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i-aPPLE
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[David Lawrence] “Weirdly enough, Microsoft seems to be leading design innovation in software these days. “
Design is a touchy thing. Interesting how Apple moved away from the candy look of earlier OS X versions to a more streamlined appearance in the OS. Almost too plain. Funny, too, that Microsoft seems to have abandoned the whole Aero style. I guess both companies realized what GPU hogs these designs are. Here’s an interesting approach to a Linux distro that’s intended to make Windows users comfortable:
https://zorin-os.com/index.html
And, of course Ubunty:
https://www.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/features
I personally like the skin that you can get for Windows running under Parallels. It mimics OS X icons, but actually looks a bit more appealing. Speaking of which, I really miss the skins and themes that used to exist for OS 9. Obviously Apple is never in favor of user choice when it comes to look and feel.
– Oliver
Oliver Peters Post Production Services, LLC
Orlando, FL
http://www.oliverpeters.com -
Well, Steve wasn’t. I came to realize that OS X was Steve’s baby and the skins weren’t coming back.
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[David Lawrence] “Agree that iCal was where Apple jumped the shark with skeuomorphism. I don’t think the problem is the use of icons and imagery as much as the OCD emphasis on literalism. On a touch-based system, there’s a certain rational for it but as it starts bleeding into the design of desktop software, I think it’s problematic.
“On the complete flip side of that.
I helped a buddy setup an Apple Airport. He had an iPhone for a while, but had been all PC for his entire life. He’s very smart and perceptive, but not interested in how computers work and what it takes to make them run or work to their potential.
His co-worker had bought an iMac and raved about it. Not to be outdone, my buddy bought a Macbook.
He watched while I worked and was asking questions, so it became a bit of a tutorial of sorts. When it came to tell him about going to the system preferences to get in to the network settings (the icon with the gears), he immediately said “Oh, that’s just like the iPhone”, and then it hit me. I usually go to system preferences through the apple menu and didn’t think about the settings icon, but, Yes, it is just like the iPhone. He sat down and did the work while I watched him. It was like once he saw that icon, he suddenly knew what he was doing.
So while I whole heartedly agree, the ‘skeuomorphism’ isn’t the pinnacle of agency level high design, there’s a bit of similarity between the differing Mac platform interfaces for the applications that are similar that are instantly legible, and obviously that must be working. There are a lot of people for which a Mac is a brand new experience. This means that if I have owned an iPhone (or iPad), I can pick up a Mac after been a PC person my whole life and “see” my way to the settings. Or the address book. Or the calendar. Or Safari. Those things are pretty important features for every day people. There is a level of logic there that I can relate to.
(And according to Business Insider that is the magic ‘poofing’ halo effect mentioned by the article if the iPhone 5 doesn’t completely rearrange people’s brain cells.)
Now, perhaps the average consumer is smarter than that these days and they don’t need those visual cues as much they used to. My guess is Apple has all those numbers (first time Mac users, first time iOS users, iOS to Mac users, iOS and Windows users, etc) and perhaps makes design decisions accordingly? I don’t know.
I do think the Address Book could work a lot better. To me, if I need a phone number, it’s easier to simply hit command-space, type in the contact name, and hit enter once spotlight finds it, but I like that type of thing and most importantly I know how to do it and a new Mac customer might not. Spotlight is also I how I launch some applications. Perhaps ‘iOS only’ users find the Launchpad more familiar when approaching a Mac for the first time, and some use the dock or the Finder. To each their own, they are all there and appeal to many many different types of users and methods.
So, that brings us to FCPX. After all, this is the ‘FCPX or not’ forum and all roads lead to mecca.
There is one aspect of the design of FCP that I find rather remarkable and that is the keyboard shortcut editor. It has helped me to somehow learn more about this new timeline metaphor, and I can’t quite explain how. There are some holes (big ones) but a decent amount of the fundamental mechanics of editing are keyboard accessible in a way that is somehow “smarter” than the FCP of old. I have to touch the mouse MUCH less in FCPX than I do in FCP7. I have learned more about the curious FCPX timeline from the keyboard shortcut editor than most see/say tutorials I’ve watched.
Someone spent a lot of time on it. It really works well and is very easy to use. It’s a “feature” that not very many people talk about as it doesn’t help us edit any faster. But in a way, it has helped me edit faster in X through a more broad understanding of the program.
So while the skeuomorphism might not be for everyone, I think there’s a hint of logic behind it even if it it’s a tad outdated. And if the keyboard shortcut editor is an example new skeuomorphic Apple design, then perhaps my brain cells might just rearrange.
Also, these guys say Windows 8 is almost not terrible. 😉
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0fsyb-ttcw&hd=1
Jeremy
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[Jeremy Garchow] “To me, if I need a phone number, it’s easier to simply hit command-space, type in the contact name, and hit enter once spotlight finds it”
I never tried that before. Fantastic tip, thank you!
[Jeremy Garchow] “So while the skeuomorphism might not be for everyone, I think there’s a hint of logic behind it even if it it’s a tad outdated. And if the keyboard shortcut editor is an example new skeuomorphic Apple design, then perhaps my brain cells might just rearrange.”
I don’t think the keyboard shortcut editor is the kind of skeuomorphism anyone’s complaining about. I agree with you that it’s excellent design (Adobe could learn a thing or two from it).
The problem with skeuomorphism isn’t the use of graphics, it’s the use of inappropriate graphics that serve no purpose other than ornament. The FCPX keyboard shortcut editor works because the keyboard image is appropriate and functional. The iCal Corinthian Leather serves no use whatsoever. It’s visual garbage.
[Jeremy Garchow] “Also, these guys say Windows 8 is almost not terrible. ;)”
They really like their Start Bar, don’t they? 😉
Looks like Win 8 is a mess on the desktop, but the Metro UI on a nice smartphone like the Nokia Lumia 900 is really pretty sweet. Much nicer than Android to my taste. If I wasn’t so invested in the iOS ecosystem, I would definitely consider it.
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David Lawrence
art~media~design~research
propaganda.com
publicmattersgroup.com
facebook.com/dlawrence
twitter.com/dhl -
[Brian Mulligan] “Apple has been revolutionary… FCPX.
See how well that worked?
“See, perfect example.
It’s worked more than wonderfully for me.
It’s quite literally revolutionized my work since I’ve moved from just another of the two million people cutting on Legacy, to one mastering the complexities of something radical and new. Pretty exciting stuff and VASTLY less boring than two years ago where I couldn’t swing a dead Apple Talk box on a cable without hitting fifty other guys who could also competently edit with Legacy.
It’s now to the point that next year, I actually don’t think I’ll be doing do much of anything the way I did last year. And what a breath of fresh air that will be. I’ve been nearly 15 years doing my work the same way week in and week out. Now I can do something I love to do in a totally new environment with brand new tools. Big win for my psyche!
Tho I’ve got to admit that this year is amazingly difficult since two years ago I didnt’ see my entire practice transitioning to an entirely new model – which is actually turning out to be astonishingly hard to pull off in many respects.
But it’s still nice to be challenged to fit into something new rather than just keep making incremental headway in the same ‘ol, same ‘ol.
; )
“Before speaking out ask yourself whether your words are true, whether they are respectful and whether they are needed in our civil discussions.”-Justice O’Connor
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[Bill Davis] “Tho I’ve got to admit that this year is amazingly difficult since two years ago I didnt’ see my entire practice transitioning to an entirely new model – which is actually turning out to be astonishingly hard to pull off in many respects.”
Difficult in what way?
Oliver
Oliver Peters Post Production Services, LLC
Orlando, FL
http://www.oliverpeters.com -
[David Lawrence] “The problem with skeuomorphism isn’t the use of graphics, it’s the use of inappropriate graphics that serve no purpose other than ornament. The FCPX keyboard shortcut editor works because the keyboard image is appropriate and functional. The iCal Corinthian Leather serves no use whatsoever. It’s visual garbage.”
I totally here you. It’s not the best looking ornament.
But, that being said, it does work and is instantly legible. I do think it could be changed. Is it the same in mountain lion? Haven’t seen it yet.
Functionally, what I do like about the desktop calendar is adding a new event. I don’t have to find the date, right click, and add it, I simpy hit command-n type it in, add a time, and add the title. It works really well, but I don’t mind having to type all that in.
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[Oliver Peters] “Difficult in what way?”
Once upon a time, being able to “edit” was enough to support a decent career.
Today, not so much.
“Editing” purely as a skill, is decreasing as a differentiator in securing an income stream because so many people have the basic skill.
Are they all Pro quality? Decidedly no. But they all know how to do the tasks, so they all can potentially nibble away at the stream of video creation need. And that fact is helping depress wages in our industry, overall.
It’s not enough now to just “make video.” At least not if you seek to monetize the skill without sharing too much of the financial results.
And that means elevating skills other than just “editing” to your mix.
X elevated database management and agile versioning export compared to Legacy within the software.
I think there were pretty sound reasons for that.
So those are the things I’m concentrating on these days – improving my skills “surrounding” the video – rather than just the skills for making the video itself.
FWIW.
“Before speaking out ask yourself whether your words are true, whether they are respectful and whether they are needed in our civil discussions.”-Justice O’Connor
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I can’t understand the FCP X shortcut editor at all. What am I missing? I mean, I can figure it out, but it’s not at all logical to me. I understood Legacys shortcut editor from the instant it was introduced. Spoof much better than Avids was too.
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[Bret Williams] “. I understood Legacys shortcut editor from the instant it was introduced”
You mean the button editor?
Is it because you knew the terms to search for?
What can’t you find in X? Granted, there are different terms to search for, but that doesn’t mean you can’t meander your way around through a couple of different ways. It’s the FCPX index and glossary that happens to manage the keyboard layout.
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