In response to NYTimes article : Apple Shake-Up Could End Real-World Images

In response to NYTimes article : Apple Shake-Up Could End Real-World Images

Apple's adoption of real world skeumorphism in iOS is Apple's key differentiation in the Mobile OS marketplace. Microsoft's Windows 8 UI is a clear departure from what Microsoft has been pursuing for year and that is usage of real world look and feel. Google's Android platform too made that same move as Microsoft and it making pure digital interfaces in its Android Jelly Bean iterations.

Why should Apple be worried? If Apple with the departure of the Scott Forstall and the late Steve Jobs ends skeumorphism, that will be the end of Apple's edge as well. I am not a big fan of stitched leather or linen texture but those made Apple what they are today. Instead of departing a subtle improvement or evolution of the existing design language would be good. In earlier reports, there was a clear internal struggle going within Apple design department.

The question is would Jobs have done this if he was still around?

Scott Forstall and John Browett are leaving Apple

What’s does this mean? There were indeed rumors of internal strife within the company when it came to design, especially UI design. Joney Ive “cringed” with iOS design filled with brushed metal and stitched leather. Could he be the catalyst behind Scott’s exit? Or was it the failure of Scott’s two additions Siri and Apple Maps that lead to it?

Something feels strange, either there was a major internal war going on or this was anyway expected as Mac OS X was anyway merging with the iOS mobile operating system.