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Apple reveals iOS 7 design revamp and iTunes Radio | Apple reveals iOS 7 design revamp and iTunes Radio |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Apple has unveiled a flatter look for the user interface of its smart device iOS operating system - the first to be overseen by its design chief Jony Ive. | Apple has unveiled a flatter look for the user interface of its smart device iOS operating system - the first to be overseen by its design chief Jony Ive. |
He said the aim was to make the system look "cleaner" to help "elevate" users' content. | He said the aim was to make the system look "cleaner" to help "elevate" users' content. |
It involves a shift away from skeuomorphism - the use of leather, wood and other real-world inspired textures and artifacts in apps. | It involves a shift away from skeuomorphism - the use of leather, wood and other real-world inspired textures and artifacts in apps. |
A similar change has also been made to the OS X system for Mac computers. | A similar change has also been made to the OS X system for Mac computers. |
Highlighting the new look of the firm's Game Center app, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering Craig Federighi joked: "We just completely ran out of green felt and wood - this has got to be good for the environment." | Highlighting the new look of the firm's Game Center app, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering Craig Federighi joked: "We just completely ran out of green felt and wood - this has got to be good for the environment." |
He also showed off a parallax effect which means icons shift against the background image as an iPhone-user tilts their handset one way and another, based on feedback from the device's accelerometer sensor. | He also showed off a parallax effect which means icons shift against the background image as an iPhone-user tilts their handset one way and another, based on feedback from the device's accelerometer sensor. |
"The new version is almost unrecognizable, which will make it polarising," said Jan Dawson, chief telecoms analyst at the consultancy Ovum. | "The new version is almost unrecognizable, which will make it polarising," said Jan Dawson, chief telecoms analyst at the consultancy Ovum. |
"Some people will love that their phone feels new and different, while others will be disoriented by the newness. | "Some people will love that their phone feels new and different, while others will be disoriented by the newness. |
"Finding your Settings app is hard when the icon has totally changed, and the many people who easily get disoriented by their gadgets may well have a negative experience. | "Finding your Settings app is hard when the icon has totally changed, and the many people who easily get disoriented by their gadgets may well have a negative experience. |
"On the other hand, this is a clear statement from Apple that it acknowledges the need to refresh the user interface and is willing to do something pretty dramatic." | "On the other hand, this is a clear statement from Apple that it acknowledges the need to refresh the user interface and is willing to do something pretty dramatic." |
Music streaming | Music streaming |
The firm also announced iTunes Radio - a streaming music service offering access to themed stations which can be tailored according to a person's listening history on iTunes, as well as tracks from specific bands - including unreleased exclusives - which they do not own. | The firm also announced iTunes Radio - a streaming music service offering access to themed stations which can be tailored according to a person's listening history on iTunes, as well as tracks from specific bands - including unreleased exclusives - which they do not own. |
Apple suggested it was a way for users to "discover new music", and the firm will promote the ability to buy songs that a user likes via its store. | Apple suggested it was a way for users to "discover new music", and the firm will promote the ability to buy songs that a user likes via its store. |
The feature is accessible through iOS 7's music app as well as iTunes software for Macs, PCs and Apple TVs. It poses a challenge to Last.fm, Pandora, Spotify and other similar products. | |
The launch comes a month after Google unveiled Play Music All Access, a similar facility for Android devices. But unlike the search firm's pay-to-use model, Apple is making iTunes Radio accessible without charge if users are willing to listen to adverts, as well as an ad-free option to users buying an iTunes Match subscription. | The launch comes a month after Google unveiled Play Music All Access, a similar facility for Android devices. But unlike the search firm's pay-to-use model, Apple is making iTunes Radio accessible without charge if users are willing to listen to adverts, as well as an ad-free option to users buying an iTunes Match subscription. |
One music industry watcher suggested Apple's move could prove disruptive in light of the fact the firm has 575 million iTunes accounts. | One music industry watcher suggested Apple's move could prove disruptive in light of the fact the firm has 575 million iTunes accounts. |
"A large portion of digital music consumers currently buy their music through Apple's store," said Chris Cooke, business editor at the music industry news site CMU. | "A large portion of digital music consumers currently buy their music through Apple's store," said Chris Cooke, business editor at the music industry news site CMU. |
"If we are seeing a shift - which many in the industry think we are - from a situation where downloads are the norm to one where streaming becomes more popular, then Apple has a large audience which it can persuade that its streaming service is the one to shift to." | "If we are seeing a shift - which many in the industry think we are - from a situation where downloads are the norm to one where streaming becomes more popular, then Apple has a large audience which it can persuade that its streaming service is the one to shift to." |
However, Nokia suggested its rival was a relatively late entrant to the market. | However, Nokia suggested its rival was a relatively late entrant to the market. |
"We launched our streaming radio service in 2011," it said in a statement. "It's interesting to see Apple react now and it seems they continue to play catch up." | "We launched our streaming radio service in 2011," it said in a statement. "It's interesting to see Apple react now and it seems they continue to play catch up." |
Other new features in iOS 7 include: | |
About 37.4 million iPhones shipped worldwide in the January-to-March quarter according to market intelligence firm IDC, confirming its status as Apple's biggest source of revenue. | About 37.4 million iPhones shipped worldwide in the January-to-March quarter according to market intelligence firm IDC, confirming its status as Apple's biggest source of revenue. |
Although that was a rise on the same period in 2012, the study indicates the firm's smartphone market share slipped to 17.3% while Android's grew to 75%, thanks in large part to Samsung's success. It also indicated Apple is facing a similar trend in the tablet sector. | Although that was a rise on the same period in 2012, the study indicates the firm's smartphone market share slipped to 17.3% while Android's grew to 75%, thanks in large part to Samsung's success. It also indicated Apple is facing a similar trend in the tablet sector. |
Apple's products might still be more profitable, but IDC suggested it needed the refresh. | Apple's products might still be more profitable, but IDC suggested it needed the refresh. |
"People were getting a bit bored with the old design so Apple needed to make significant changes," said IDC's mobile device research director Francisco Jeronimo. | "People were getting a bit bored with the old design so Apple needed to make significant changes," said IDC's mobile device research director Francisco Jeronimo. |
Apple said iOS 7 would be released to the public in the autumn. | Apple said iOS 7 would be released to the public in the autumn. |
Cylindrical computer | Cylindrical computer |
In addition to the iOS revamp, Apple also showed off the next update to its operating system for Macintosh computers, which will be called Maverick - ending its tradition of naming its OS updates after types of big cat. | In addition to the iOS revamp, Apple also showed off the next update to its operating system for Macintosh computers, which will be called Maverick - ending its tradition of naming its OS updates after types of big cat. |
The software now includes the ability to access the firm's mapping software via a new app, read books bought from its iBooks store, and tag files - in a similar fashion to Evernote and OneNote - to make it easier to call up documents that share information in common. | The software now includes the ability to access the firm's mapping software via a new app, read books bought from its iBooks store, and tag files - in a similar fashion to Evernote and OneNote - to make it easier to call up documents that share information in common. |
A decision to revamp the look of its Calendar software, ditching the current version's use of a leather and torn paper design, also drew applause from the audience of software developers at the San Francisco announcement. | A decision to revamp the look of its Calendar software, ditching the current version's use of a leather and torn paper design, also drew applause from the audience of software developers at the San Francisco announcement. |
Apple also announced new laptops using Intel's Haswell processors, as well as a redesigned Mac Pro desktop which will use Intel's Xeon E5 CPU (central processing unit) and two FirePro GPUs (graphics processing units) made by AMD. | Apple also announced new laptops using Intel's Haswell processors, as well as a redesigned Mac Pro desktop which will use Intel's Xeon E5 CPU (central processing unit) and two FirePro GPUs (graphics processing units) made by AMD. |
Apple noted that the cylindrical Mac Pro was "one-eighth the volume" of its previous model and could support up to three 4K resolution displays. | Apple noted that the cylindrical Mac Pro was "one-eighth the volume" of its previous model and could support up to three 4K resolution displays. |
"Sales of high-end desktops are a niche market for Apple, but a high margin one," said Chris Green, principal technology analyst at Davies Murphy Group. | "Sales of high-end desktops are a niche market for Apple, but a high margin one," said Chris Green, principal technology analyst at Davies Murphy Group. |
"The old Mac Pro has also been unavailable in Europe for about a year because of environmental regulations, so it does need to get out a new model." | "The old Mac Pro has also been unavailable in Europe for about a year because of environmental regulations, so it does need to get out a new model." |