With Jony Ive working on interface design, Apple hardware and software teams further collaborating

The Wall Street Journal has profiled some of the work between hardware and software teams within Apple since Jony Ive has taken on software interface responsibilities. According to the profile, Apple’s software design team is being briefed earlier on hardware specifics than ever before.

That dynamic is changing, according to the people close to the company. The stealth software developers still exist. But now, Apple’s mobile software, or “human interface” team, which has been led by executive Greg Christie, is being briefed about industrial prototypes earlier, these people said. The person described the change as “a thawing.”

With Jony Ive now leading both hardware and software, the executive likely wants the design of each to more closely resemble each other. This move is seemingly in an effort to accomplish that. Design review sessions are described as “cordial,” which is a strikingly different tone in comparison to sessions in the Forstall era.

Multiple reports have said that top Apple hardware executives would refuse to meet with Scott Forstall and his software design team.

The WSJ expects the next versions of Apple’s software (the report does not specify which operating system: iOS or OS X) to see subtle Ive-inspired changes. However, the new OS will not be a radical departure from what currently exists.

Additionally, with Craig Federighi running both the iOS and OS X teams, the executive reportedly wants to keep both teams separate (for now).