iOS 7 to bring major UI redesign but isn’t arriving anytime soon

By Darshik Jariwala - April, 3rd 2013

The usual trend (Since the past few years) is an iOS latest version sneak peak at an event in June/July where Apple apart from launching or refreshing existing products also showcases their upcoming iOS. Apple loves regularly improving and perfecting their existing products and iOS is no different. And hopefully, this year too, the iOS will be upgraded to version 7 with some significant changes to its user interface.

After Scott Forstall left Apple, who handled the iOS division, the vacancy was filled up in no time by Sir Jony Ive who is also the head of its (Apple) Industrial Design department. Ive has been a very integral part of Apple in designing the iPhone for which he won many honors and awards; he was also responsible for designing the all-new EarPods for Apple. So when the news first flashed that Sir Jony Ive heading the forthcoming iOS development, I among many other people knew that the time had finally arrived when the iOS interface will finally be redesigned for the first time ever since its launch.

According to blogger John Grubber, his sources inform him that the iOS 7 launch will be delayed since they are running behind in its development as the iOS 7 will be undergoing major “system-wide UI overhaul”. In fact, Apple has pulled engineers working on OS X 10.9 to shift the focus more on the iOS development.

Grubber also says that, “iOS engineers with carry privileges all have some sort of polarizing filter on their iPhone displays, such that it greatly decreases viewing angles, thus making it difficult for observers to see the apparently rather significant system-wide UI overhaul.”

In a way, this will be the biggest iOS launch for Apple ever since it was first introduced with the iPhone. There is still no news as to whether there will be a widget screen like Android or simply a makeover to the existing design.

People have responded quite positively to the concept of the widget screen in contrast to the straight-forward screen that the iPhone carries. Hopefully, in the coming months we will have more details as to specifically what changes Ive is making to the iOS. But until then, we do not expect any announcement regarding iOS 7’s launch anytime soon, whose development is now running behind schedule.

Photo Credit – William Hook/Flickr