Confirming what we’ve already heard about iOS 7, Tim Cook just told Walt Mossberg, Kara Swisher and the rest of the tech world that Jony Ive has been “really key” to iOS 7. Cook is currently doing his annual walk around with words thing at AllThingsD’s D11 conference.
Cook is currently doing his annual walk around with words thing at AllThingsD’s D11 conference. He did it last year. He’ll do it next year. But whenever Cook gets into that interview chair, he will rarely ever say anything revealing or even remotely surprising. Still, it’s one of the rare moments to hear Cook talk about what’s going on at Apple, so we have to read between the lines as best we can.
Cook also talked about how it made sense for Ive, who has sett the look and feel of Apple’s products for so long, to take control of the tone of Apple’s software as well.
“I’ll let you be the judge of that, and yes, Jony Ive has been really key”
As for Google Glass, Cook talked about how it wouldn’t be a mass market item:
“It’s probably not likely to be a mass market item… It’s probably more likely to appeal to certain markets”
Cook did say that there were some positives to Google Glass but quipped about how there aren’t too many people who wear glasses when they don’t have to. Cook did take the time to mention the Fuelband (he wears one) and how Nike has been successful with that.
Cook evaded saying whether or not Apple would get into wearable technology (“I don’t want to answer that one”) but did mention that the area is “ripe for exploration”.
On Apple Maps, Cook said:
“We screwed up,” Cook said. It’s greatly improved, but not there yet. We have more to do.”
And in discussing the option of Apple making an app for Android, Cook said:
“We have no religious issue with doing that. If we thought it made sense to do that we would do it.”
But maybe his best quote was in response to Mossberg’s questioning on whether Apple will ever allow users to change the home screen or keyboard like in Android. Cook revealed:
“I think you will see us open up more in the future. But not to the degree that we put the customer at risk of having a bad experience.”
He re-affirmed the bit on opening up too:
“But will we open up more? Yes.”