What's New On iOS 8 Apple Update
Apple
showed off its upcoming operating system iOS 8 at the start of its
annual WorldWide Developers Conference (WWDC) in San Francisco.
The
update – expected this fall – spells out a big change for Apple. The
company looks to be a little less uptight, more open, and more willing
to give users the power to customize their devices.
The
changes are the most exciting we’ve seen from Apple in recent years but
in many respects only brings the mobile OS at par with Google’s
Android.
Here’s what to expect:
Interactive notifications
Compared
to Android, iOS notifications have been very discreet, dropping down
from the top of the screen and taking up just about a tenth of the
display. Picking one over the other is a matter of form vs function (iOS
= prettier, Android = more useful).
With
iOS 8 a quick swipe down on a notification lets users interact with
notifications as they come in, like respond to text messages or like a
Facebook post. This also works with notifications on the Lock Screen.
Extensibility
Since
its beginnings, iOS has been basic and devoid of any form of openness.
Third-party app integration was pretty much non-existent unless
initiated by Apple like the system-wide Twitter and Facebook integration
that arrived in iOS 5 & 6, respectively.
With
extensibility, third party apps can finally integrate with system
services. This makes possible features like third party app widgets on
the Notification Center, photo filters from the likes of VSCO Cam right
from the default Photo app, and sharing to third party services like
Pinterest.
Better keyboard
The
first thing I do when I set up a new Android phone is install a third
party keyboard. While default keyboards (on iOS, Android and Windows
Phone) have gotten better and better there’s still nothing like the
Swift Key on Android.
On
iOS 8, Apple introduces QuickType with predictive typing that suggests
succeeding words before you type them. Suggestions are contextual based
on who you are speaking to. For example, if you’re messaging with your
boss it might suggest more formal words, but if you’re speaking with
friends, it can suggest more informal language – depending on how you
previously communicated.
Improved spotlight
Apple’s
built-in search tool for both iOS and Mac OS can search beyond what’s
available on your device. For example, it can now display Wikipedia
entries, directions, movie showtimes, and apps on the iTunes Store if
they aren’t already installed on your device.
Family sharing
A
family of 6 with the same credit card on file can set up Family Sharing
that allows you to share calendars, reminders and photos across all
your devices. But the best part is sharing iTunes-purchased music,
movies, books, and apps purchased by one member of the family. Parents
can also set it up so they are prompted for approval before their
children purchase apps.
Messages
Apple
takes on group messaging apps like WhatsApp and Line with improved
group functionality. You can now name threads, mute noisy threads, share
your location and see where others are on a map from inside the app,
and view all the photos exchanged within the group. Messaging also adds
SnapChat like audio, photo, and video messages that self destruct after a
specific time.
Voice-activated Siri
Following
competition from Window Phone’s Cortana, Siri gets a few upgrades,
including Shazam integration, so you can identify music that’s playing
in the background and immediately purchase new music from iTunes.
But
the most exciting new feature is being able to summon Siri without
having to touch your device, now a simple “Hey Siri” will bring up the
virtual assistant – similar to “Google Now” whose active listing
functionality is a godsend.
Improvements to default apps
The
default email app is slightly improved getting Mailbox App-like
gestures for flagging and marking emails as read. You can also now swipe
an email draft dow, while composing, and access the rest of your inbox
without having to abandon the email completely. The camera app also adds
an exposure compensation slider so you can manually set a photo's exposure.
Development kits
Apple also announced two development kits so developers can tightly integrate health tracking and home devices.
Health
Kit works to consolidate health data acquired by third party apps that
measure activity, heart rates, weight, blood pressure and sugar levels.
The information collected by third party apps is consolidated in the
health app and works in conjunction with other Health apps, including
the new Mayo Clinic app for users in the United States.
Apple
is also working on the Smart Home Framework where soon users will be
able to speak to Siri to have her lock the doors or turn off the lights.
When
it is released, iOS 8 will support the iPhone 4s, 5, 5c, 5s; iPod touch
5th generation; iPad 2, iPad with Retina display, iPad Air, iPad mini
and iPad mini with Retina display.
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