As I type this, Gizmodo's live coverage of the iPhone OS 4.0 is getting started. I'm exceedingly interested in the new features, updated interface design, and how this new OS will affect the design, reputation, and perception of any other mobile device that is released after it. Another question that (might) be answered is how will this OS better integrate with the iPad hardware. I've seen some remarkable new apps (or updates of existing apps) that do a fantastic job of using the tablets larger resolution/size, but the base OS is more akin to Farley's "Fat guy in a little coat" than a proper implementation of a mobile OS on a 10" screen. Just look at the home screen for chirst sake...
all that unused space. Even if you fill it up with uncategorized icons, it's still inefficient. Good design always needs white space, but this is just a waste of valuable pixels. The mockup below, shows how the space can be used more efficiently while still maintaining breathing room for all the elements. It's got some great data feeds that don't require you to open an app to get a glance at what's going on in your always connected life.
It's not perfect, but at least it's the right direction. As it stands, OS 3 is sorely behind it's competitors. Not that Apple has ever aimed to be the most feature laden... focusing instead on making fewer things work well. But their competition, like
Android;
Web OS;
Windows Phone 7;
are all doing
far more and still makes doing everyday tasks easy.
As much as I sometimes hate to admit it, I've loved using my iPhone for the past 2-3 years. Its totally changed the our expectations of what a phone should do for us. It set the bar in more ways than can be counted. When I test out a new phone (Droid, Pre, any HTC phone, etc), the first thing I do is test the responsiveness of the screen and how quickly I can access maps, mail, web, ect. The first phone I've touched, since the iPhone came out, that came anywhere near to "feeling right" was the Nexus One. I expect Pinch-to-Zoom (multi touch in general), accurate screen touches, a somewhat consistent UI between Apps, and solid integration of social media...just to name a few. But now, I expect even more than the iPhone can offer, Multitasking, apps that aren't "approved" by one single inconsistent body, better app organization, higher levels of customization. Thank god for Jailbreaking to get me through these couple of years, it's truly made the iPhone, MY phone with much improved functionality (themes, folders, file access, wifi hotspot, NES emulation, info widgets for the lock screen, video recording on my 3G, and the list goes on).
Unless Apple pulls some amazing shit out of their ass today, they're going to start losing people like me to the "underdogs", Google and Microsoft. For years now, I've said "The iPhone is
the best phone you can get for any price", but it's not true anymore. Even at their $99-199 prices, it's not. I already know my next phone, it's the
HTC Evo 4G, and there's little Apple can do today to convince me to stick with them. But we'll see ;)
UPDATE: Apple announced some pretty impressive stuff. We're looking at: "Multitasking, folders, improved Mail, iBooks, enterprise stuff, preview of Game Center and iAd." Check out the full detailed list.
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