Overview
The speaker critiques Apple’s new "Liquid Glace" interface in iOS 26, claiming its intentional design sacrifices readability to prepare users for a future of integrated AR and hardware advances.
Evolution of iOS Design
- Apple initially used skeuomorphic design to mimic real-world objects, making interfaces intuitive for new users.
- In 2013 with iOS 7, Apple shifted to flat design to handle increased system complexity and user familiarity with touch interfaces.
- Each design change has been used to condition users for upcoming shifts in hardware and software experience.
Introduction of Liquid Glace
- iOS 26 introduces Liquid Glace, making menus and notifications translucent and sometimes hard to read.
- The new interface uses real-time graphics to simulate glass and light, making the interface feel organic and dynamic.
- While visually appealing, excessive transparency can impact readability, especially in features like the Control Center.
Design Philosophy and User Conditioning
- Apple’s design changes are intentional, aiming to condition users for future devices, specifically a seamless merger of hardware and digital interfaces.
- Liquid Glace is preparing users for the disappearance of the interface, making way for AR experiences that blur the line between digital and physical.
Future Hardware and Software Integration
- Apple’s internal "Glass Wing" project aims for a transparent, wrap-around iPhone with integrated cameras and seamless AR capabilities by 2027.
- The new interface concept aligns with Vision OS, unifying visual language across Apple’s ecosystem in preparation for AR glasses.
- Aligning OS version numbers with years signals Apple’s vision of all devices and interfaces as interconnected parts of a single ecosystem.
Transition to Augmented Reality
- Apple’s gradual introduction of translucent, floating interfaces will condition users to accept digital content projected into real-world space.
- The company’s integration of complex visual effects and real-time graphics positions it ahead of competitors in preparing users for AR.
Timeline and Strategic Goals
- By late 2025, iOS 26’s Liquid Glace interface will be standard on all iPhones.
- 2027: Apple plans to launch the Glass Wing iPhone for the 20th iPhone anniversary.
- 2028: Introduction of Apple Glace AR glasses.
- The strategy is to familiarize 1 billion users with new interface paradigms before the hardware arrives.
Criticisms and Challenges
- Excessive transparency can hinder usability and readability in current devices.
- Apple risks sacrificing user comfort and past progress for long-term innovation.
- The ultimate goal is to make digital interfaces another layer of reality, reducing the boundary between digital and physical.
Decisions
- Adopt Liquid Glace for iOS 26 despite reduced readability
- Align OS numbering to release years for ecosystem unification
Key Dates / Deadlines
- 2025: Universal rollout of Liquid Glace interface.
- 2027: Launch of iPhone Glass Wing.
- 2028: Planned launch of Apple Glace AR glasses.