Read on Twitter
1/ This new version of skeuomorphism from Apple is more than a surface-level adjustment and, I think, indicates significant changes headed our way.
2/ The last time Apple went full corinthian-leather-skeuomorphic was when they were about to launch a new digital medium with the introduction of the iPhone: beautiful, consumer-level touchscreens.
3/ This wasn’t just to be “fun” or to look cool. People were not used to touchscreens, so tangible looking icons and UIs with clear physical metaphors were necessary to get users adapted to the new medium.
4/ Look closely at these icons; they look much more like game-like 3D renders than fancy photoshop tricks:
5/ I think this version of skeuomorphic design sets the stage for the same thing that OG skeuomorphic did, a new medium: beautiful, consumer-level augmented reality (AR).
6/ Apple has been pouring a seemingly insane amount of attention into AR on iOS, given that interacting with AR through a touchscreen is, at best, awkward. They're laying the bedrock for something else entirely.
7/ I believe Apple is setting the stage for AR glasses. I would not be surprised if this happened as early as this fall (it is 2020 after all, gotta get those vision puns in before 2021 rolls around.)
8/ They are incredibly well-positioned to do this. On the hardware side, the iPhone could do a lot of the heavy lifting with its insane processing power which allows the glasses to be small, light, and stylish.
9/ Wearables like Apple Watch can give you speed/motion control. Airpods (now with spatial audio) take care of the audio.
10/ Consumer AR still hasn't been cracked, but of all the companies in the world, Apple is by far the most poised to do it in a way that gains widespread adoption.
11/ Now that we're all working remotely and socially distant, the world needs consumer AR ASAP. I hope Apple can pull this off soon 
