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It seems like only yesterday that Apple shifted their design language with the release of iOS 7, back in 2013. iOS 7 removed Apple’s skeuomorphic design language, shifting the focus to a more modern pastel design.

It’s no secret that this was majorly inspired by design languages ongoing at Microsoft’s Modern UI (formerly Metro UI), and changes that were forming at Google. Whilst the design was, certainly, divisive, I was never, personally, a fan of it, it was the shift and change that the industry was calling for and shut all the “iOS getting stale” talk. Unfortunately, what came with this, was also a change in reliability, performance structure and polish.

Function over form

Since leaving the design of iOS 6, iOS has grown in many essential ways, Control Centre, customisable keyboards, widgets, even being able to install Emulators is a step forward for me. We’re finally in a situation where, pretty much, everything people would Jailbreak an iPhone for, can now be done natively.

This is great, and, would be great, if Apple’s software was as incredible as the hardware. It would be great if Apple’s software was reliable, but, it’s simple not.

iOS doesn’t need a redesign, it needs a reset. Liquid Glass is not the answer.

Don’t get me wrong, despite the massive level of criticism, I don’t think Liquid Glass looks that bad, to be honest. But, this is the thing, the problem isn’t Liquid Glass, the problem isn’t Apple finally changing things up on iOS. The problem is the why. It’s clear this is a sticking plaster on top of the systemwide fundamental problems built in to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, all of them. Apple’s software is, pardon the pun, becoming a rotting Apple the more releases continue. Features and shines, to distract from the legacy issues underneath.

60fps, never. 120fps, in your dreams

Forever during the Scott Forstall iOS days, the easiest way to critique Android, at the time, was to point to just how smooth and stable Apple’s releases were by comparison. Despite the phandroid deniers attempts, these claims were completely confirmed with Google’s choice to tackle this head-on after Ice Cream Sandwich with their “Project Butter”. I remember updating to Jellybean and just being so pleasantly surprised at what a huge step forward this was. To the nerds, exclusively, that Android really got, back then, they took a blind-eye to the realise and just was like, ohh yeah bit more smoother, but, it was soooo much more than that. It wasn’t there yet, during the multiple Jellybean releases, but, it kicked things off to match, then, easily, exceed iOS fluidity.

Today, there’s no denying that Android phones, with the exception of cheaper poor overlays, are smoother and, in many cases, even better in the UX perspective, than iOS. iOS is bloated, buggy, crashes, and is laggy. It’s become the point where even the absolute die-hard Apple fans, can no longer deny this. When we, as I have for a long time, call for an iOS redesign, I don’t think people are saying just change how it looks, because it’s so much more than that. It’s build it back up from scratch.

Apple’s trapped; in the past, present, scared to change.

Apple’s biggest problem is themselves. I firmly believe that. One of Steve Jobs biggest pieces advice for Apple, and, apparently, what was said to Tim Cook, was to never think “what would Steve do”, when moving forward with Apple. Be individual. It’s so obvious that Apple is trying too hard to appease some pretend interpretation of what Apple might have done, under the same Steve Job era. I’ve no doubt that Apple has a collection of talented software team, but, it’s so clear they’re being, both, held back, and not disciplined.

Steve Jobs was always described as difficult to work with, work for, and impress. This isn’t because he was being a deliberate ass, this is because the bar for Apple, had to be set at the absolute highest. Scott Forstall, Apple’s former iOS chief, who’d previous worked on software for Mac OS X, and more, was also, coincidently, stated as hard to work with. Management has to be like this. Today, Apple isn’t like that. Apple is trying to play the happy family take, instead. Constantly trying to show each of their Teams in laughing tracks, and bonding. Apple now cares more about personalities than what is being presented to Customers. Why? Is Craig Federighi more entertaining to watch presenting than Scott Forstall, sure, but, I don’t need a thousand hair jokes, I need reliable software that makes the investment in Apple’s products better.

Less distraction, more action

I haven’t said the biggest reason why Apple’s released Liquid Glass this year, yet, though. It’s nothing to do with responding to criticism of iOS design getting boring and the demands to move forward, it’s so everyone forgets that Apple Intelligence is everything but. Now, I will be doing another talk about Artificial Intelligence another time, but, I am certainly not an AI kind of guy, I think it’s dangerous, rubbish and has passed further than what regulations should have stopped.

From AI generated imagery, videos, freely discussable, huge spiralling documentation and coding, to driving anything seamlessly, AI is out of control. Apple’s though, well, isn’t, is it, it’s barely working on a base level.

Siri + Apple Intelligence = Embarrassing

Siri can, sometimes, fail to tell you the day of the week we’re on, it’s that bad. Apple Intelligence, however, was a PR nightmare. It’s clear the Greg Jozwiaks marketing team clearly cared more about Apple Intelligence than Craig Federighi’s software team. They ignored all concerns, making up models and scenarios no live device could reproduce. Apple’s damage control and denial of this, clearly, isn’t working, considering the numerous lawsuits surrounding Apple Intelligence marketing.

Despite this, however, I say, F AI. Who cares. If you want to use and reduce your intelligence with AI models, they are all accessible on Apple devices, I want Apple to focus on making their software NOT garbage, but, I don’t think they can, currently.

We need a new Scott Forstall

Tim Cook never liked Scott Forstall. Jony Ive never liked Scott Forstall. Many, inside Apple, didn’t. However, Steve Jobs did. This meant, once the sad death of Steve Jobs in 2011, it was, unsurprising, you could say, inevitable, that Apple was going to do anything to get rid of him. Apple Maps wasn’t as bad as it was broadcasted in iOS 6. The issues were greatly exaggerated and could have been easily pointed at TomTom, who was powering most of the problems, at the time. To use the fact that Scott Forstall didn’t sign an apology letter, as a reason to fire him, just smells petty. But, it was the biggest sign of the downfall we now face with software, and culture, at Apple.

Why was Scott not liked, well, he was a perfectionist, and, like Steve, would take this out on employees who didn’t meet that standard. This is good management, and crucial to keep quality high. But, Craig was more likeable within the company, Scott was responsible for a public cock up, so, opportunity arose, so, was ousted. However, Apple have now forgotten all the fundamentals that made iOS and macOS, at the time, so much better than the Android and Microsoft competition. They were reliable, clean, well designed and intuitive. Today, not so much. Junk is able to make it to release, known bugs remain in software for years, because quality control is dead. Apple needs a shake up, not just in software, but, in leadership and culture. It’s okay to be tough, it’s okay to push further than you maybe even capable to ensure you’re always going as far as you can. Stop settling for average, stop relying on the competition for innovation.

Will it happen, probably not whilst Apple remains compliant with gullible customers. I can’t talk, I’m one of Apple’s customers. The Mac remains unmatched, and, due to the Apple Watch being unmatched, I can’t really live with an Android phone. So, I’m trapped in a second-grade quality experience. But, who cares, because things are going get more .. glassy…

Liquid Glass moving forward

With all Apple’s upcoming software releases now 26, there’s no denying they’ve a sea of welcome updates, and, once they fix the clear issues with conflicting opacity and transparency issues with the glass design, I’m sure, going forward, I’m sure the next updates will be fine. But, the same underlying issues will remain until Apple wake up.

For now, Apple’s Liquid Glass is just that, a new coat of paint over the exact same thing. Bugs, will remain, polish, will remain lacking, until Apple, likely, stop being successful, or, competition gets much better. So, here’s hoping. Liquid Glass isn’t a redesign, iOS 7 was barely a redesign, because all the software still works the same. Windows 7 to Windows 8 was a redesign. But, like Liquid Glass, will still have the same underlying legacy issues underneath.

Keep raising Feedback

For now, it’s about time people started waking Apple up, if they won’t. Too many people use Apple software beta program to just check out the latest updates early, and not to, actually, test, check for, and report bugs. This, also, needs to change. Report bugs, submit feedback and if you don’t want to, stop installing it and wait your turn.

But, people won’t, so, the only hope is Apple go back to the days they cared …

…yeaah, we’re screwed.