Apple has launched a new design language, but many applications still look the same. This has triggered questions from users about when the new interface will be fully popularized.
The emergence and current status of new designs
, in 2009, at the Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple officially Announced, a new interface design language called "Liquid Glass" is designed to bring a softer, more spatial, and visual experience to iOS and macOS systems. Currently, this design has been reflected in Apple's native applications such as messages, mail, maps, and music, and users can already intuitively feel the changes.
However, the third-party applications currently used by most users daily have not been followed up. For example, commonly used office and communication software still maintain the previous interface style. This sense of fragmentation causes users to experience significant visual inconsistencies when switching between different applications, and the overall experience of the new system is also degraded.
Adaptation lag of third-party applications
There are many reasons for the slow update of third-party applications. The primary factor is the development cycle. Large software developers like Microsoft and Adobe usually have their own rigorous annual or multi-year product update plans. They will not easily disrupt their original development rhythm just because of an interface update to Apple's system.
Looking at it from a technical perspective, many applications are not developed for a single platform. Those applications developed with the help of cross-platform frameworks (such as Electron, for example) need to wait for the framework itself to first support new design features. This invisibly adds an additional waiting stage, causing the adaptation time to be further delayed.
Sync issues with Apple’s own apps
It’s really surprising that some of Apple’s own professional software failed to adapt to the new design in time, such as Pages and Numbers, which are used for office work, and the professional video editing software Final Cut Pro. They still use old interface elements, which to a certain extent reduces Apple’s promotion of the new design.
Apple's own applications are lagging behind, which may be due to differences in development priorities among different internal teams. The work rhythms of the system application team and the professional software team are not completely synchronized, and this "internal and external non-synchronization" phenomenon also sends complex signals to third-party developers.
Technical implementation and challenges
"Liquid glass" is not just a change in appearance, it is associated with a series of innovations in visual effects, such as specific rounded corners for windows, and subtle refraction and magnification effects for buttons. These effects can enhance immersion in graphics-intensive applications, but may have an impact on readability in applications where text processing is the main content.
From a developer's perspective, some basic changes, such as standard rounded corners, can be quickly obtained by recompiling existing applications. However, more in-depth interactive effects and custom controls require dedicated development resources to carry out refactoring and testing. This is a workload that cannot be underestimated.
Quick response from small developers
In sharp contrast to the slowness of large manufacturers, a group of small independent developers responded quickly. Like that, Omni Group, a well-known productivity application developer, brought updates to some of its applications on the day the new system was released. Some text editing tools have also quickly followed the new design.
These teams usually have short decision-making chains and relatively single product lines. They can adjust their development focus more flexibly and regard rapid adaptation of new designs as an effective means to improve product competitiveness and attract early adopter users. They will act more decisively based on this.
Future popularization paths and prospects
Looking back at the past, as far as the promotion process of iOS 7's "flat" design is concerned, a significant visual change would normally take several years to evolve into a normal state in the industry. Within the industry, everyone generally speculates that the "liquid glass" design will also develop along a similar slow penetration trajectory, and its full promotion may not be achieved until 2027, or even later.
If Apple wants to speed up this process, it must provide more convenient adaptation solutions at the development tool level to reduce developers' migration costs. At the same time, in order to quickly update all core applications, it is also important to set benchmarks. In the end, user choice and market feedback will become the core driving force for developers to follow up.
So, has the application you use most frequently adapted to the "liquid glass" design introduced by Apple? Regarding the transitional period when this new interface coexists with old applications, what is your experience when using it? You are welcome to share your own opinions in the comment area. If you feel that the analysis content can be inspiring, please click like to support it.
