iOS 7 status bar creates app-level design problems

Originator:dwiskus
Number:rdar://14422736 Date Originated:7-11-2013
Status:Open Resolved:
Product:iOS Product Version:iOS 7
Classification: Reproducible:
 
Summary: 

iOS 7's unified status bar takes what used to be an OS-level design challenge and makes it an app-level design challenge, forcing app designers to account for things beyond their control or interest, and imposing OS and hardware concerns upon the user at the highest level of visual priority in unrelated apps. The previous black status bar did an admirable job of separating this visual information in a way that made it easily accessible without being visually or cognitively imposing. While it is still possible for developers to force a black status bar in individual apps, the results look outdated next to the stock apps, which are—individually—harder to use because of this unification.

Comments

Vague?

I'm sure there's a real problem here, but this bug report is quite vague. You may want to include specific instances or examples of design problems that can occur as a result of the new status bar.

By AriXmail at July 12, 2013, 9:39 a.m. (reply...)

Here are some instances I've run into.

  • Content under the status bar that is both light and dark. Resulting in some of the status bar being unreadable.
  • Text scrolling under the status bar when not using Apple's private blurred nav/tool bars, status bar and text become an illegible mess.
  • Views that slide off screen to reveal more content. Status bar remains in place and looks odd, particularly if the different contents are light and dark. (see issue 1)

It seems the new status bar only works well for two use cases.

  1. Have fixed content (no scrolling) where you design your content around the new bar and it all looks great.
  2. Use a navigation bar so content under the bar doesn't interfere with the status.

If we all made apps like that it would be like going back to the 2007 again. We've moved on, this is a step backwards. There are many other use cases that are now problematic for developers with no real gain for the users. I personally believe this was the most ill conceived idea of iOS 7.

By daniel.wood at Sept. 3, 2013, 12:33 p.m. (reply...)

Status Bar Overlap

I believe what dwiskus is trying to say is that the status bar will now overlap all application's content view. This will affect all 3rd-party applications that do not specialize the status bar. I have not used the default UINavigationBar in many of my applications, nor have I done anything with the status bar, so now my applications will have the status bar covering the content of the application against my best intentions at the time of application creation.

By jamie.riley.evans at July 30, 2013, 11:56 p.m. (reply...)

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