphone without top and bottom with design and accelerometers.

The only solution to this is either of the following:

• Embed the camera and sensors in the screen using translucent components; or
• Miniaturize the components to such a degree as to fit them in the thin black bezel that frames the iPhone X.

Either of the above will eliminate any notch or asymmetrical design; either will eliminate a defined "top" and/or "bottom" of a smartphone; either will create a perfectly seamless and symmetrical design without the loss of functionality (e.g., front-facing camera, FACE ID, etc.).

There is no other solution.

 

[brianric]

Do you, or have you ever owned a Pontiac Aztec?

I was thinking Ford Edsel.

 

[iScone]

That video is unwatchable.

All it is, is ME ME ME ME ME!

YouTubers make videos to attract attention, views and subscribers. That’s literally it. They very rarely have anything valuable or original to say and this is a good case in point.

They’d also argue against their own opinion if it meant more of the above. They’re inherently useless and to be ignored.

 

[Nozuka]

I guess you're not getting it. And in the image you posted, it looks like the curve on the left and right of the bottom bezel isn't even the same curvature as the top left and right. This implies obvious problems. This is no longer a device without a top and bottom: it has a defined top and bottom. Apple pioneered the smartphone without top and bottom with design and accelerometers.

The only solution to this is either of the following:

• Embed the camera and sensors in the screen using translucent components; or
• Miniaturize the components to such a degree as to fit them in the thin black bezel that frames the iPhone X.

Either of the above will eliminate any notch or asymmetrical design; either will eliminate a defined "top" and/or "bottom" of a smartphone; either will create a perfectly seamless and symmetrical design without the loss of functionality (e.g., front-facing camera, FACE ID, etc.).

There is no other solution.

there was always a top and bottom. have you ever seen anyone use the phone with the home button at the top?

 

[_Refurbished_]

I guess you're not getting it. And in the image you posted, it looks like the curve on the left and right of the bottom bezel isn't even the same curvature as the top left and right. This implies obvious problems. This is no longer a device without a top and bottom: it has a defined top and bottom. Apple pioneered the smartphone without top and bottom with design and accelerometers.

The only solution to this is either of the following:

• Embed the camera and sensors in the screen using translucent components; or
• Miniaturize the components to such a degree as to fit them in the thin black bezel that frames the iPhone X.

Either of the above will eliminate any notch or asymmetrical design; either will eliminate a defined "top" and/or "bottom" of a smartphone; either will create a perfectly seamless and symmetrical design without the loss of functionality (e.g., front-facing camera, FACE ID, etc.).

There is no other solution.

You’re right, I’m not getting it. You’re CLEARLY fixing a problem I’m not interested in fixing. The design I showed fixes the notch, that’s all I’m interested in.

Also the phone I used as an example had 4 symmetrical corners, which isn’t relevant as I was just using it as an example of how Apple could have designed the X.

 

[KittyKatta]

Josh is great, but the notch is something that will be accepted in time and will be an iconic part of iPhones going forward. Design is often so subjective.

The notch is something thst will be accepted in time... temporarily.

“...a feature as an excuse which is really an answer in search of a question. To wit: no one wanted or asked for Face ID”

We’ll make infinite excuses and justifications for how “it’s unique” or “it’s not so bad” but in the end this is not an Apple design cue that will be copied.

FaceID is great but it didn’t have to come at the expense of a proven and loved featured like TouchID (or rectangle screens)

 

[Nozuka]

But as it is then this is a product of compromise.

every product is.

 

[roeiz]

You’re right, I’m not getting it. You’re CLEARLY fixing a problem I’m not interested in fixing. The design I showed fixes the notch, that’s all I’m interested in.

Also the phone I used as an example had 4 symmetrical corners, which isn’t relevant as I was just using it as an example of how Apple could have designed the X.

this looks very nice btw

 

[macpanzer]

this looks very nice btw

No, there must be a notch

 

[Wrathwitch]

I firmly believe that that design would never have been released under Steve's watch. No doubt in my mind, nor would OS updates be released without ample testing on more legacy or older devices before being released.

I personally believe the notch is truly horrible, like something gone terribly wrong, and trust me, I tried to convince myself to go for the phone, maybe I will get used to it, maybe I won't notice it in time...What I feared in the long run is that this is a beta project for Apple. I fear that I would spend LOTS of money on a device that will be refined into something less hideous next year and I will be stuck with this frankest-ive's monster.

This dude nailed it on the head in the article. Makes me sad as I really wanted to love the device. But it's like trying on a pair of shoes hoping they will stretch but they don't...

 

[mrklaw]

‘that would never have happened/been allowed if Steve Jobs was alive’ is just something people throw out to justify their own subjective opinion. It has no weight or meaning

 

[CreatorOfWorlds]

Think about the iPhone 6 series and how ugly that was, the bulging camera, and antenna lines - it took Apple 4 generations of this design to get it truly beautiful. Apples design language, particularly for the iPhone may not be what it was, I do think the iphone x is still gorgeous, but it'll be the same scenario, a couple generations of refinements