iOS...Pro?

This March Apple will hold its annual WWDC (worldwide developers conference) conference where they will announce its latest software update.

Visually, there has never really been a massive overhaul for iOS. Yes, every 2nd or 3rd update they will change the stock app icons, add a feature like a Today View and Control Centre, and maybe shake up the font a little. When the Iphone 5 launched with a taller screen ratio, Apple added an extra two lines for apps, swapping an out dated 4 X 4 for a slightly better 4 X 6.

Overall the user interface has always been the same.You very quickly forget how the stock app icons and Siri used to look and the new design becomes the norm.

When that inevitably happens, you’re left looking at the same overly familiar grid layout

For most Apple users this was fine for the way they use their iPhone or iPad, but now that Apple finally delved into big screen territory with the launch of the iPhone 6, the 6 plus and 6s plus been even bigger again, then later the iPad pro took it to extremes, the same layout doesn’t sit right with a lot users.

The layout for the iPhone 6/6s is identical to the iPhone 6/6s Plus but stretched out creating more space between app icons and so making it slightly off putting coming from a smaller iPhone screen and VERY off putting coming from an android device.

Worse still is the layout on the gigantuan iPad pro. stretch out the usual ios over a 13 inch screen and the spaces between app icons is nothing short of ridiculous.

There is 324 pixels between the app icons on the ipad pro. That's more pixels than the original iphone screen. It’s uncomfortable to look at.

The iphone screen layout has been exactly the same since 2007. So what now?

At WWDC this year, one of two things could, and really should, happen.

Apple will launch a ‘pro’ version of its iOS tailored specifically for the iPad Pro’s monumental size.

Or…

We will see a major refresh for iOS on all of the devices that run it.

Whether it is an iPad Pro exclusive or a more universal release there are a few things we can almost bank on seeing. I hate to use the phrase “More Android like” but i imagine that is the way things will go on iOS. Like the Quick Settings, the notification shade, and other software features that were first on android, maybe the freedom to place apps where you want them, and the ability to leave spaces between those apps, will finally arrive and redefine what iOS users think of when they think of customization.

I doubt that those apps and empty spaces are going to replaced with actual widgets as opposed to those mini apps/app shortcuts in Today View.

There isn’t any evidence of a software rehaul at the moment but WWDC is a long way off in the world of tech. Fingers crossed we get a couple of leaked images before then. Right now we have to rely on logic to support a change in UI as historically the major and minor updates alternate by year. iOS 9 was a small one that brought a lot of behind the scenes fixes and improvements and little else. So if we follow the usual pattern this will be a big update.

“One more thing…”

Apple have a tendency to make a big deal out of nothing at all. I don't expect that the 2016 events will be any different.

This is iOS’ 10th iteration. Apple will make a huge deal out of this and what better way to do that than a brand new design and feel for its mobile devices software. Who knows, just like they ditched the big cat theme for Mac OS they could even ditch the numbers for iOS...or would that require more imagination than Apple can muster?

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Until next time…

#ios #iphone #iPad #iPadPro