Federico Viticci, writing on MacStories:
I have many questions, and I don’t know who will answer them, or when. But among all my doubts and uncertainties, what I keep thinking about is: has Ive managed to fully realize his vision in seven months?
And that is, I believe, why Apple said that iOS 7 isn’t simply change, it’s a new beginning. It’s not an understatement: iOS 7 is not about the icons, labels as buttons, translucency, questionable Lock screen gestures, or a new Spotlight as design choices taken individually – it’s about a single, precise idea: to make iOS simpler and more enjoyable, but at the same time more useful. Control Center, multitasking APIs and background refresh, the new Calendar and Safari, AirDrop and Siri, iBeacons and Sprite Kit for developers – these are all features aimed at making iOS simultaneously familiar and future-proof.
Viticci also covers the initial reaction (mostly negative) to the system icons and why such criticisms are misplaced. It is important to realize that the first beta released to developers is an initial attempt that represents design that has spanned only seven months. Consider that the final version likely won’t be released for three-plus months. That gives designers a substantial period to iterate and improve. I would expect numerous refinements before iOS 7 is delivered to the public.