If half a dozen reports from several well-sourced reporters are to be believed, Apple has a huge redesign coming in iOS 7. Gone are the textures that have characterized iOS for six years now, replaced by a flatter user interface that will still maintain the overall feel of the operating system. While much remains a mystery, we already know what several redesigned elements in iOS 7 look like — not from a leak or a bunch of rumors, but because Apple has already shown them to us.
Apple device users should look no further than Apple’s official WWDC 2013 app for iOS if they are interested in getting a sneak peek at some of the new design elements coming to iOS 7. While things like app icons remain a mystery, the new color scheme and design identity are beyond apparent in Apple’s new app:
The general layout and button shapes are the same to ensure that Apple avoids the shock of a drastic visual overhaul — Microsoft’s Windows 8 has shown us what can happen when visual changes are too severe — but the flatter, more minimal graphics are a fresh new look for iOS.
Here is a comparison shot assembled by Twitter user “@yuize” that shows the new look of iOS 7 in the official WWDC 2013 app alongside last year’s WWDC app and the WWDC 2011 app:
The layout is cleaner, the look is more minimal and the colors certainly seem to pop a bit more, but longtime iOS users likely won’t find the new look terribly jarring, which is a fear any company has when refreshing a user interface.
Apple’s annual WWDC show kicks off on Monday and iOS 7 is expected to debut during the opening keynote, which starts at 1:00 p.m. EDT, 10:00 a.m. PDT.
