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iOS 7 Concept: Beautiful App Switcher for iPhone 5S

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A new iOS 7 concept shows a revamped app switcher for the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5S, offering up a new, faster and better looking way to manage open apps, music and more.

The iOS 7 concept deviates from earlier examples like Auxo, focusing on a full screen live preview of running apps and a search function to help users find the app they want faster.

Current rumors point to an iPhone 5S release later this year, possibly in July, August or September. Apple typically releases a new version of iOS with each iPhone, which leads many to believe that the iOS 7 release date is somewhere in this three-month period as well.

Read: iOS 7 Concept Imagines Smarter iPhone 5S Lock Screen

Jesse Head created what is one of the best looking iOS 7 concepts to date. The video below highlights a new direction for multitasking in iOS 7. This is not an official leak by any means, but it does show how Apple could change things up to deliver a new experience in iOS 7.

iOS 7 Concept for iPhone 5 & iPhone 5S

While Apple is content with leaving controls out of the Notification Center and multitasking, Android devices are adding fast access to common controls in similar areas. As iOS evolves and iOS 7 arrives, a natural evolution would be to add similar shortcuts to frequently used settings. This iOS 7 concept shows one way Apple could deliver these controls without adding complexity.

Users can get a look at how iOS 7 might look on the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5S by watching this companion video on the iPhone 5. The iOS 7 concept video is formatted for the 1136 x 640 display of the iPhone 5. This is the best way to see the experience iOS 7 could deliver on the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5.

Faster App Switching

This iOS 7 concept features faster app switching.

This iOS 7 concept features faster app switching.

This iOS 7 concept delivers a faster app switching experience with fast, full screen swiping through open apps. Head originally planned to include the ability to pin apps to this screen, but settled on keeping the running apps only since the home screen already offers fast access to favorite apps.

The iOS 7 concept allows users to quickly swipe through various apps to see what is on the screen. This is much more elegant than using app icons, too many of which look similar to every other blue-shaded app icon.

Live Previews

Live previews in this iOS 7 concept mean there's no need to open some apps.

Live previews in this iOS 7 concept mean there’s no need to open some apps.

If the purpose of the app switcher and multitasking is to get users quickly back to an app they recently used, the current method is slow and cumbersome.

Rather than asking users to remember the app icons, this iOS 7 concept shows off a nearly full screen live preview of the recently used apps. This makes it easier to find the app you are looking for, and it also delivers the ability to get the information needed without opening the app — saving time.

Search

Search from the multitasking screen in this iOS 7 concept.

Search from the multitasking screen in this iOS 7 concept.

This iOS 7 concept brings search to the Multitasking bar, allowing users to perform a Spotlight-like search of apps. Head acknowledges that there is already a search option in iOS, but this version focuses only on apps, and is accessible without heading to the home screen.

Swipe to Quit

Swipe up or down on an app to quit in this iOS 7 concept.

Swipe up or down on an app to quit in this iOS 7 concept.

When a user wants to quit an app there is no longer a need to hold down the app then tap on a tiny ‘x’. In Head’s iOS 7 concept, a simple swipe will quit an open app. The concept shows no safety net for apps that are in use in the background, but the Auxo Jailbreak app shows us that such a warning is possible for apps playing music or in use for navigation.

Music Controls

The music controls are always present during multitasking in this concept.

The music controls are always present during multitasking in this concept.

The iOS 7 concept shows music controls in the Multitasking screen throughout the entire user experience so there is no need to swipe left to get to the music controls. This offers faster, consistent access to playback controls.

Brightness Control & Toggles

The iOS 7 concept shown here offers brightness control and toggles for common settings with a swipe.

The iOS 7 concept shown here offers brightness control and toggles for common settings with a swipe.

The iOS 7 concept hides a brightness slider and control toggles for common settings behind a swipe left or right. Many android devices offer similar fast access to settings, and users who jailbreak can add quick access to settings and brightness with apps like Auxo or SBSettings. Given the desire for similar functionality in an iPhone 5 with the iOS 6.1 jailbreak, it’s clear many users are hoping for a similar solution.

iPhone 5S Rumors

The iPhone 5S is rumored as the next iPhone, which is likely the incremental upgrade ahead of an iPhone 6 in 2014. Current rumors point to an iPhone 5S release date in Q3 2013. We could see hints of iPhone 5S features at WWDC 2013, which is where Apple will likely show off iOS 7.

Rumors point to an iPhone 5S that looks much like the iPhone 5.

Rumors point to an iPhone 5S that looks much like the iPhone 5.

The latest iPhone 5S rumors claim the iPhone will feature a similar design to the iPhone 5, but with a killer feature. The killer feature is likely tied to iOS 7 based on analyst statements. The most likely new iPhone 5S features are a fingerprint reader and a better camera.

Check out the latest iPhone 5S news and rumors.

13 Comments

13 Comments

  1. mikecarter

    03/25/2013 at 12:18 pm

    I think this would be an awesome feature to have in iOS7. It seems much hasn’t changed with the UI since it was released on the first iPhone. Apple version of homescreen widgets would be nice to see as well.

  2. RH

    03/25/2013 at 12:24 pm

    Looks like the fast app switcher that is already used in Windows Phone for the last year or two….

  3. larsqwe

    03/25/2013 at 1:32 pm

    Already been done on android for a couple of years

  4. Raymund

    03/25/2013 at 2:34 pm

    In a sense, it’s kind of the same idea as the android OS. It’s nothing new at all.

  5. Johnny Quest

    03/25/2013 at 2:55 pm

    LOL. I’d really love to see any fanboy say how revolutionary this is!

  6. random

    03/25/2013 at 3:53 pm

    If Appel adds that to their iOS then the android fanboys won’t have anything to brag about anymore

  7. Adeyemi Gboluwaga

    03/25/2013 at 4:02 pm

    This just makes it an Android-based OS….wouldnt be too much fun…..

  8. Mewer

    03/25/2013 at 5:11 pm

    That would be awesome, but Auxo crashes like a bitch.

  9. Josh Simpson

    03/25/2013 at 6:56 pm

    apple can’t come up with good ideas anymore so they just copy off of android and windows phones.

  10. WebOS

    03/26/2013 at 6:21 am

    Really? Windows 2 Years Ago? Android a couple of years ago? Think people think, this has always been one of the UI’s from WebOS. Android is just a copy cat, oh wait, that’s right Matias Duarte moved from Palm to Google. Don’t forget it’s not an Android or Windows or a new Concept, this was the genius of WEBOS!!!!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgwUs6h57PE

  11. Chris

    03/26/2013 at 7:15 am

    WebOS was the first thought that came to mind when I saw the screen shots of this. WebOS did this before Android. Apple is always playing catch-up…

  12. Sam Thomas

    03/26/2013 at 1:58 pm

    I’ve had this on my jailbroken iPod Touch 3g for the last year or so, in the form of Multifl0w.

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