why oh WHY do people sign up on a mac forum only to insult mac products?? Here you go, since someone OBVIOUSLY gave you the wrong link.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
The iPhones Design Is UGLY
- Thread starter ibookowner2005
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
The only thing feminine about Apple's phone is the ads with the girly hand holding an iphone. Jeez, hire a guy with man hands!
Hmmm, let me think about that. Roundish things on something female + touching. Err, what's not to like?
That's a classic Apple design element. See this for more. This is why the Menu Bar is rounded, windows are rounded, scroll bars are rounded, etc...
It looks way better than the camera on my phone!
I would have said all silver on the back, like iPods.
But that has rounded corners, and black/silver colors as well!
Nope, it looks like an iPhone, only with a big "PRADA" on the front, and more buttons. And why isn't anyone raving about how revolutionary the Prada phone's interface and feature set is? Probably because it's crap.
Well, now that is just completely your opinion. I entirely disagree. I think the one button over the Pradas several buttons looks way better. Also, I guarantee you those glossy Prada buttons are glossy plastic.
My mistake, but it's still a crappy question because most people choose phones in terms of functionality, or at least I hope so
The iPhone is pretty ugly... that and it'll probably be both fragile and a fingerprint magnet. No thanks.
Having owned a PRADA for about a month I totally agree with the gizmodo review. But saying "it's crap" is a little harsh
And yes, the buttons are wonderful glossy plastic!
Yeah, I choose my phones in terms of functionality. I want to, like, make phone calls with them.
Some people just have no idea of what "design" means and what it's for.
It's not just product being eye-appealing, it's about wether the form = function or not.
I won't buy an iPhone (maybe if a iPhone Nano if it ever comes out) but I can still see that it is a great piece of industrial design, it's not shocking (which means it can appeal to a broader, less informed audience) and it's not in any way "different" than the form factor used in most mobile phones today (which means that the product can easily be recognized as a phone).
The phone is surrounded by a metal casing (don't know the material but I can almost guess it will be a light but strong metal, same as last gen's iPods) which avoids damaging certain parts of the phone, especially the corners (hence the roundedness). This makes the outer part of the phone difficult to wear out in time, and I can't imagine the metal casing losing it's clearness because.. err... it's metal.. my iPod Nano's back still works as a mirror if I want to, and it's going to be 2 years old in October.
The rounded shape is there for a couple of other reasons too. First, because it's Apple's trademark, iPod's, iMac's, Mac Pro, MacBook, MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, the 2004 iMac, the eMac, they ALL have rounded corners because it's a matter of brand identity, that way it makes easier to distinguish Apple's products from other stuff around, it's a matter of coherence.
The rounded corners also have another purpose. If you think about it, Apple strives for being a "young" innovative company, and human perception studies have proved that people associate rounded shapes to the ideas of movement, dynamism and youthfulness and square shapes to more traditional and rigid products.
If you had to choose between these categories, which one would Apple fit in?
The Home button in small, tactile (it has an inner bevel) and it's a perfect match for it's function.
The camera shouldn't be centered for a certain number of reasons that I'm not going to list but if you think about it, most phones have their cameras non-centered for a reason.
A mirror in the iPhone wouldn't be worth it, it would look the object look worse and more complicated (which is bad for the general consumer, too many stuff on the surface) and it really isn't all that necessary unless you're a narcissist and spend half the pictures you take with yourself
The only thing I don't like in the iPhone is it's size, it's way too big to me, I understand there had to be a compromise between size and usability but still, I find it too big for my daily usage.
Anyway, I could go on an on an on but I guess it's enough to show you my POV, which is:
You are entitled to your opinion and no one has the right to recriminate you for that, however, saying the iPhone is "ugly" or "badly designed" like it was a universal fact is an over-statement filled with disguised ignorance about what true design is and should be.
It's not just product being eye-appealing, it's about wether the form = function or not.
I won't buy an iPhone (maybe if a iPhone Nano if it ever comes out) but I can still see that it is a great piece of industrial design, it's not shocking (which means it can appeal to a broader, less informed audience) and it's not in any way "different" than the form factor used in most mobile phones today (which means that the product can easily be recognized as a phone).
The phone is surrounded by a metal casing (don't know the material but I can almost guess it will be a light but strong metal, same as last gen's iPods) which avoids damaging certain parts of the phone, especially the corners (hence the roundedness). This makes the outer part of the phone difficult to wear out in time, and I can't imagine the metal casing losing it's clearness because.. err... it's metal.. my iPod Nano's back still works as a mirror if I want to, and it's going to be 2 years old in October.
The rounded shape is there for a couple of other reasons too. First, because it's Apple's trademark, iPod's, iMac's, Mac Pro, MacBook, MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, the 2004 iMac, the eMac, they ALL have rounded corners because it's a matter of brand identity, that way it makes easier to distinguish Apple's products from other stuff around, it's a matter of coherence.
The rounded corners also have another purpose. If you think about it, Apple strives for being a "young" innovative company, and human perception studies have proved that people associate rounded shapes to the ideas of movement, dynamism and youthfulness and square shapes to more traditional and rigid products.
If you had to choose between these categories, which one would Apple fit in?
The Home button in small, tactile (it has an inner bevel) and it's a perfect match for it's function.
The camera shouldn't be centered for a certain number of reasons that I'm not going to list but if you think about it, most phones have their cameras non-centered for a reason.
A mirror in the iPhone wouldn't be worth it, it would look the object look worse and more complicated (which is bad for the general consumer, too many stuff on the surface) and it really isn't all that necessary unless you're a narcissist and spend half the pictures you take with yourself
The only thing I don't like in the iPhone is it's size, it's way too big to me, I understand there had to be a compromise between size and usability but still, I find it too big for my daily usage.
Anyway, I could go on an on an on but I guess it's enough to show you my POV, which is:
You are entitled to your opinion and no one has the right to recriminate you for that, however, saying the iPhone is "ugly" or "badly designed" like it was a universal fact is an over-statement filled with disguised ignorance about what true design is and should be.
Some people just have no idea of what "design" means and what it's for.
It's not just product being eye-appealing, it's about wether the form = function or not, and in this case, form = function.
I won't buy an iPhone (maybe if a iPhone Nano if it ever comes out) but I can still see that it is a great piece of industrial design, it's not shocking (which means it can appeal to a broader, less informed audience) and it's not in any way "different" than the form factor used in most mobile phones today (which means that the product can easily be recognized as a phone).
The phone is surrounded by a metal casing (don't know the material but I can almost guess it will be a light but strong metal, same as last gen's iPods) which avoids damaging certain parts of the phone, especially the corners (hence the roundedness). This makes the outer part of the phone difficult to wear out in time, and I can't imagine the metal casing losing it's clearness because.. err... it's metal.. my iPod Nano's back still works as a mirror if I want to, and it's going to be 2 years old in October.
The rounded shape is there for a couple of other reasons too. First, because it's Apple's trademark, iPod's, iMac's, Mac Pro, MacBook, MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, the 2004 iMac, the eMac, they ALL have rounded corners because it's a matter of brand identity, that way it makes easier to distinguish Apple's products than other stuff around, above all, it's a matter of coherence.
The rounded corners also have another purpose. If you think about it, Apple strives for being a "young" innovative company, and human perception studies have proved that people associate rounded shapes to the ideas of movement, dynamism and youthfulness and square shapes to more traditional and rigid products.
If you had to choose between these categories, which one would Apple fit in?
The Home button in small, tactile (it has an inner bevel) and it's a perfect match for it's function The camera shouldn't be centered for a certain number of reasons that I'm not going to list but if you think about it, most phones have their cameras non-centered for a reason.
A mirror in the iPhone wouldn't be worth it, it would look the object look worse and more complicated (which is bad for the general consumer, too many stuff on the surface) and it really isn't all that necessary unless you're a narcissist and spend half the pictures you take in yourself
The only thing I don't like in the iPhone is it's size, it's way too big to me, I understand there had to be a compromise between size and usability but still, I find it too big for my daily usage.
Anyway, I could go on an on an on but I guess it's enough to show you my POV, which is:
You are entitled to your opinion and no one has the right to recriminate you for that, however, saying the iPhone is "ugly" or "badly designed" like it was a universal fact is an over-statement filled with disguised ignorance about what true design is and should be.
It's not just product being eye-appealing, it's about wether the form = function or not, and in this case, form = function.
I won't buy an iPhone (maybe if a iPhone Nano if it ever comes out) but I can still see that it is a great piece of industrial design, it's not shocking (which means it can appeal to a broader, less informed audience) and it's not in any way "different" than the form factor used in most mobile phones today (which means that the product can easily be recognized as a phone).
The phone is surrounded by a metal casing (don't know the material but I can almost guess it will be a light but strong metal, same as last gen's iPods) which avoids damaging certain parts of the phone, especially the corners (hence the roundedness). This makes the outer part of the phone difficult to wear out in time, and I can't imagine the metal casing losing it's clearness because.. err... it's metal.. my iPod Nano's back still works as a mirror if I want to, and it's going to be 2 years old in October.
The rounded shape is there for a couple of other reasons too. First, because it's Apple's trademark, iPod's, iMac's, Mac Pro, MacBook, MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, the 2004 iMac, the eMac, they ALL have rounded corners because it's a matter of brand identity, that way it makes easier to distinguish Apple's products than other stuff around, above all, it's a matter of coherence.
The rounded corners also have another purpose. If you think about it, Apple strives for being a "young" innovative company, and human perception studies have proved that people associate rounded shapes to the ideas of movement, dynamism and youthfulness and square shapes to more traditional and rigid products.
If you had to choose between these categories, which one would Apple fit in?
The Home button in small, tactile (it has an inner bevel) and it's a perfect match for it's function The camera shouldn't be centered for a certain number of reasons that I'm not going to list but if you think about it, most phones have their cameras non-centered for a reason.
A mirror in the iPhone wouldn't be worth it, it would look the object look worse and more complicated (which is bad for the general consumer, too many stuff on the surface) and it really isn't all that necessary unless you're a narcissist and spend half the pictures you take in yourself
The only thing I don't like in the iPhone is it's size, it's way too big to me, I understand there had to be a compromise between size and usability but still, I find it too big for my daily usage.
Anyway, I could go on an on an on but I guess it's enough to show you my POV, which is:
You are entitled to your opinion and no one has the right to recriminate you for that, however, saying the iPhone is "ugly" or "badly designed" like it was a universal fact is an over-statement filled with disguised ignorance about what true design is and should be.
Some people just have no idea of what "design" means and what it's for.
It's not just a product being eye-appealing, it's about wether the form follows/equals function or not.
I won't buy an iPhone (maybe if a iPhone Nano if it ever comes out) but I can still see that it is a great piece of industrial design, it's not shocking (which means it can appeal to a broader, less informed audience) and it's not in any way "different" than the form factor used in most mobile phones today (which means that the product can easily be recognized as a phone).
The phone is surrounded by a metal casing (don't know the material but I can almost guess it will be a light but strong metal, same as last gen's iPods) which avoids damaging certain parts of the phone, especially the corners (hence the roundedness). This makes the outer part of the phone difficult to wear out in time, and I can't imagine the metal casing losing it's clearness because.. err... it's metal.. my iPod Nano's back still works as a mirror if I want to, and it's going to be 2 years old in October.
The rounded shape is there for a couple of other reasons too. First, because it's Apple's trademark, iPod's, iMac's, Mac Pro, MacBook, MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, the 2004 iMac, the eMac, they ALL have rounded corners because it's a matter of brand identity, that way it makes easier to distinguish Apple's products than other stuff around, above all, it's a matter of coherence.
The rounded corners also have another purpose. If you think about it, Apple strives for being a "young" innovative company, and human perception studies have proved that people associate curved shapes to the ideas of movement, dynamism and youthfulness and square shapes to more traditional and rigid products.
If you had to choose between these categories, which one would Apple fit in?
The Home button in small, tactile (it has an inner bevel) and it's a perfect match for it's function The camera shouldn't be centered for a certain number of reasons that I'm not going to list but if you think about it, most phones have their cameras non-centered for a reason.
A mirror in the iPhone wouldn't be worth it, it would look make the object look worse and more complicated (which is bad for the general consumer, too many stuff on the surface) and it really isn't all that necessary unless you're a narcissist and spend half the pictures you take with yourself
The only thing I don't like in the iPhone is it's size, it's way too big to me, I understand there had to be a compromise between size and usability but still, I find it too big for my daily usage.
Anyway, I could go on an on an on but I guess it's enough to show you my POV, which is:
You are entitled to your opinion and no one has the right to recriminate you for that, however, saying the iPhone is "ugly" or "badly designed" like it was a universal fact is an over-statement filled with disguised ignorance about what true design is and should be.
It's not just a product being eye-appealing, it's about wether the form follows/equals function or not.
I won't buy an iPhone (maybe if a iPhone Nano if it ever comes out) but I can still see that it is a great piece of industrial design, it's not shocking (which means it can appeal to a broader, less informed audience) and it's not in any way "different" than the form factor used in most mobile phones today (which means that the product can easily be recognized as a phone).
The phone is surrounded by a metal casing (don't know the material but I can almost guess it will be a light but strong metal, same as last gen's iPods) which avoids damaging certain parts of the phone, especially the corners (hence the roundedness). This makes the outer part of the phone difficult to wear out in time, and I can't imagine the metal casing losing it's clearness because.. err... it's metal.. my iPod Nano's back still works as a mirror if I want to, and it's going to be 2 years old in October.
The rounded shape is there for a couple of other reasons too. First, because it's Apple's trademark, iPod's, iMac's, Mac Pro, MacBook, MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, the 2004 iMac, the eMac, they ALL have rounded corners because it's a matter of brand identity, that way it makes easier to distinguish Apple's products than other stuff around, above all, it's a matter of coherence.
The rounded corners also have another purpose. If you think about it, Apple strives for being a "young" innovative company, and human perception studies have proved that people associate curved shapes to the ideas of movement, dynamism and youthfulness and square shapes to more traditional and rigid products.
If you had to choose between these categories, which one would Apple fit in?
The Home button in small, tactile (it has an inner bevel) and it's a perfect match for it's function The camera shouldn't be centered for a certain number of reasons that I'm not going to list but if you think about it, most phones have their cameras non-centered for a reason.
A mirror in the iPhone wouldn't be worth it, it would look make the object look worse and more complicated (which is bad for the general consumer, too many stuff on the surface) and it really isn't all that necessary unless you're a narcissist and spend half the pictures you take with yourself
The only thing I don't like in the iPhone is it's size, it's way too big to me, I understand there had to be a compromise between size and usability but still, I find it too big for my daily usage.
Anyway, I could go on an on an on but I guess it's enough to show you my POV, which is:
You are entitled to your opinion and no one has the right to recriminate you for that, however, saying the iPhone is "ugly" or "badly designed" like it was a universal fact is an over-statement filled with disguised ignorance about what true design is and should be.
Good post, very cogent points.
The only thing I might take you to task on is the quoted statement; while too big for you (and yet may be for many of us, as we haven't actually held the dem thing yet!), I don't see where there's a compromise in size. If the decision was that it would contain a screen of X dimensions, it follows that the surrounding enclosure has to be slightly larger to contain it, no?
Unless the compromise went something like this...
SJ: "I want the screen THIS BIG" *holds hands apart*
JI: "But Steve, people will want to hold it in only one hand"
SJ: "Damn you, Jonny, and your infallible instincts!"
Who cares about the look, it looks fine to me. I'm not one of those people that chooses their digital camera because its "cute", I chose the ugly SOB that has 7.1 megapixels and a 10x optical zoom.
Apple is all about simplicity, and a cell phone doesn't get much more simple than the iPhone. Everything Apple puts out has rounded corners, I'm sure I'm not the only one thats noticed this. To me the Prada looks pretty boring. Either way, between the Prada and the iPhone only one of them runs OS-X...I rest my case.
Apple is all about simplicity, and a cell phone doesn't get much more simple than the iPhone. Everything Apple puts out has rounded corners, I'm sure I'm not the only one thats noticed this. To me the Prada looks pretty boring. Either way, between the Prada and the iPhone only one of them runs OS-X...I rest my case.
Whoa, triple post...
Anyway, this thread is purely based on opinion... so it makes sense that there is a lot of varied viewpoints... No need to start a flamewar people... Just because someone doesn't agree with you don't mean they have poor taste, just different preferences.
Anyway, this thread is purely based on opinion... so it makes sense that there is a lot of varied viewpoints... No need to start a flamewar people... Just because someone doesn't agree with you don't mean they have poor taste, just different preferences.
The Treo is cool, I would've bought if it wasn't b/c the iPhone is coming out... but I think it is UUUGLY!
To the OP, Re: Apple does smart designing. Someone already mentioned that the shiny apple in the back serves as mirror. And so what if doesn't have a mirror. You seem to be way too concerned about looks.... mirror... Prada... shiny buttons... hello? You're looking and comparing the wrong phone. They don't want to be a Prada...
Exactly.
While i agree with the original poster about point #3, here's what you (meaning original poster not bartelby, i agree with bartelby) missing. Materials play a HUGE role in the perception of a product. Apple uses good materials.
Example a blackberry pearl, looks good in product shots, but when you see it in person and the cheap plastic they used and painted chrome, it's really weak. same for the lg prada. They are using the image of the product to sell the product, not the product itself. Apple is using both.
I bet when you see one in person you will eat your words, because of materials.
only the buyers care about details like that
[...]
[...]
Ahem, let's correct that to "a smartphone can't get much simpler that the iPhone"
When iPhone comes out it will have a crowded market waiting for it. We're talking about 90% of the european adult population owning a mobile phone, similar % in many other modern cities around the world. Smartphones are a specific segment that has been ridden with usability problems, bloated software meant to allow a shotgun approach to addressing users' needs. Personally, I'm hoping that iPhone is successful enough to change some bad habits such as mobile network operators having MS Exchange servers for users' email. Apple and Yahoo using IMAP will show a lot of people how to get things done properly using standard internet technologies and that I hope will be good for a lot of people besides iPhone buyers.
For those complaining that it's ugly and not very functional, you obviously haven't seen one in person. They aren't perfect, but they're way nicer than some pics you see online lead you to believe. It's smaller too.
LG Prada, with PRADA being a DESIGNER brand. Bear that in mind.
One of the main reasons people don't like the iPhone is the camera. Big deal? It's a PHONE, it doesn't need a camera. That's what digital cameras are for, not phones. It's designed for pictures to send to other phones, not great macro shots.
My 2p.
One of the main reasons people don't like the iPhone is the camera. Big deal? It's a PHONE, it doesn't need a camera. That's what digital cameras are for, not phones. It's designed for pictures to send to other phones, not great macro shots.
My 2p.
Prada is a Clothing/Jewelry Design company, iI'm pretty sure they don't have a Industrial Design section.
Apple has one of the best design crews in the world, I doubt that Prada can match up to them, especially in the "gadget" industry, where Apple clearly is the Home team.
When I said that the iPhone was too big to me I was refering to the fact that it looks big in Steve's hand (from the keynote) compared to my current phone (which is a crap one, but very small), I can leave work for lunch and take the phone in my pants pockets along with my iPod, pack of cigarretes, money, credit card.. and it all fits where the iPhone (probably) wouldn't fit by himself
But of course, I'm reserving judgement until I hold one in my hand, not like some other people who have been complaining about an unreleased product for the past 6 months.