[vbl]

I've been doing "almost flat" for years because it's the simplest expression of a design without gutting affordances.

Things that are interactive look interactive, and these attributes are only used for that practical purpose and never for pure decoration.

I really don't understand why this is even a debate. Do we need a daily post talking about how Apple's overwrought, realism aesthetic is tacky (it often is) and how flat design is too flat (which it is)?

This issue has officially reached dead horse status.

[taligent]

> Apple's overwrought, realism aesthetic

Well it's not like you've helped the issue with misleading, blanket statements like this. The problem with iOS/OSX is specific apps e.g. Game Center, Podcasts. The core OS itself is pretty neutral:

http://www.teehanlax.com/blog/ios-6-gui-psd-iphone-5/

[vbl]

I don't think we should avoid having opinions on this; I just think it's overdiscussed.

In the spirit of you calling me out, I will say that most of what Apple does (particularly in iOS) is beautiful and usable.