[matznerd]

I think what you're missing is that this is likely in preparation for some sort of AR glasses and something smaller form factor than the Vision Pro that will require transparency so you can see through to the real world etc...

[joshmarinacci]

It is possible for different devices to have different interfaces optimized for those different interaction models. Apple has the money to support this.

[lanna]

My Mac screen isn't transparent. Why should its UI be?

If there is "some sort of AR glasses and something smaller form factor than the Vision Pro that will require transparency so you can see through to the real world", limit the transparent interface only to that device.

[whycome]

> My Mac screen isn't transparent. Why should its UI be?

Mark my words, this is coming. It’s doable (as an effect) - rear camera captures what’s behind the screen, face tracking adjusts perspective in real-time to make it seem transparent/have correct parallax.

[xeonmc]

How do you adjust the frame rate of reality to match?

[whycome]

I prefer life to look like a movie…24fps.

But if you’re serious, I guess whatever the Apple vision does.

I wouldn’t be surprised if we see “transparent” heads up displays in vehicles that take on this design language/tech.

[appreciatorBus]

Yes.

I look at my Mac screen to see what is on my Mac screen. Whether there is a tabletop, a window, or a cat behind my Mac screen is irrelevant. If I want to see what is behind it I would be looking it that instead of my screen

Repeat for application window, dialog box etc.

The only place translucence sort of kind of makes sense is for video content but even then, it still totally optional. My experience of watching a video is not really degraded if the play button is opaque.

As others have said, wanting to update the design simply because it looks cool is one thing. If that's the goal just say it. But Alan Dye's explanations do not inspire confidence. I get the impression that as in architecture, the chief audience of the design is not the user, but other designers.

[edoceo]

But, UnIFiEd eXpERieNcE

[yborg]

Apple re-running the entire Windows Vista Metro arc.

[asadotzler]

AR glasses will have fixed-distance 2D overlays like your car's HUD. If they're preparing for a Vision Pro experience in spectacles form factor, they're about 10 to 20 years early with this glass UI change.

[PaulHoule]

... could be the point of Liquid Glass on Vision Pro is to make AR on Meta's platform look bad. I mean, the MQ3 is a medium-spec smartphone on your face, the Vision Pro is a laptop on your face. The latter can support a much fancier UI without slowing down to the point where the video lags and you start crashing into things.