The Eras of Apple

[@darkwoodmovies]

I'm always fascinated by how dated technology I used just a decade ago looks. Like, back then it was the most modern, flashy design I've ever seen. How does this happen? Is it actually better now, or are we just so in sync with the overall design culture?

[@PeteS_1994]

That's an interesting insight. Is it actually better now? I think we will see in 10 years. I feel like the design of smartphones overall is more refined which might make them not look aged in a terrible way. I don't know how modern iPhones would age, the notch would make them look aged in 10 years or and maybe the colours.

[@escapefr0mslender]

q

[@jhinabloomingflower807]

@@PeteS_1994with that logic Every smartphone that has a hole punch camera Will age the same or a little bit better than the notch of iPhone It’s actually a really great idea For Apple to have a notch Because everyone knows that is an iPhone And it stands out when every other smartphone has the same dot camera on the middle or left/right Also aging or something getting dated is In the eye of the beholder and taste/preference Some people don’t like the notch and that’s okay I personally find that every smartphone having the same hole punch Makes it cheap and unoriginal The notch also getting smaller very soon and Evolving into the Dynamic Island Is also a nice touch Those who like it that’s cool Those that don’t don’t like something else Or someone might like most design choices in phones For me the notch was always awesome without being perfect or the best thing when it comes to front display design For a smartphone I wonder what will come next after the Dynamic Island Maybe it will be a camera behind the display that can’t be seen Or maybe Apple will come up Again with a design choice that will differentiate them From the rest smartphones If smartphones won’t stop evolving Because we have reached a peak a couple of years ago. /;;/

[@Siduch.]

I think the latter; we're simply influenced by whatever the current fad is. Take for example the few-years-old iPhones X or 11. They are rounded and so they look old to us. But now the newer iPhone 15 is ever so slightly rounded (though still mostly flat) and by the iPhone 17/18 I think we'll be back to rounded phones for a few generations. It's also technology evolving, and however the newest technology looks like will automatically be considered nice, as we associate it with being the best.

[@9852323]

Phones have basically peaked since like 5 years ago and not much has changed since then besides minor camera improvements and usb-c. Even an iPhone 6s is still a perfectly usable and reasonable phone in 2024 and it’s 8 years old. Phones now even get much more software support than they did in say the iPhone 4 days increasing longevity 10 fold.

[@fathanfachri]

I miss the skeumorphic era of Apple so bad... 😭😭😭

[@TaccRaccoon]

Same, ever since it ended everything has felt flat, boring, and unoriginal

[@pixelwarrior9235]

My childhood was the KZbin app looking like a tv 😢

[@AllOSes1234]

@@TaccRaccoonflat,fun and playful for me

[@jgsh8062]

Skeuomorphic era has to be my favourite, and aqua is a close second.

[@EpikBirb]

i love both and i hope they can return

[@ricestrange]

Yup!

[@ricestrange]

@@EpikBirb i mean... it's becoming a trend around small creators

[@MrKrewie]

Much better than the flat and boring era, it felt like a downgrade to "upgrade" to the new ios

[@Chad-Whiteman]

Its so interesting that Apple back then tried to skeumorphize their UI to the point where the computer slowed down dramatically, now they have amazingly powerful computers that could handle skeumorphism but still choose to be minimalist.😊

[@UenoLucas]

Another thing to notice on the current era: Apple is starting to care about functionality and user experience slightly more than just pure aesthetics. Examples are pretty clear: the MacBook lineup resurrecting a lot of the ports and the late iPhones getting a bit thicker to accommodate bigger batteries. Me personally, I love it.

[@ripthedvd9728]

I'm still waiting for them to bring back usb-a ports. Getting rid of those was the worst hardware decision Apple has ever made.

[@the_mariocrafter]

@@ripthedvd9728 agree.

[@the_mariocrafter]

@@ripthedvd9728 the Mac users are all telling me to get some dongle but I don’t want to lose it and it looks ugly.

[@ripthedvd9728]

@@the_mariocrafter When apple fanboys say the macbooks have enough ports but then tell you to buy more ports it's ridiculous. If the majority of users need to buy hardware expansions then the manufacturer has built inadequete hardware.

[@the_mariocrafter]

@@ripthedvd9728 yes, usb-a is essential for most people, and is still standered in the pc word and won’t be going away any time soon

[@angelfabia]

I associate the flat and fun era with Johny Ive more than Tim Cook (even though putting him as a reference/turning point is also really accurate). Ive leaded the designed of iOS 7 and nearly single-handedly brought upon the flat era. His departure from Apple also coincides and marks the end of the era. For the current era I’d call it the personal era, since each device seems more unique and personal. Another name would be the Apple Silicon era. And it’s really interesting how this era kinda reflects the aqua era a bit, it’s kinda going full circle at least with the colorful hardware. Really great video!

[@jaiskreno]

The newest era started with 2018 iPad Pro that Jony Ive heavily designed. The marketing shift started with iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, starting with bold fonts and large text. With iPhone Xr, it completely changed and started the hype era with rap music in marketing. The iPad Pro led the way for iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro, while also inspiring the new iMac…

[@UnsightlyThinker]

Yes! Ive’s design’s were very beautiful and definitely coincide with that specific era. Not to mention the product commercials (that felt more like documentaries) that accompanied it.

[@43ballboy]

@@jaiskreno Along those lines the iPhone 7 really started a phase into that era with the “don’t blink” recaps, the “courage” of the headphone jack removal (ugh), AirPods with the iconic weightless walking commercial, and iOS 10 which was essentially a UI beta for iOS 11 with the music and news app redesigns. I think it was around March 2017 when they redesigned their website to incorporate bolder fonts, halfway through the iPhone cycle.

[@Someones_account_haha]

I really wish they could come back with the water era

[@maxcooks2963]

It’s been nearly 10 years since iOS 7 and I’m still not over the design change 😞

[@dorenbabinger2824]

This is awesome! These eras are all iconic in their own ways and your explanations of them are amazing, great vid. This is the first vid of yours that I've seen, and it won't be the last.

[@Undefined.100]

Thank you! :D

[@OM-sp3wk]

“No nonsense era” proceeds to create the butterfly keyboard and all sorts of other stupid choices in that era, that were mostly fixed in the current era

[@UnsightlyThinker]

I just discovered your channel and am absolutely loving your videos. They cover a niche that I didn’t even know I was looking for! I personally have very fond memories of the Skeuomorphic Era. Although I also think there’s something very special and beautiful about Ive’s work.

[@cauwama]

my first exposure to tech was during the aqua era, but my first time actually using technology was during the skeumorphic era. Needless to say, seeing the skeumorphic era of anything is very nostalgic.

[@michaelalvarado5057]

personally I like the flat and fun era because it felt so vibrant and nice without just trying to blend into everyday life. It truly was its own thing from the world and it was beautiful.

[@vincentsvirtues4172]

Most of the technology I grew up with was stuff from the early 2000's (even though I was born in '03), and by the time I'd situated myself into the internet the skeuomorphic design was current. This may just be skewed by nostalgia but I always saw these designs, particularly the Aqua ones as futuristic. When iOS and flat took over the world, it was novel but it wore off soon. It doesn't feel futuristic at all. Just feels like the world is a giant modern art museum. There are surely some people who hated the Y2K look, but they likely felt short-changed by the skeuomorphic design because it's not enough of a departure. I'd say that's how I feel about the 'No Nonsense' Era and the current. It's not awful, I can appreciate it, but I know something will replace it eventually and it won't be the same as before

[@ThePC007]

I personally think the flat design looks cheap. And while I appreciate the fact that I, as someone with no design background, can fire up Inkscape and make something that wouldn't look too out of place next to a design made by an actual professional, I still miss the time when I was actually impressed by professional design. That said, modern iOS and macOS still look good, even with their flat design. Windows 10 looks like they've made some temporary programmer art and decided to ship it.

[@PeteS_1994]

Flat design is in fact older than skeumorphism, it's more traditional. So it's like modern but nostalgic.

[@EpikBirb]

flat ios is the worst thing to happen to iphone

[@paulspastaladen]

we are now absolutely in a very „Personal Era“ All the different colours and ios Designs wich u can chose differently on every product

[@lv1543]

love your videos. i made my linux desktop enviornment look like it came out of 2008 frutiger areo style thanks to you.

[@scarwoods]

words cannot describe how much i enjoy your videos, you bring me true unadulterated nostalgia

[@v.o2k2]

Aqua era is my favorite. Great video!

[@Kayakasaurus]

I like all these areas and it’s nice to see some of that aqua vibe pop back up in some places (in hardware)

[@CollegeKidd]

Flat and fun is personally my favorite, lots of good memories I had with this one.

[@dgxobeats]

i hope this vid gets to a million, this is very well put

[@Undefined.100]

:) thanks!

[@DoctorSpaniel]

i loved this video! very descriptive, and a nice throwback to the earlier times of apple.

[@kensh851]

I like to name Apple's current era as "Pill Era" because the design of Apple beginning in 2020 feels like I'm taking a chunk of prescription pills

[@ConstipleVODS]

Your channel is going to be huge

[@Undefined.100]

:)

[@SASTSimon]

The aqua era, the no nonsense era and current era are my favorites. They did everything perfect. The other 2 look like a weird mix

[@Kezzzk]

I really enjoy watching these videos about the design of OS or hardware, with the old eras and the images you show triggers that nostalgia feeling, and as the video goes on, that feeling of nostalgia transforms into excitement when you talk about the current era and what is to come yet. Keep making these!!

[@matthew001]

Amazing video! The current apple era seems to be resurrecting elements from the iphone 4/5 era, with the flattening of bezels on all apple devices

[@wavvy94]

i remember being in 7th grade and being completely spellbound by the aqua aesthetic of mac software that i convinced my dad to upgrade the household PC to a 2007 imac 😂 this was so nostalgic, great vid!

[@employee472]

I feel like this new era feels much more artist inspired (if that makes sense?), lots of abstract and colorful design choices, over-ear headphones that are more stylish but less convenient than airpods, huge emphasis on customizability, etc.

[@ItsMePhiliph]

I will forever love the Skeumorphic and slightly industrial era, I have some knowledge about customizing android, I have plans on cooking a custom rom with Skeumorphic UI design omg

[@kurt120032002]

I wonder when the "we are 8-25 years behind anyone else" era will end, and their abysmal and incompetent developer teams will be replace with people that are not overwhelmed by the concept of icon placement, multi-tasking, widgets, calculator app or even mouse pointer. I am more interested in the end of this era more then anything else.

[@legolooper]

No way! Only 34K subs for such a high-quality video?? I can't wait until you go insanely huge as a channel. Keep up the great work!

[@sb001_]

I have never had an Apple product, but all I can say is that the Aqua era was the most revolutionary one. I think this era is one of the staples when you think of Y2K design, and it was game changer by bringing in the iPhone, iPod, etc. both in terms of design and technology. It saddens me to think of what could've been of Apple today if Steve Jobs was still around. He had a vision and a mind that even the best of today's Apple cannot match.

[@PeteS_1994]

The aqua era seems slower evolving basically because of tech wasn’t as portable but one seems much more enthusiastic or optimistic about the future. It’s filled with wonder.

[@emanfey]

Your video was amazing and im shocked at how good it is considering youve only been here 7 months

[@khoco8888]

It would be nice to see some small hints of the aqua era in modern MacOS. They've re-added the centre stage feature? (I can't remember the name) in MacOS Ventura, so maybe they will bring other features or even design languages back from before

[@TheInsane104]

This was a very cute and well structured video, loved it!

[@ricestrange]

The aqua era and skeuomorphism era are my favourites!

[@kingcoveryepic]

Yay. Two of my fav things: graphic design and history (especially eras)!

[@nerdy8644]

I have a feeling your channel will grow

[@cmyk8964]

I used to think Apple’s design changed little since iOS7, but now that you break it down like this, I do see the change in direction of the current era.

[@GabeLily]

"but, like everything, the aqua era came to an end in roughly 2007." yeah

[@nepgears]

i absolutely love this channel im so glad i found it

[@hah6360]

This is a diamond of a channel

[@werdylp]

flat and fun era is the best name you could give it. The change from steve jobs model to tims one was huge and I remember wanting to reverse it, because I did not like the way it went. When I look at it back, it is most likely just me wanting to keep steves work a bit longer. The design reminds me of youtube where ppl were talking to themselves on youtube and saving starbucks cups

[@aspitube2515]

I never really realised this changes but, when we look at the timeline, everything changed drastically. Airpods is a big thing now and it feels like it has always been here.

[@saca.technology]

Why isn’t this viral?

[@sketchywav7741]

Super underrated channel. Super interesting.

[@agentbuckshot4697]

Very clear & concise video

[@SamWalsh1]

I enjoy your videos. They are fun and well informed. Keep up the good work

[@eatbutter]

currently binge watching the os videos on this channel

[@celyn_luv]

Id call the current era the "ok ok, MAYBE we can tolerate SOME nonsense :3" era

[@tilsgee]

If i was you, i will call "the current era" as "neuromorphism era" Why? Take a look at macOS Big Sur and Windows 11 icons. Looks flat yet they have shadows on them

[@MegaKirb]

tbh this is the first video i’ve watched on your channel, and it definitely won’t be the last. i love the way you explained things simply but in enough depth at the same time

[@diskrisks]

Aqua era: Steve Skeuomorphic era: Scott (Forestall) Flat and Fun: Jony No nonsense: Tim Current era: Craig

[@Lukepuke311]

my favourite era was the flat and fun era because it’s not corporate but not too detailed like skeumorphic and to a lesser extent aqua

[@FredandGeorge]

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the pre-OSX eras. I was an 80s kid and I feel the same warm nostalgia for the beige boxes, black-and-white graphical interfaces, and rainbow logos of that time that younger folks do about aqua or early iOS.

[@rouxenophobe]

The final Apple icon should have a notch out of it instead of a bite.

[@klondt]

A very well done video. Thank you!

[@S-1_24-25]

I like aqua, skeumorphic and flat and fun

[@lukesahagian]

This video was so well thought out, great job!

[@slamandjam2]

Aqua and skeumorphic were my all time favorite designs. I prefer the hardware design of the aqua, and software design of skeumorphism

[@accountname8819]

Nice, i always like the feel of different ui designs.

[@nikkehtine]

Love them or hate them, you can't deny that Apple really puts a lot of polish and effort into designing every little thing they offer

[@mr.vanuatu]

So this era could be named The Customisability Era

[@bowler7922]

God damn the skeuomorphic stuff takes me back, looks so much better than what we have today

[@randomdude1053]

Great video you deserve more subscribers

[@ashton6307]

The only Apple product I've owned so far is a pair of headphones that came with an iPhone 4 my grandma used to apparently have. But I plan to get my first iPhone with the 14 Pro.

[@alexx3617]

Can you also make eras of Windows UI? The eras of Apple and Android UI that you have explained so well has inspired me so much, that I also made my own design eras, and making another one about Windows or Microsoft would be absolutely amazing, as the last touch to your explanation of design eras series! Waiting for more amazing and inspiring videos from you!! 🔥🔥

[@lukeonuke]

I always get suprised when i see that sub-count, all hail the algorithm and maybe the views will come

[@ablueslime]

nice also happy 34k subs

[@Undefined.100]

Thanks!

[@ndr_32]

Aqua, flat and fun and the current eras are my favourite ones. Colourfulnes is so necesary. But the best of all was the one during the nineties. The Classic 8 and 9 OS is my absolute favourite.

[@blazerodgamer301]

i grew up with the skeuomorphic era and i loved it

[@PikaPikaLOL]

I think one major hallmark of the current era that is overlooked is just how much Mac has changed with M1. So much of the past has been focused on iPhone, but the current era feels like it’s a Mac era. Also a focus on looking back to the past - MagSafe returns on M1 Pro/Max and M2 Air, colorful iMacs, boxed edges for iPhone 12 onward like iPhone 4&5, etc

[@9852323]

Aqua and skeuomorphic era had the best look and feel.

[@mneri84]

Wow as someone who’s owned some apple product from all of these eras, aqua was my favorite. But with apple silicon I think this gen has a lot going on for it.

[@the_mariocrafter]

What’s your favorite UI era in all of tech?

[@Undefined.100]

I really like the papercut and material design era, windows vista/7, and I have a soft spot for old iOS. (Love MacOS too)

[@the_mariocrafter]

@@Undefined.100 windows 7 looked awesome while not sacrificing any functionality (other than a few resources from the transparency)

[@the_mariocrafter]

@@Undefined.100 rank the 3 eras from best to 3rd place.

[@Undefined.100]

Which three eras do you mean?

[@the_mariocrafter]

@@Undefined.100 the three you mentioned: windows 7, paper cut, old iOS

[@peaceenjoyer]

these videos are SO GOOD

[@alexx3617]

I haven't seen such a channel that explains the history of design and it's meaning so detailed like Undefined, you really have put everything together so well and have done a really great work, I'm really impressed by the amount of detail explained! 🔥🔥👏🏻 I thought that I'm the only one who paid attention to these design eras of Apple and Android! 😅 Just subscribed to you for more impressive videos like this one, keep the great work going! ❤️👍🏻

[@LambdaMiscellaneous]

Nice channel!

[@sebastianolantieri23]

Aqua and Skeumorphism basically were frutiger aero, especially Aqua with the futuristic/optimistic loooks of software, images and hardware.

[@satin360]

the skeuomorphic is quite nostalgic for me

[@EVILBUNNY28]

Skeuomorphic will always be my favourite, the flat spring design of ios7+ I’ll always associate with Johnny Ives as opposed to Tim Cook. Tim is more reminiscent of 2017+ With the advent of Vision Pro its brought about a new era of “Neuomorphism” where the boring flat UI elements are being replaced by frosted 3 dimensional design, which I’m all for. I’ve been an avid supporter of neumorphic design ever since I saw the abomination that was ios7. Frosted glass, raised buttons, and modernism can all be achievable at the same time without making everything boring, flat and colourless.

[@AntoniotecnodroiosProPiViPi]

My Favorite Era is elegant, because the icons and design have a realistic style.

[@windws7137]

Great video, but the pictures move too quickly, I'd like to see more screen time to observe them

[@korydrake4567]

Very cool video! Also as someone who works with these phones everyday, Apple would make BILIIONS from doing a Program like google where you pay a monthly sub fee and get the newest device along with their services.

[@andrew_sar]

Similar to how aqua evolved from white GUIs with pinstripes to heavy use of the stainless steel look of early Safari, I would consider the “flat and fun” and “no nonsense” eras to be one. “No nonsense” is just a natural evolution of the flat and fun era, like how Tiger’s stainless steel look was a natural evolution of the previously more pinstriped and bubbly OS 10.0

[@M_1_K_E_Y]

Flat and fun is my favorite

[@Balo657]

Where were you when ios7 update dropped… I was in high school and everybody didn’t like the new design but we all got use to it. I still don’t like the simplification of logos

[@theruq7171]

I would say the flat and fun era was an era of slow decline for Apple (It fell FLAT, you could say), with Ives removing features and character from both devices and hardware in favor of absolute minimalism. The "No-Nonsense Era" would be a sub-era to mark the latter years of the flat era, but even then there you notice how weird some of the hardware was, with the touch-bar the 1st gen apple pen (it looked like a d*ck when charging off an iPad, let's be honest), and other oddities. Although there were definite wins, such as the Apple Watch. Perhaps I'm being too harsh on this latter sub-era as at the time the technology just wasn't quite there yet until close to 2020. (2nd gen apple pen brought about magnetic charging, we got rounded screens, etc.) The "Current Era" is thankfully seeing some character come back to the design of both software and hardware, with the departure of Johnny Ives. Features are coming back and are more user-focused, whilst still maintaining a minimalist look overall. But I would really call the "Current Era" the "Services Era", as Apple is changing their business model to try to improve profits with eternal subscription service models. The "You vil own nothing, and you vil be happy" model.

[@superNova5837]

To add on to the point of dimension coming back visionOS was released that included 3D icons glassmorohism and real time shadows Also the Big Sur FaceTime icon started showing up in iCloud settings even though iOS hasn’t fully entered what I would call the “dimension era”

[@discovertech843]

It might be because I grew up in this era but the flat and fun era really stands out as the best to me. I love the fun poppy colors and the flat design despite how much hate it gets. This was also the time when I got my first iPad so a lot of good memories during that era of apple.

[@user-mf9gs]

Flat and Fun era was my favorite/what I grew up on

[@octoberboiy]

I just like when Apple brought new products into the line like when the iPhone 4 released with the front camera or when the iPad released for the first time. I still love the look of the first iPad. I can’t wait till the Apple Glass releases. Hopefully the term iGlass will take off.

[@mukychip]

love the channel

[@nerdy8644]

You should do one of these videos on Microsoft next

[@mamelloraboroko3645]

Can’t wait for the Microsoft video. A Windows Phone video would be dope too

[@999GNG]

wow! amazing video!!!

[@1993MAZDAMIATA]

the skeumorphic era is my favorite followed closely and i mean really close by flat and fun

[@12gauge_shawtyy]

interesting how it seems like the aesethetics bounce between playful, bright, and color and then to dark, formal, and classy.

[@WilliamMcBride]

Did anyone else think like me that with the 2nd Apple logo because it had a line running through it it meant I had something wrong with my phone, like I’d cracked the screen! 😂

[@skyscall]

We're definitely in a new era today, starting roughly since when Jony Ive left Apple in 2019. He was Apple's key designer for over 30 years, his leaving made way for some huge changes. Things are more functional now. The MacBooks got thicker, heavier, and more ports, as well as getting _the_ most advanced CPUs ever put in a computer. They even finally got black options, a color that's pretty standard among professional business laptops, but until now has been notably absent from the MacBook. The iPhone got thicker and heavier, losing its fragile and fingerprinty glass back for a stronger, tougher, solid metal side railing and back that won't shatter. The iPads are getting side-mounted selfie cameras to support them being used as more professional computer replacements. iPhones, AirPods, and iPads are now moving to USB-C. And of course, Vision Pro happened. Apple is turning away from their old "make it as thin and beautiful as possible, even if it's fragile and hot" past, and are now embracing a "let's make these things as great as they can be, even _if_ that means they get a little uglier" future, and I'm all for it.

[@RolandBizjets]

This could be the ECOSYSTEM era.