This is a discussion thread for the "Could iOS 6 Be the Cure to Your iOS Boredom?" story posted on the front page.
I'll admit, I've grown overly bored with iOS over the past few years. Sure the new features get me excited, but that only lasts for a month or so. Honestly I would like to see a makeover. I understand that would upset people, because the main reason people choose iOS is because of its simplicity and ease of use. But lets be honest, a little change never hurt anyone. My hopes for iOS 6 are a total makeover or some really drastic visual changes.
iOS is boring because it is consistently good. I don't think that iOS will receive a complete makeover, as Apple values the familiarity of a good design to much. However, I do expect (and hope) to see changes in the new OS. Apple now has to compete in the area of design. While Android 4 isn't perfect, it is a massive leap in the right direction for Android, and WP7 still looks very nice. iOS needs to continue to be the shining example of what good design can do. I also really want to see Apple begin to leave the skeumorphism designs they've been pushing lately. From what I understand, that was something that Jobs himself was pushing. While the design is familiar to many, that is about the only good thing that can be said for it. I feel that Android 4 and WP7's digital-centric approach looks and works better in most respects.
To be brutally honest, iOS 6 needs some serious changes. I tire of the devices getting slower and slower each time a new iOS comes out. The A4 CPU should be adequate enough to run iOS 6 and 7 at LEAST. But undoubtedly by the time iOS 6 arrives my 4 will be even slower and the battery will go from 100 to 60 in about 30 minutes instead of an hour. I really wish Apple could make it fast on all devices and not just the latest one. Though it's the same with Windows, Mac OS X, iOS, Android (more noticeable than ANYWHERE ELSE EVER). Only WP7 has kept the same slick speed across all their devices. I'm not going to make any "I WANT THIS" statements like others do. I just want what's natural and what's a given considering the feature list of Android. I know people will bleat feebly that Android has more than the iPhone, but that is it's downfall. Android does have more, but it's implemented badly and crammed in there so Google can say "MY OS IS BETTER THAN YOURS" like a 5-year-old on the playground swing set. Apple do it better. And they will.
Not everyone has grown bored of iOS, but some certainly have. I fondly remember the days of owning my original iPod touch back in 2007 and jailbreaking it on Firmware (iOS) 1.1.1. I remember opening up Installer (before Cydia emerged as the de facto app for jailbreak packages), and getting thoroughly excited about all of the possibilities. Then again, there was no App Store around yet. The best thing we had at the time was the "January App Pack," which brought Weather, Notes, Stocks, Maps, and one other app to the iPod touch for what I believe was $9.99. I mean, I'm definitely still interested in iOS and I use my iPhone on a daily basis, but I'm really looking forward to the freshness of iOS 6.
True. But it's still boring. I want something new in iOS 6, but I don't have much hope. Massive indeed! And iOS isn't perfect either, same for OS7. They all have their strengths and their weaknesses.
Although I hope Apple will release a major UI overhaul, I highly doubt it happening. Apple has gradually migrating and preparing users for something new down to a science. A new UI definitely needs to be started with iOS 6 or else they may lose users to ICS and WP7.
