The linked to examples http://cache.ustwo.co.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/frame_3.jpg http://cache.ustwo.co.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/0...

The linked to examples http://cache.ustwo.co.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/frame_3.jpg http://cache.ustwo.co.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/0... comparing skeuomorphic apps to their minimalist counterparts are very misleading. The skeumorphic apps are well designed while the particular minimalist apps are not. Neither trend can rescue bad craftsmanship. The W8 notes app can still show notes in the background just as iOS does, it does not go against recommendations. A fair comparison would be between the default white/gray/blue iOS aqua theme and white on black W8. The main design problem is not with the visual skin of the apps. Skeumorphism is in the very concept of the apps. They took notes from the physical world, put them inside the computer and in the case of Nokia's W8 app, removed all references to real world but in case of iOS they kept them. But the physical concept of notes is still there. The concept was not redesigned to take advantage of computers, so what's the point of redesigning the visual skin/aesthetic? When we redesign the concepts then skeumorphic visual skin will naturally fall away.