Who thinks Apple's design team needs a redesign?

[Pandaboots]

First, I'm a loyal Apple customer, fan, stockholder, etc. but, Apple has started to worry me a bit in the last year with their designs and I wanted to get everyone's opinions. Examples of things I don't like from a pure aesthetic point of view:

1) The new iMac - both the color scheme and glossy only option

2) The new Apple Keyboard - thin is cool, but maybe too thin isn't (just like a woman)

3) Leopard - I know this has been discussed a million times, but since I just installed it, here's my $.02. The dock, menu bar, and folder icons are a downgrade. In addition the darkening of the program interfaces to a darker grey (which doesn't match the menu bar) and the brighter highlights (the blue in the menus) and more glossy look the stoplight buttons is unnecessary as is all the reflection...geez

4) Frontrow 2.0 - why do away with the original transition animation?

5) iMovie 08 - enough said

It sure seems to me that their computers and software designs are suffering to their iPod and iPhone designs these days. Appearance-wise, Apple is starting to look more and more like any PC on the market today. Maybe they are just out of ideas, or maybe everyone is so stinking rich that they just don't care anymore...

I'm actually having buyer's remorse right now on Leopard. I just don't see the point in all the aesthetic changes they made. Looks like the same results (or actually worse) that one could get from a freeware program. I can't wait for this this dark grey, glossy, bright, reflective design phase to be over...we will probably look back to 2007 one day like we do to the 70's today and laugh at all the styles etc.

Anyways, what does everyone else think of Apple's designs lately?

 

[Lone Deranger]

Don't forget all the updates and improvements made under the hood.

I'm actually having buyer's remorse right now on Leopard. I just don't see the point in all the aesthetic changes they made. Looks like the same results (or actually worse) that one could get from a freeware program.

 

[davidjearly]

First, I'm a loyal Apple customer, fan, stockholder, etc. but, Apple has started to worry me a bit in the last year with their designs and I wanted to get everyone's opinions. Examples of things I don't like from a pure aesthetic point of view:

1) The new iMac - both the color scheme and glossy only option

The new iMac is stunning.

2) The new Apple Keyboard - thin is cool, but maybe too thin isn't (just like a woman)

The new keyboard is stunning and a huge improvement over the old one.

3) Leopard - I know this has been discussed a million times, but since I just installed it, here's my $.02. The dock, menu bar, and folder icons are a downgrade. In addition the darkening of the program interfaces to a darker grey (which doesn't match the menu bar) and the brighter highlights (the blue in the menus) and more glossy look the stoplight buttons is unnecessary as is all the reflection...geez

Leopard has been 100% problem free for me, the 4 Macs in my family and for everyone I know using it. I think the new icons, dock and menubar are huge improvements. I only wish they would unify the scrollbars.

4) Frontrow 2.0 - why do away with the original transition animation?

Agreed, but perhaps it has something to do with it being a standalone app. We might see some improvements in a future 10.5.x upgrade.

5) iMovie 08 - enough said

Again, iMovie 08 is wonderful. For most consumers, iLife is meant to be a suite of applications which makes doing normally quite tricky things, really really easy. iMovie 06 had a clunky interface. Sure, iMovie 08 lacks a few features however it also gives you some that the previous version did not have and it has been stated that through revisions, Apple plans on making it more feature complete.

It sure seems to me that their computers and software designs are suffering to their iPod and iPhone designs these days. Appearance-wise, Apple is starting to look more and more like any PC on the market today. Maybe they are just out of ideas, or maybe everyone is so stinking rich that they just don't care anymore...

Not one single Apple design is even remotely reminiscent of any PC on the market. If there are any similarities, it based on PC manufacturers attempting to copy Apple.

I'm actually having buyer's remorse right now on Leopard. I just don't see the point in all the aesthetic changes they made. Looks like the same results (or actually worse) that one could get from a freeware program. I can't wait for this this dark grey, glossy, bright, reflective design phase to be over...we will probably look back to 2007 one day like we do to the 70's today and laugh at all the styles etc.

Leopard is a stunning OS to use and there is not a single 'freeware' program out there (presuming you mean 'OS'), that comes close. I really can't even argue with this statement. Whenever, I use a Tiger machine now I feel as though it is so old and outdated.

Anyways, what does everyone else think of Apple's designs lately?

I love them.

 

[motulist]

I agree, the aesthetic design in most of Apple's products has recently been much lower than normal. The iMac is cheap and cheesy looking, the less appealing colors and shapes of all the new iPods, the 3D dock, the transparent menu bar, the nearly identical folder icons, etc.

However, the iPhone and iTouch are awesome looking. I think all of Apple's top designers were pulled onto those products and left every other product to be designed by the 2nd tier groups.

 

[RossoA]

The only problem I have is that the new iMac is glossy only.

The iPod nano is very fat and kinda fugly, but I'm warming to it.

Again, the iPhone is spectacular and I love the new Leopard look.

 

[DoFoT9]

personally i dont think the team needs an upgrade, but all the products.. they need to take a new direction, of that im not sure.. but it would be nice too see a complete change to all products over time

 

[sananda]

i'm with you on number 4.

 

[koobcamuk]

I agree with davidjearly on this one. Apple produce computers that everyone notices. The iPhone is stunning. I can see why you don't like the glossy iMac screen, but the average consumer absolutely loves it. They want high contrast and glossy images and couldn't care less for accuracy. Who needs that when watching a DVD or looking at photos? Pros? Then get an ACD like me (even though I am not a pro).

 

[motulist]

the average consumer absolutely loves it. They want high contrast and glossy images and couldn't care less for accuracy. Who needs that when watching a DVD or looking at photos? Pros?

Most people who dislike the glossy screens could caren't care less about display color accuracy either. That's not the main problem with them. The problem is they display highly distracting visual reflects. The reason why I like Macs to begin with is that the computer gets out of the way and just lets me work on the material I'm working on. But when I use a glossy screen it totally gets in the way of my work!

Lets say I'm writing a text document in an office. I want to find an on screen button to make my text bold. Instead of just looking at my material and my tools, I'm also seeing reflections of light bulbs, and bright reflections that blink on and off as people pass behind me, and all sorts of other distractions that my mind has to filter out just to see what I'm trying to see.

Or lets say I'm watching a movie in my bedroom during daylight. Instead of being able to clearly see everything crisply so I can get into the movie, instead I see my movie hidden underneath another layer of moving images comprised of cars driving back and forth outside my window.

It's a subjective thing to be sure, some people aren't bothered by the glare and reflections, other people like me find them hugely distracting and annoying. I have a very sharp visual sense, and also am kind of a.d.d., when I see some movement in a reflection on my screen, my mind can't help but give the reflections part of my focus.

 

[rijiMacDij]

Hmmmmm

First, I'm a loyal Apple customer, fan, stockholder, etc. but, Apple has started to worry me a bit in the last year with their designs and I wanted to get everyone's opinions. Examples of things I don't like from a pure aesthetic point of view:
1) The new iMac - both the color scheme and glossy only option

Sorry, but I used to love the old iMacs, especially the iLAMP G4 20 inchers, but I believe this latest Aluminium one blows em all away for sheer stunning glamour. Glossy? Use one for a few weeks before you whinge about the glossy. I have 3 glossy and 2 matte displays. Except with regard to colour accuracy, glossy rules for me. I have no issues with reflections, on the rare occasion that a reflection occurs, I move the screen about a millimetre and any reflection is gone. The other problem is that every finger-mark is obvious (from an acute angle or on a black screen background), but easily removed.

2) The new Apple Keyboard - thin is cool, but maybe too thin isn't (just like a woman)

This new keyboard rocks, no more RSI since no need to lift hands as far. I have been hoping Apple would chop the bean-counter bit off the end because I was frequently bashing it with the mouse. The improved tactile feedback of the MacBooks compared with the PowerBooks and Pro Keyboards is amazing. I am grateful that this feel has been provided with the new aluminium keyboard.

3) Leopard - I know this has been discussed a million times, but since I just installed it, here's my $.02. The dock, menu bar, and folder icons are a downgrade. In addition the darkening of the program interfaces to a darker grey (which doesn't match the menu bar) and the brighter highlights (the blue in the menus) and more glossy look the stoplight buttons is unnecessary as is all the reflection...geez

WOW! You really got the bum deal with Leopard, didn't you? I'm a lucky barstard, I love the way it looks So I can at least grin at the beauty of the beast while I attempt to forget that I feel this OS is way more under-cooked than leTigre. I am sad that Apple release their software with so many things that don't quite work. I get my hopes up, coming from a solid OS after enduring a lot of bug fixes over many months. I expect that the stability hard earned in Tiger will somehow magically be inherited by the new cat on the block, but nup! I am gonna have a few hard times copping **** from Vista users when they get to play with Leopard.

4) Frontrow 2.0 - why do away with the original transition animation?

FRONTROW? Shute, I can't even work a VCR.

5) iMovie 08 - enough said

I am on the fence with this one.

It sure seems to me that their computers and software designs are suffering to their iPod and iPhone designs these days. Appearance-wise, Apple is starting to look more and more like any PC on the market today. Maybe they are just out of ideas, or maybe everyone is so stinking rich that they just don't care anymore...

I have always felt that Apple has not put enough effort into the Computer and OS development since they started with the iPod. Who knows, are they skimping. Everything looks great, but "everything just works" is no longer applicable.

I'm actually having buyer's remorse right now on Leopard. I just don't see the point in all the aesthetic changes they made. Looks like the same results (or actually worse) that one could get from a freeware program. I can't wait for this this dark grey, glossy, bright, reflective design phase to be over...we will probably look back to 2007 one day like we do to the 70's today and laugh at all the styles etc.

I started feeling buyer remorse but relaxed when I realised I was smart and left my work machine on Tiger......

 

[koobcamuk]

Most people...

sure, valid points... but most consumers just prefer the look - even in the shop. With no choice, they don't think about the options.

 

[imac/cheese]

I was waiting for the new iMac before I purchased because I wasn't keen on the white one. The new wireless keyboard is really beautiful. I was a little disappointed about the transition in front row but I am warming to the menus on the new version. I love leopard. I haven't used iMovie 08.

In general I think apple is doing fine.

 

[Pandaboots]

Thanks for all the replies. I think a good solution would be for Apple to offer a choice when it comes to their hardware and software designs. They already do with the iPods and Macbooks, so why not their iMacs and software? Example, I downloaded Dock Dr. which makes my 3-D dock actually nice looking and legible in that I can change the look to darker glass or give it a texture (I no longer am using it on the left side as I have been for years because of how nice it looks with the right color or texture) and opaquemenubar, which allows me to change the opacity of the menubar. Anyway, I guess the bottom line is Apple shouldn't be so closed minded to just give everyone 1 option. We don't need 20 options either. With hardware 2-3 options is perfect and software (just let us tweak the settings on the visual pieces), again 2-3 options here would be fine. That is all.

 

[Alloye]

1) Disagree. The Al iMac looks fantastic, and the glossy display hasn't been a problem for me.

2) Disagree. I love the new keyboard. It not only looks great, but I can type a lot faster on it than the old acrylic version.

3) Partially agree. Out of the box, I don't care for Leopard's menu bar or dock, but I do like the unified windows and revised stoplight buttons.

4) Agree. I really liked the old transition.

5) Disagree. iMovie '08 had a design goal and they nailed it. Very few people could come to terms with the older version, and those who managed it often needed something more advanced anyway.

Anyway, there's no way Apple is going to create designs that satisfy 100% of its customers 100% of the time. This thread and its replies are proof of that. But in no way do I think Apple is starting to look like every other PC on the market.