Where iOS 7 Features Come From!

Marques Brownlee walks through the origins of the new features introduced with iOS 7, arguing that while the updates feel very Apple, many ideas drew inspiration from a wide range of sources including Android, Windows Phone, and even older desktop environments. He highlights the redesigned lock screen with new wallpaper, flatter icons, and a motion based wallpaper called powerlax that reacts to the gyroscope. He notes how this live wallpaper concept originated in Windows Vista as a dream scene and explains how Android popularized moving wallpapers that respond to sensors, while Apple brings its own polished, system-wide implementation. The discussion then moves to iOS 7’s design language, emphasizing a flatter, modern look inspired by several platforms, with particular attention to how weather, calendar, and other core apps received a fresh, minimal aesthetic that fits a wider range of devices while maintaining Apple’s visual identity. Brownlee examines the gesture system and interaction paradigms introduced or expanded in iOS 7. Left-to-right swipe gestures appear in apps like calendar and messages, a pattern that has existed in Google apps and Blackberry Hub and is now more broadly adopted across iOS 7 to improve one-handed usability on larger devices. The notification center is reorganized with horizontal swiping for toggles, a feature borrowed from Ubuntu Phone design, while Control Center brings quick access to settings from the bottom and is noted for its translucent, overlay appearance. Real multitasking returns in a card-based interface that borrows from WebOS influences and discusses CPU efficiency and battery life considerations, while Safari and Chrome receive shared improvements in full-screen modes, search, and tab management across platforms. In the latter portion, Brownlee covers Apple specific evolutions such as AirDrop, unique to iOS and OS X, a refined camera experience with live filters, and Photos organization that starts to sort by time and location. Siri’s capabilities expand with new voices, languages, and the ability to command system settings via voice, and the App Store gains background app updates. iTunes Radio is presented as a Pandora-like streaming option with an ad-supported free tier. The video closes by underscoring that iOS 7’s features are not mere copies but a synthesis drawn from multiple ecosystems, and invites viewers to celebrate the cross-pollination that fuels innovation across platforms.

Topics · technology · mobile · operating systems · design