Apple Risks iOS 7 Delays for New Flat User Interface?

Apple is reportedly risking a delay of iOS 7 to implement a new flat user interface envisioned by Jonathan Ive, reports Bloomberg.

Ive, 46, has begun revamping iPhone and iPad applications, shunning realistic images, such as wood bookshelves for the Newsstand feature, and he’s exploring more dramatic changes to the e-mail and calendar tools, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans are private.

Ive is also methodically reviewing new designs, seeking to avoid a repeat of last year’s release of map tools that were widely panned, and he’s encouraging collaboration between the software and hardware divisions, which operated in silos under co-founder Steve Jobs, people said.


A recent report from 9to5Mac corroborates this information with one source saying the interface is “very, very flat” and another saying that the interface loses all signs of gloss, shine, and skeumorphism seen in past versions of iOS.

All these changes are said to come at a cost for Apple who is struggling to finish iOS 7 in time to preview it at WWDC. Code is being submitted later than usual and staff from Apple's Mac team have been moved over to help get the job done in time.

However, Apple is still expected to release the new software in September.

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