How would you feel about rounded corners on a Mac screen?

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Obviously macOS Big Sur is going in the direction of rounding U.I elements off, which as they explained in a post-WWDC interview, was because they felt it made the experience appear more organic.

Of course, this isn't the first time we've seen rounded elements in a Mac OS. But what about screen corners?

It's be a long time since we've seen them, but I think it could be an interesting move on Apple's part.

They could retain the right-angle format of the corners on the LCD panel, but simply black-out the corners when you're not working with pixel-accurate content (i.e full-screen video editing).

So, how would you all feel about a move like this?

 

[AshleyPomeroy]

I can see rounded corners potentially being a problem with multi-monitor setups - do the individual screens have rounded corners, or the desktop as a whole? It also raises the question of whether the bottom corners should be rounded as well. Back in the 10.4-and-earlier era multi-monitor setups weren't nearly as mainstream as they are now.

Back when 10.5 was new there was an application called Displapeture that brought rounded corners back:

Displaperture

Round display corners.

manytricks.com

I have no idea if it works with modern versions of MacOS.

 

[pacmania1982]

I can see rounded corners potentially being a problem with multi-monitor setups - do the individual screens have rounded corners, or the desktop as a whole? It also raises the question of whether the bottom corners should be rounded as well. Back in the 10.4-and-earlier era multi-monitor setups weren't nearly as mainstream as they are now.

Back when 10.5 was new there was an application called Displapeture that brought rounded corners back:

Displaperture

Round display corners.

manytricks.com

I have no idea if it works with modern versions of MacOS.

I used to use this back in the day! I just downloaded not expecting it to work on Catalina and it does! I love the look!!

 

[cupcakes2000]

I doubt it matters. It’s unlikely to affect things like video/photo editing, they’re not going to enforce this ui in every window that appears within the os, just like they don’t now on iPados.

 

[Harvey Zoltan]

Regardless of how you feel about it rounded corners are going to happen.

 

[cmaier]

For those of us who used macs with crummy CRT screens, Macs had rounded screen corners in the past, too

 

[Yebubbleman]

Not a fan. But it seems like what they're wanting to do on other products, so you never know. I think you get more flexibility by not having rounded corners (especially if you need to use the entire display to analyze a photo or graphic). But I can't say for sure.

Certainly, FaceID is coming. Though, it's not like that ever mandated rounded corners. It only mandates the notch on current iPhones and it may not mandate that on future ones...

Regardless of how you feel about it rounded corners are going to happen.

You don't have enough information to back that claim up with anything other than speculation at this time.

 

[Kostask]

Personally, this is a giant Don't Care.

 

[ChromeCloud]

I love rounded corners.

If you go to a demo area where they have the latest iPhones, iPad Pros and MacBooks on display side by side, the MacBook looks incredibly dated because of the large bezels and lack of rounded corners.

Even the recently introduced 16 inch MacBook Pro suffers from this and looks dated compared to the Liquid Retina iPad Pro.

 

[Manzanito]

I’d feel indifferent.

 

[theluggage]

So, how would you all feel about a move like this?

Indifferent... as long as (a) it's software-only, not physical (b) only used on the desktop and turned off by default when an app is full-screened and (c) it's subtle and not over-done like some of the "artists impressions" that appear here from time-to-time.

For those of us who used macs with crummy CRT screens, Macs had rounded screen corners in the past, too

I guess you're referring to the physically rounded corners of CRT tubes... but, apart from that, Classic MacOS did once have "software" rounded corners on the desktop background too, so it's not a new idea.

Maybe it was because CRTs tended to distort images as they got close to the physical display corners and rounding off the desktop corners helped hide that... or maybe it was just cool.

I think rounded corners probably belong in the same category as the startup bong and illuminated Apple logo (two poor solutions to the lack of a freaking power LED which nevertheless became popular).

 

[bluecoast]

Absolutely it’s going to happen.

In the same way that the initial release of OS X complimented the bright translucent pinstriped plastic of the iMac, iBook & Power Macs of the time, Big Sur will make complete sense when we see it on Apple Silicon Mac hardware.

As the iPadOS support for trackpad is an example of, Apple almost always embarks on a significant UI change when it’s tied to a hardware product.

And like many have said, we are likely to see a closer design language with the new iPhones and Mac Pros.

Significant redesigns will likely take some time but likely we are going to see the lid looking different with room for a better front facing camera and yes, a screen with rounded corners.

 

[artfossil]

I didn't mind them back in 1984. But I've moved on.

 

[cmaier]

I didn't mind them back in 1984. But I've moved on.
View attachment 948845

i always wanted that machine, but it was just-incompatible-enough with the 2/2e that i never pulled the trigger.

 

[artfossil]

i always wanted that machine, but it was just-incompatible-enough with the 2/2e that i never pulled the trigger.

My first computer. Loved it. Zork! And I had the ImageWriter printer. Magic!

 

[AshleyPomeroy]

I guess you're referring to the physically rounded corners of CRT tubes... but, apart from that, Classic MacOS did once have "software" rounded corners on the desktop background too, so it's not a new idea.

This is one of those things that I hadn't noticed until now, but indeed the original Mac had rounded corners:

So technically it had a screen resolution of 512x342 pixels minus a few dozen pixels (full-screen applications also had rounded corners). Presumably Apple ditched them when liquid-crystal LCD displays became ubiquitous, although in Apple's case it's odd they waited until 2007, given that Apple discontinued its last cathode ray CRT tube in 2001.

I realise it's picky, but it irritates me that Chrome and Safari have rounded corners. Something about the way they don't fit seamlessly with the taskbar triggers my obsessive-compulsive ODC disorder.

 

[xxray]

Yes please. With rounded corners on the iPhone, iPad Pros (and apparently, the iPad Air soon), and in macOS Big Sur, it only makes sense. It doesn’t seem to ruin much screen real estate either.

Rounded screens look more organic and aesthetic, whereas rectangular screens have started looking unnatural to me now. You have these beautiful curved devices and then what looks like a straight chunk of screen just thrown in the center. It doesn’t flow as well with the rest of the design.

 

[Falhófnir]

If the 12" MacBook(Air) is coming back I think it almost demands a 12.5-13.0" screen pushed right into the corners, at that size every little extra makes a difference. A 14.5-15.0" MacBook(Air) to go alongside it would also be great, though none of this is in the rumour mill for now. I guess the drawback is it requires a more expensive custom panel, though with the power efficiency of an A14X that could probably be at least partly offset for a new 12" by ditching the expensive terraced battery for regular cells.

 

[nieks]

More like this? I would sign up for that! It fits quite well with the new more spacious menu bar at the top of the screen. Looks like Apple might have designed Big Sur for future screens with rounded corners. Bring it on!

The biggest issue? The cameramodule needs to fit in.
But i guess Apple could make it work, it's quite a small component in the 2013 retina MBP:

(ifixit)

 

[space1nvaders]

Yes please. With rounded corners on the iPhone, iPad Pros (and apparently, the iPad Air soon), and in macOS Big Sur, it only makes sense. It doesn’t seem to ruin much screen real estate either.

Rounded screens look more organic and aesthetic, whereas rectangular screens have started looking unnatural to me now. You have these beautiful curved devices and then what looks like a straight chunk of screen just thrown in the center. It doesn’t flow as well with the rest of the design.

I hate the rounded corners. It's making me want to use Linux. I want to change it but I can't. How many websites use rounded corners nowadays? They are too rounded. Just a tiny bit is all that they need. Why??????

 

[ArPe]

It doesn’t get in the way and it’s a nice aesthetic.

 

[Hexley]

How is this remotely Apple Silicon-related?

 

[space1nvaders]

It doesn’t get in the way and it’s a nice aesthetic.

The menus look detached from the menu title at the top. The rounded corners of windows are inconsistent with 99% of website design. Just look at apple.com. They don't round the corners of their boxes. When you start rounding the corners, you have to do it in other places to keep it consistent. Why do they have a freaking border around the windows? It's like we're going back in time with this stuff.

 

[mrfish84]

Has someone tested https://manytricks.com/displaperture/ on a m1 Macbook ?
Thanks

 

[Heliotropen]

As rounded shapes as in Big Sur are a waste of space.
I hate that with a passion ... will not move on to Big Sur untill I'm forced.
And that might make me finally shift for another system than apple all entirely.

Guess it happened with the exit of Johnny Ive, they are no longer the brand for "professional designers" but is now building kids toys for teenagers with wealthy parrents.

That direction will also kill apple products as a status symbol soon.