Will Leopard look like iTunes 7?

[Swad]

So the big question on everyone's mind: did Val Kilmer really make a better Batman than Michael Keaton? Well, ok. Maybe that's not the big question. The other big question - why the new look for iTunes 7? Is this a sign of things to come in Leopard?

 

If you're a big interface geek (like me) you probably enjoy reading about these things. I present a short list of thought-provoking material for your perusal:

 

Another iTunes release, another widget kit: the iTunes 7 UI dissected. (Highly recommended)

Disecting 'Gloomy' Unified in iTunes 7

I like the iTunes 7 interface

iTunes: is there a standard UI element left?

iTunes: From 0 to 7.0

 

So there you have it. The new iTunes UI is radically different than anything that’s come before. Since it’s so unlike the past, it must be more like... the future?

 

There have been rumors that Apple’s Leopard UI will swap glossy for matte and brushed metal for unified (or something entirely new). My own opinion is that iTunes, as Apple’s most visible app, serves as a testing ground for these ideas. The UI designers might throw some of these concepts into iTunes to guage the appeal to their largest possible audience.

 

Consistency is also important, however, and it’s something that’s sadly been lacking lately in the OS of “a consistent interface.” iTunes looks nothing like Safari looks nothing like Aperture looks nothing like... well, you get the picture.

 

Will Leopard bring together this rag tag team of interface design choices? It hasn't yet (in the beta), but let’s hope so. I hate it when my GUI gets too gooey.

[moksha]

I would love it if Leopard got the iTunes UI. It looks darker and so much more professional than the candyish Aqua. As long as they don't start making everything in caps, or make the icons glossier, I applaud this change.

[Takuro]

A lot of people are criticizing the new iTunes design, and when I first saw it I felt disappointed. But it's one of those things that just "grows" on you. I'm starting to get used to the new color scheme. Like the transition from "brushed" metal to "polished" metal, everything looks smoother and less candy-like.

 

iTunes 7 looks out of place in Tiger's Aqua. If it's ever going to fit in, basically everything else will have to change to fit its new style. I think Leopard will be one of the most radical GUI changes in OS X's history. There will be many complaints at first, but like I said: "it grows on you." As Windows Vista becomes more and more glossy, OS X will look smoother and more matte.

 

One definite thing though is that the icon sucks. It looks too exaggerated and the rainbow-glare effect is overpowering. That's a little TOO harsh of a change, so I manually replaced all resources with iTunes 6 icons.

[Colonel]

I'd have to agree with Takuro. At first, I hated the new GUI of iTunes 7. After using it for a day now, I'll agree. It definately does grow on you. It's nice looking, but I'd hate to see Aqua leave in Leopard.

[kevin_4e]

LOL, I actualy have yet to download iTunes 7. Don't care to test it on XP and my MB is not working, but from screenshots I am not a fan. Looks too unprofesional IMO. I do think I'll be able to make the transition to it quickly but I'm not sure yet.

[DiaboliK]

ive grown to like it other than the removal of the visualizer button from the bottom of the window next to the gripper (which isnt there anymore ). you can only invoke it through hot keys or the menu bar.

[bptba93]

I like the new iTunes 7 but i hate the UI.. I don't find it conisitant in the coloring...that's the first thing that hit me..then I found the album view thing cuz I hadn't read about it online..it's pretty cool..like the iChat Video Conference Window in Windoze lol

[EPDM]

What a horrible looking piece of software.

 

Sure it'll "grow" on you, because you have no other choice. So you have "to live with it", look beyond the UI and use it for its functionality. It doesn't mean you like the UI. I definitly don't like likt it. I liked the brushed metal look and would have liked a FULL consistant UI with that. But Apple has always been a ragtag of UI-elements with more emphasis on "similarities" then a true consistent UI.

 

I think the reason that it looks like a ugly GTK-port is because it probably is. It's probably developped by cheap linux-programmers in India or korea like everybody else is doing these days.

 

I hope that Leopard gives us the choice! AT least Microsoft give you the choice to use the old winME/win2K-style UI where Apple just change things for the worse (in this case).

 

It seems that by the time I finally convert to Mac OS I hate the UI so much that I'll probably revert back to Windows, put it in Win2K-ui and just do "my stuff". Because in the end (when every thing is ugly) it only matters that your stuff is done.

 

Regards,

 

EPDM

[ralleria]

Here is what I think:

 

I hate the new scroll bars they just don't fit with the rest of the GUI, the new icon with all that gloss is fighting with the new interface of the program. I'm disappointed with the new icon, also all the new Leopard icons are bad designed (Has anyone seen the spaces icon?), I do hope they'll change the icons after the new GUI is revealed.

 

I like the new buttons though, clean and simple (create playlist, repeat and so on)

[Jeezoflip]

Eh, I like the app, dont get me wrong there. But I dont like how it doesn't look like an Apple program. It kinda looks like it would be for linux or something, with the dull flat colors, and such.

 

 

I also miss the buttons with the aqua effect on them. I dont know, like I said, it doesn't look like an Apple app.

[johnniecarcinogen]

I instantly liked the new color scheme and non-aqua scroll bars. But the buttons, specifically the play and skip buttons, don't look right to me for some reason.

[Pippin]

Leopard won't look like iTunes 7... it will come out with iTunes 8.

[Takuro]

Pippin brings up a good point. iTunes 5 was only out for 7 weeks before iTunes 6 was released. There may be only a couple of months before an unforeseen iTunes 8 rolls out. Remember, iTunes 7 was made to accommodate simply for the new 5th gen iPods, new Nanos, and for the new movie store. When the 6th gen rolls out, there's a more than good chance iTunes 8 will follow. iTV may also factor into all of this at some point. We're currently at an interim stage of Apple's portable digital media evolution - something between Apple's 5th and 6th generation iPods.

 

There's always a chance that Apple took advantage of "interim" period to do some testing with new visual styles. If they get negative feedback, MAYBE (emphasis on the "maybe"), they'll modify a few visual styles to fit more with Aqua. However, probably until December/January, we'll have to put up with the "Linux" look.

 

EDIT: Apparently, iTunes 7 is just a beta and the UI was whipped up in a hurry. The support site accidentally shows an alternate color scheme that they were playing with:

 

There's still hope

[K4bren]

I like the new look. It definately looks more professional than regular aqua. It is possible that Leopard will be like this, since it is the new OS, and why would they just make something new in the intrim.

[vince29]

Why do always people take aything dark and sadly simple as "professional" ? I hate brushed metal, but I really like itunes 6 UI, with aqua scrollbars and unified colors, although a lighter color scheme woud have been better (in my view).

And I really think the new icon is hugly. Why creating a new mate UI if they put such a shiny, Vista like icon ?

[bwhsh8r]

i liked the new gui pritty well, but idk bout leopard

 

max

[Colonel]

EDIT: Apparently, iTunes 7 is just a beta and the UI was whipped up in a hurry. The support site accidentally shows an alternate color scheme that they were playing with:

 

If it's a beta, that would be a good explanation for all of the bugs.

[Takuro]

If it's a beta, that would be a good explanation for all of the bugs.

Bingo. A lot of people are saying it's sub-standard to Apple's reputation for quality apps. A 7.1 version is *supposed* to be in the works. Visual styles and performance kinks will be worked out hopefully.

[Staphyl]

I personally hope that the current iTunes UI doesn't make it into Leopard. I like the candy like Aqua. Its what makes a Mac "Head Turning" Makes people look at your Macbook/Mac Pro/iMac. I don't mind Apple changing stuff, but at least make it an Option to use the Aqua skin in iTunes 7. Like how you can change the entire look of OS X with Graphite and Aqua. At least an option is all im saying.

[XanthraX]

If you want the iTunes 7 to be aquafy, look here: http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/30825

[brewno]

I have to agree the new scrollbars are HORRID. Looks like an ugly version of Linux UI, which sucks. I just hope Leopard won't look like that. Apple knows better than that.

[Ouch]

I personally hope that the current iTunes UI doesn't make it into Leopard. I like the candy like Aqua. Its what makes a Mac "Head Turning" Makes people look at your Macbook/Mac Pro/iMac. I don't mind Apple changing stuff, but at least make it an Option to use the Aqua skin in iTunes 7. Like how you can change the entire look of OS X with Graphite and Aqua. At least an option is all im saying.

 

Staphyl has hit the nail on the head - the Mac OS UI has to be eye turning, and when vista ships with all it's aqua copycat UI Apple is going to need to distinguish itself like it did with Aqua back when OS X was released. So changing the UI is a no brainer. Unfortunately however, this matte look is not going to turn any heads.

 

The problem is not that it's exceptionally bad, there are far worse examples of UI design. It's a lot like the sea of black plastic that is the cabin interior of a Vauxhall Vectra, i mean it has all the right parts it just seems like no one on the design team could really be bothered that particular Friday afternoon. (Maybe they burnt themselves out in the morning working on the new icon?)

 

However there is still hope. Plenty of time for Apple to take stock and for the design team to remove their respective fingers from wherever they had them while iTunes 7 was being penned.

[TheQuantumByte]

Tiger's scrollbars are much prettier and definitely more appealing...

 

However, many rumour sites still insist that Leopard will bring along a "streamlined" interface in which all windows will carry on the "solid metal" theme previewed in iTunes 7.