Is new Apple app a hint of things to come?
Apple has released an app for its annual developers conference, and some think it’s a preview of design changes the company will unveil next week.
The Cupertino tech giant typically unveils the latest version of iOS, its mobile operating system, every year at its Worldwide Developers Conference, and this year, it is expected to give the platform a noticeably different look.
Apple shook up its executive ranks late last year and put hardware design chief Jony Ive in charge of the design of the company’s software user interfaces. IOS 7 will be the first software previewed since Ive took over, and in the last few weeks, many reports have come out saying he will be shifting the look of the platform toward a “flat” design, which emphasizes simplicity and avoids trying to make interface’s resemble objects in real life.
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Users got their first look at Ive’s influence when Apple released its 2013 WWDC app Monday. The new app avoids the use of drop shadows and features bright colors.
Twitter user @yuize shared a picture of the new app side by side with the 2012 and 2011 editions, showing the new app’s simpler and flatter look compared with its predecessors.
WWDC iOS App Side by Side 2011 - 2013 twitter.com/yuize/status/3…— Juice (@yuize) June 3, 2013
It’s unclear how much of iOS’ design Apple will change, but some reports have said the company has had to shift staffers from other projects to work on iOS 7 in order to get it done by the Apple’s self-imposed deadline.
The Worldwide Developers Conference kicks off next week with a keynote June 10 at 10 a.m. PDT.
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