[_progger_]

It seems they can't go full non-skeuomorphic without looking like a WP rip-off? Finding new symbols for abstract concepts is even harder though, some will stay until we have brain-computer interfaces that will give us new senses.

[sp332]

Microsoft didn't invent the flat rectangle. What about the new iOS looks specifically like Windows Phone 8?

[dragonwriter]

> Microsoft didn't invent the flat rectangle.

They did, however, create a set of design principles for user interfaces for computer applications (inspired in large part by particular pre-computing graphic design styles, but also including particular principles for providing affordances and feedback for interactive applications within that graphic style.)

[sp332]

Yeah, and iOS isn't following most of them. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-US/library/windowsphone/design/... I didn't look at every single one, but having used Windows Phone 7&8 for over a year, and scrutinized the released slides from iOS 7, I don't see any place where they are especially similar.

[dragonwriter]

> Yeah, and iOS isn't following most of them.

I didn't mean to suggest that it was, I was trying to suggest a better focus for discussions of whether iOS design was following Microsoft in any substantial way than either "flat rectangles", or even "what bits seem generally similar to Win 8".

[_progger_]

Apple did not invent gloss and aluminum, but they give them their special style. Also flat rectangles look like... em... typical windows :).