Macgasm notes an attention-grabbing tweet by way of former Apple television engineer Michael Margolis who claims that the brand new Apple tv interface designs were “tossed out 5 years ago as a result of [Steve Jobs] failed to like them.”

Alongside the 3rd generation iPad, Apple additionally presented a new model of the Apple tv that helps 1080P video. With it got here an updated interface for the set-high box, (proven above) with icon-based totally class buttons and large billboard-style paintings for content. The interface used to be additionally rolled out to earlier 2nd generation Apple television homeowners in a tool update.
Margolis goes on to claim that “now there is nobody to claim ‘no’ to bad design”, relating to Steve Jobs’ passing. Some MacRumors readers have complained in regards to the new design, and others felt it was a paving the best way for Apple television apps sooner or later.
five years ago (2007), when the design used to be reportedly “tossed out”, Apple’s product landscape used to be fairly different. both the Apple tv and iPhone were first introduced in January of that yr, and the App store would no longer be launched for another 12 months in mid-2008.
replace: Margolis clarifies what he intended to TheNextWeb:
the brand new UI shouldn’t come as a shock to someone. there’s a clear effort at Apple to make the whole lot in shape the look and feel of their popular iOS products – beginning with Lion and increasing momentum with Mountain Lion.
To be clear – he didn’t like the unique grid. This was once earlier than the iPhone was once widespread and before the iPad even existed.
on condition that the iPad is a long way extra a hit than the AppleTV, migrating the AppleTV to look extra just like the iPad was once more than likely an awfully smart decision – even supposing probably the most users of the outdated UI don’t favor the brand new one.
replace 2: TechCrunch posts a longer response from Margolis who seems to be downplaying his earlier tweet:
Steve rejecting a design five years ago isn’t an enormous deal. Steve used to be well-known for rejecting concepts, tweaking them, and turning them into something even higher. And that’s a very good thing. one in all my favorite components of working at Apple used to be realizing that SJ mentioned “no” to most the whole lot in the beginning, despite the fact that he later got here to love it, recommend for it, and sooner or later proudly present it on stage. This helped the corporate keep targeted and drove individuals to continuously improve, iterate, and turn the proverbial knob to eleven on everything.
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