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The author is just overthinking things here. If anything, green is the color used to indicate “go”, a positive sign that has been etched into our minds. The rea

The author is just overthinking things here. If anything, green is the color used to indicate “go”, a positive sign that has been etched into our minds. The reason is very clear as already mentioned “it doesn’t support messages”. Why isn’t that explanation enough? EDIT: to clarify here, the author does explain his point about the color and the contrast of the text. He may have a point there but IMO, the main issue was that it’s not messages. The thing I should have added is that back when it was implemented people had to pay real money per message to send as a text message. That means everyone in the group had to feel uncomfortable sending frivolous messages when it costs someone money. I think that is the real reason for the bifurcation and not the color choice.

volleygman180 4y ago
The article elaborates, however. It's not a problem that green is used. It's that Apple chose a lightness/shade that is less accessible. Given their attention to detail in design (see the rabbithole of their Human Interface Guidelines - https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/guidelines/overview/ https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guideline...), I agree with the author in that this was an intentional design choice that Apple made.
afavour 4y ago
I don't mean to sound like an asshole here but did you read the article? The author outlines that the contrast applied to the green is less readable than the blue, to the point where it falls below accessibility guidelines. I personally am not convinced by the theory that Apple is doing this deliberately (though it doesn't sound impossible to me either!) but either way it's something they should change.
- malshe 4y ago
  The author's example of the green text looks pale compared to what it really is.
- scarface74 4y ago
  Well seeing that every one of the authors images don’t jibe with reality - ie his images aren’t what are actually on iPhones in terms of saturation - it kind of makes his entire thesis moot
  - afavour 4y ago
    Yes and no: a screenshot of an iPhone isn't really a great representation of what you see when you're outdoors in daylight, for example. The general point still stands that the contrast is better in the blue than it is in the green and Apple could normalize them with no issues.
moolcool 4y ago
If you don't think Apple had the same thoughts OP did during the design process, you don't know Apple.
- scarface74 4y ago
  Seeing that the change in saturation happened when Ives took over the iPhone UI when iOS 7 was introduced, it was just one of many poorly thought out decisions that were made under Ives leadership.

volleygman180 4y ago

The article elaborates, however. It's not a problem that green is used. It's that Apple chose a lightness/shade that is less accessible. Given their attention to detail in design (see the rabbithole of their Human Interface Guidelines - https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/guidelines/overview/ https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guideline...), I agree with the author in that this was an intentional design choice that Apple made.

afavour 4y ago

I don't mean to sound like an asshole here but did you read the article? The author outlines that the contrast applied to the green is less readable than the blue, to the point where it falls below accessibility guidelines. I personally am not convinced by the theory that Apple is doing this deliberately (though it doesn't sound impossible to me either!) but either way it's something they should change.

malshe 4y ago
The author's example of the green text looks pale compared to what it really is.
scarface74 4y ago
Well seeing that every one of the authors images don’t jibe with reality - ie his images aren’t what are actually on iPhones in terms of saturation - it kind of makes his entire thesis moot
- afavour 4y ago
  Yes and no: a screenshot of an iPhone isn't really a great representation of what you see when you're outdoors in daylight, for example. The general point still stands that the contrast is better in the blue than it is in the green and Apple could normalize them with no issues.

moolcool 4y ago

If you don't think Apple had the same thoughts OP did during the design process, you don't know Apple.

scarface74 4y ago
Seeing that the change in saturation happened when Ives took over the iPhone UI when iOS 7 was introduced, it was just one of many poorly thought out decisions that were made under Ives leadership.