Unused resources for a dark theme in apps like Messages and Settings were discovered previously in iOS 10 code, fueling speculation that Apple could be laying the groundwork for a full Dark Mode in iOS 11 to coincide with an upcoming iPhone 8 release. A dark interface should help iPhone 8 conserve power because the organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display technology illuminates the individual pixels and doesn’t require a power-hungry backlight.
Polish blog My Apple has put together a stunning video concept that attempts to imagine what a system-wide Dark Mode and some other sought-after rumored features of iOS 11 might look like.
Aside from a breathtaking Dark Mode (referred to as Night Mode) in apps such as Messages, Settings and Mail, the video depicts other possible iOS 11 features based on the rumors, including:
- Multi-user support on iPad
- Split-screen multitasking on iPhone
- FaceTime group calling
- Per-app Orientation Lock
- Better storage management with options for clearing the caches and data in apps
- 3D Touch for Control Center toggles like Wi-Fi
- Game Mode with shortcuts for recording a screen, muting notifications & more
- Google Now-like Siri Assistant capable of unearthing relevant information from data on your device, such as a boarding pass or tracking number for a package you recently ordered
And here’s the video.
iOS 10’s overhauled Clock app also sports an all-dark interface.
Because Apple Watch comes outfitted with a power-sipping OLED screen, watchOS has from its inception employed a dark theme to help conserve power. tvOS 10 also features a Dark Mode that can be optionally enabled through the Settings app in order to fit a home theater environment or darker rooms.
Apple is scheduled to preview major updates to iOS, macOS, watchOS and tvOS at its annual conference for developers, which kicks off with a keynote on June 5.
How do you like this concept? Is Apple going to implement a system-wide Dark Mode in iOS 11, do you think? Chime in with your thoughts in the comments below.