Apple design chief owns an M8?

[M Zorin]

If you read between the lines:

BBC - iPhone man Jonathan Ive returns to Staffordshire roots

[rosuna]

Interesting.

I find the classical interface of Leica cameras very Apple-like... minimalistic. But only the Leica S2 follows this philosophy in the digital age, in my opinion.

I would like to know Ive's opinion about the M8/M9... from the point of view of an industrial designer.

[zlatkob]

Wow, the article gives so little information. He couldn't talk about Apple. He doesn't say anything about the construction equipment factory he was visiting. It seems that all he could talk about was photo gear, but the author declines to give readers any details such as which camera and which lenses they talked about. Can we deduce that he was talking about the M8 or are there other possible interpretations?

[RickLeica]

M Zorin - The observation you make could only come if you know Leica. I think you are right on. It would be fun to talk to him and I bet a lot of us would resonate with him.

[luigi bertolotti]

Originally Posted by zlatkob

Wow, the article gives so little information. He couldn't talk about Apple. He doesn't say anything about the construction equipment factory he was visiting. It seems that all he could talk about was photo gear, but the author declines to give readers any details such as which camera and which lenses they talked about. Can we deduce that he was talking about the M8 or are there other possible interpretations?

A possible interpretation is that they were FILM Leicas... Jonathan Ive ASKED which model was the one held by the Journalist...this is a bit strange for a M8, which has its name big on the front... M7 too, but there were several M6s which had the old style small "M6" engraving on top, and at a quick sight they are not so easy to distinguish from other models like M4 (I know... important differences... but maybe Ive is a Leica user, not a deep passionate of Leica gear). Add the fact that M6 was made chrome, black chrome, painted... and this could be related to the (not so clear) observations about finishing - aging ... indeed, one could also hint that from M8 to M9 ("last model" quoted by Ive ?) the "silver" finishing has changed... but this does not match exactly Ive's observations...

Maybe someone of us could contact the BBC man (Joel Moors) and ask for clarifications... ... he could even been well disposed to speak about, given that he declares that "...could talk about cameras all day "...

[MPerson]

A real non-event/article. Probably says more about how slow news is for sleepy BBC Radio Stoke!

Looking forward to the Apple designed JCB though.

[stnami]

My take is that he probably owns a toilet brush and could possibly use toilet duck products

[cocker]

Have you seen him on the iPhone video - he's deeply weird!

[wstotler]

""Ah, I've got the same one in chrome. The new one's not as good because it's not painted, so it won't age the same way."

Apple's design cues for their recent mobile devices have been black + chrome color + glass. The color tones of the chrome Leicas, such as the M6, M7, and M8 "match" the iPad as though they come from the same basic design cue family. Not exact, but more similar to each other than they are to other design icons/families.

Look at any chrome lens from the front. Rim of chrome (same shade/color although different material than the iPad), inner ring of black. Glass. Don't feel it's that much of a stretch, honestly. It goes beyond pareidolia, in other words.

To add, I have a "vulcanite"-ish screen background on my iPad. And I bought a tan leather wrap/sleeve. Black + chrome + glass + leather. Like my M8. They really look like they belong together, like a matched pair.

As a reminder, The white M8 from Leica was iPod-esque (previous generations) and people said so.

And, the clean lines of the Leica Website, with product displayed on brilliant, minimalist white, are similar to what Apple was doing with its product displays on its website for quite some time. And its commercials.

Synergy of design, at the least.

Thanks for posting the link.

Cheers,
Will

[andybarton]

Maybe those Apple to buy Leica rumours from a month ago were true.

Why else would Ives be over in Europe...? Where had he been _before_ the JCB factory - that's the important thing

[stunsworth]

And there I was thinking that he and Apple were just ripping off the "Braun" look of the 1960s.

[plasticman]

It's well-known that Ive is an admirer of the work of Dieter Rams. I don't think we need to look at Leica cameras to see where Apple gets its inspiration.

(Link leads to Gizmodo)

[Alberti]

Originally Posted by wstotler

""Ah, I've got the same one in chrome. The new one's not as good because it's not painted, so it won't age the same way."

Apple's design cues for their recent mobile devices have been black + chrome color + glass. The color tones of the chrome Leicas, such as the M6, M7, and M8 "match" the iPad as though they come from the same basic design cue family. Not exact, but more similar to each other than they are to other design icons/families.
[...]

Cheers,
Will

Will, Doing close reading on the interview I see a strange word; NOT [painted]. I understand the M9 IS painted. That is why it wont age the same way (the reason I have choosen a silver M8 ...). LOL.
alberti

[wstotler]

Originally Posted by stunsworth

And there I was thinking that he and Apple were just ripping off the "Braun" look of the 1960s.

Originally Posted by plasticman

It's well-known that Ive is an admirer of the work of Dieter Rams. I don't think we need to look at Leica cameras to see where Apple gets its inspiration.

Respectfully, I think it would be more appropriate to make the claim that Apple is using a similar design philosophy--minimalist utility. It is not a rip-off, nor is it an "inspiration" based solely on look/feel. The philosopy is the inspiration. For a designer to subscribe to a philosophy--but then to modulate its principles for the problem at hand--is common practice. The best ones force the philosophy to the fore in the final product. The Germans are particularily good at this--since the Bauhaus period. In America the stylists and accountants are largely in charge, which accounts for a lot of domestic design nonsense.

Ive's take is a 90s/00s philosophy with roots in 60s/70s minimalism riffs, which have roots in Bauhaus and (originally) De Stijl.

The only direct lift I've seen from Dieter Rams (Braun's lead designer) is the OS X calculator widget for the dashboard and the original white iPod design. Dead-ringers. More a homage than anything else, IMO.

Leicas are minimalist designs--and they put a great deal of stress on skill because they are so minimalist. If you don't understand principles of photography the camera will "out" your lack of knowledge. However, if you rise to the challenge, the cameras get out of your way. That's good design--nothing more than you need.

BTW, the Leica 60s camera design-cue was noted here as early as '08 (last part of article):
Apple from Braun | Haobam

Cheers!
Will

[Nicoleica]

Originally Posted by stunsworth

And there I was thinking that he and Apple were just ripping off the "Braun" look of the 1960s.

Is that why M8 shutters have been known to buzz?

[plasticman]

Originally Posted by wstotler

BTW, the Leica 60s camera design-cue was noted here as early as '08 (last part of article):
Apple from Braun | Haobam

Yes... that's effectively a link-back to the article I posted above... Oh well good to see my contribution was useful.

Anyways, if anyone can be bothered to search for it, Ive has actually talked about his indebtedness to Rams somewhere out there on the internet. Appears to be no point in my posting a link.

[earleygallery]

Originally Posted by cocker

Have you seen him on the iPhone video - he's deeply weird!

So, what's his username here then?

[wstotler]

Originally Posted by earleygallery

So, what's his username here then?

Now, that's the million-dollar question. I was thinking the same thing when I was posting, above.

Cheers!
Will

[cocker]

Originally Posted by earleygallery

So, what's his username here then?

We have a few choices there don't we!!

[luigi bertolotti]

Originally Posted by andybarton

Maybe those Apple to buy Leica rumours from a month ago were true.

Why else would Ives be over in Europe...? Where had he been _before_ the JCB factory - that's the important thing

Aha... Jobs, in front of thousands of people, says the iPhone has a someway Leica feel... now, the (seems to be) n°2 of Apple speaks CLEARLY in public (even if not so squarely) about Leica...(while declaring he "cannot speak of Apple"...). Apple has serious links with Adobe (much more than Microsoft, for instance), and Leica has clearly endorsed Adobe DNG as their standard RAW format... all of this MUST mean something...