We first learned Apple was going to great lengths to give iOS 7 designer Jonathan Ives the time necessary to complete his overhaul of the operating system earlier this May.
The new iOS 7 is still believed to be on track for a debut at Apple's Worldwide Developer's Conference in June, and is expected to be used in the next iPhone later this year.
With WWDC 2013 just a few weeks away, it appears iOS 7 has found its way out into the wild, as sources have given loads of details on the "flat" redesign to 9to5Mac.
Longtime iPhone users may be in for a bit of a surprise, as the leak suggests iOS 7 will be a complete overhaul, and will replace the vibrant look and feel of the phone with a more minimalist, monochromatic approach.
Sleek and simple
The first major change indicated by the sources was a distinct lack of skeuomorphic style, as the fake textures and effects you're so used to seeing will be swapped out with a more basic design sense.
Everything starts with the new Lock screen, where the glossy image and clock have been replac ed by a stark black screen with supposed improved gesture controls.
Even the security code pad has been altered, and instead of the familiar overlay, a new interface with round, black keys with white text has emerged.
As an added bonus, new panoramic wallpapers will be a part of the package, and will show different parts of an image on new pages.
Android users have been able to set such wallpapers for a long while, but this gives all those panorama photo takers on the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 a place to display the widescreen memories they've captured.
By merely removing the false shadows and sheen of the standard Home screen, iOS 7 appears to be flatter, though this is part of Ive's concept to deliver an operating system that matches the physical form of the iPhone .
It will be almost immediately apparent just how different everything looks as base apps like Calendar, Camera, Game Center, and Safari will be pared down quite a bit from their current incarnations.
App-solutely different
Apps won't only change in their outward appearance, as Ive has also spearheaded the revamp of the programs when opened as well.
Inside, apps like Mail and Messages will feature more uniform looks, with each individual app getting its own signature color highlights to emphasize the white background they will all reportedly share.
Weather will also see a similar reworking, but may also get some minor animated touches for different situations, be it raining or sunny.
The various storefronts (iTunes, iBook, and App) will all be rewashed in a brighter white, rather than the black they have become synonymous with, and the Newstand is also believed to be dropping the wood grain, too.
iPhone users who frequently FaceTim e should be glad to hear a separate button for the feature will be added, as it was for the iPad and iPod Touch.
Potent Notables
With all the other changes coming, it should be no surprise the Notification tab will also undergo significant retooling.
White text will again star on a dark grey and black pull-down menu, which will no longer feature the linen texture.
You can already get weather, stock, and sports information, but Apple is also tweaking Notifications to also include local news, and some other widgets still being tested.
Most importantly though, a new panel is expected to be included which will feature easy access to Airplane, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth toggles.
Having those not buried under the Settings app should go a long way in making the iPhone even more intuitive for new and long-time users.
All of these major changes fall in line with rumors we've heard before, but we won't have long to wait for WWDC 2013 to see just h ow Jony Ive has revitalized iOS for a new generation of users.
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