MobileMe Beta
Today I got my invite for the beta version of the new MobileMe Mail interface, and it speaks volumes about where Apple is at right now. Until now, MobileMe Mail (and all other facets of the service) have had a distinctly OSX look and feel. Even while stuck at work on lowly Windows PCs, Mac-heads could escape from it all and pretend that they were using OSX, if only for a minute, by logging in to their MobileMe account through any web browser.
So it’s interesting that the new beta service turns its back on all those OSX icons and instead brings a look and feel that is distinctly iPhone OS inspired. In fact, it’s the spitting image of the iPad’s Mail app.
Recognise those? You should. Those are iPhone OS icons and yet there they are, right in your browser controlling your MobileMe Mail account. The interface is now virtually the same as the iPad’s, right down to the scrolling list of headers, the search box and the font being used.
MobileMe Mail Beta - iPad, anyone? (Click to enlarge)
So what does this mean? Well, to me it means one of two things: either this is the direction that the next version of OSX is headed too, or Apple have shifted their focus onto iPhone OS as their primary priority. I’d like to think it’s the former, and I’ve pondered about this on the site before, but given the recent news stories claiming that iPads are outselling every single model of Mac combined right now, you can hardly blame Apple if it’s the latter.
The OSX look - outdated?
What do you reckon? Are you on the MobileMe Mail beta? Does it make you yearn for OSX or are you happy to let iPhone OS lead the way? Has OSX had its day in the Sun? Share your thoughts in the comments.
I don't think it says anything about the future of OS X or their OS priorities. I think it has to do with what Apple believes the future has in store. The interfaces aren't that much different to be honest, other than things being bigger. Why would they do that? Because they see a future where we are browsing the web on touch displays or TV screens, something which the smaller UI elements don't translate to well. Bigger areas for big fingers, bigger areas for larger screens that you interact with from meters away.
Another thing to look at is the possibility of Apple providing this service for free. If people start using this service instead of Hotmail or Gmail, these people could be more likely to buy an iPhone OS device because of the familiarity of the interface and the seamless integration that MobileMe has with all iPhone OS devices.
These are just 2 possibilities that doesn't mean a new direction for OS X or shifting focus away from it. I sure hope they don't because I like OS X the way it is now.
(yum9me has made 28 comments)
Interesting thoughts there. I guess touchscreen Macs are an inevitability so yes, it could be that things are just gearing up towards being more finger-friendly.
I would consider buying a Touchscreen Mac granted it had good integration with a wand – I'd want to use it to jot down notes etc.
(Mak has made 222 comments)
Interesting to note here that at the D8 event yesterday, Steve Jobs was quizzed on whether he felt the tablet would replace the laptop at some point. Job’s reply (paraphrased here by Engadget’s live bloggers): “You know… (long pause). I’m trying to think of a good analogy. When we were an agrarian nation, all cars were trucks. But as people moved more towards urban centers, people started to get into cars. I think PCs are going to be like trucks. Less people will need them. And this is going to make some people uneasy.”
I have to say this certainly affirms my beliefs that we are seeing a significant change of focus at Apple. Dan and I were discussing this and we think the next major Mac OS will be more of a hybrid between OSX and iPhone OS, and I’m sure we’ll be seeing tablet Macs (MacPad?).