Apple unveiled iOS 8 during its Worldwide Developer Conference on Monday and, while it isn't a drastic overhaul like iOS 7, it will bring lots of new features to the iPhone and iPad.
We've stacked up iOS 8 against last year's release to see what features you can expect.
Notifications
Apple has made some fairly major tweaks to Notification Center, a feature which was first introduced in iOS 7, and therefore somewhat limited.
Chief among these tweaks is the addition of interactive notifications, which lets you reply to messages or 'Like' a Facebook post, for example, without having to leave the app you're already in.
Apple has also introduced Android-style widgets, which developers can start building to appear in the drop-down menu. Apple's Craig Federighi showed off an eBay app that's already available, which will allow users to bid on items from the notifications screen.
Compare this with iOS 7 and Apple's tweaks will be welcomed by most, with the feature presently limited to viewing notifications and tapping to jump into apps.
Messaging
Apple's most interesting iOS 8 updates arguably relate to messaging, and the firm has introduced a number of new features.
First off, Apple introduced Quicktype, a feature that could signal the end of Autocorrect. This is a smart word-prediction service which Apple claims will quickly learn how you talk and what words you're likely to type next, depending on who you're talking to. Support for third-party keyboards was also announced, which means iPhone users can soon opt to replace Apple's proprietary offering with Swiftkey, for example.
Apple also announced that iOS 8 users will be able to use Do Not Disturb on specific group iMessage conversations to silence frustrating notifications. The firm has also introduced a Snapchat-style Destruct feature, allowing users to send images, videos or audio messages that will be automatically deleted, unless specified otherwise.
These features are likely to be welcomed by current users of iOS 7, although the firm has been criticised for "ripping off" features from Snapchat and Whatsapp.
Siri
Apple's voice-activated digital assistant, Siri, will see a fairly major update in iOS 8. Mimicking Google Now, users will be able to say "Hey, Siri" to activate the feature, which will soon be capable of recognising songs (thanks to Shazam) and will be able to recognise streaming voice recognition.
Healthkit and HomekitiOS 7 didn't introduce many new apps from Apple, the firm instead focused on touting its redesign. iOS 8, however, sees the arrival of Healthkit and Homekit, with which Apple is looking to challenge the likes of Samsung while making its mark in the Internet of Things (IoT).
Healthkit is similar to Samsung's S Health feature, allowing users to track data such as the number of steps walked, calories burned and so on. Unlike the app found on the Galaxy S5, however, Apple's Healthkit app supports third-party apps, including Nike+.
Homekit is Apple's rumoured smart home application, allowing users to easily control internet-connected devices, such as Philips Hue lightbulbs, from their iPhone or iPad.
Camera
Apple's Camera application saw a major overhaul in iOS 7, Apple adding features such as photo filters, slow-motion video and the ability to shoot square Instagram friendly photos.
Camera hasn't seen such a huge makeover in iOS 8, but Apple has added a handful of features that are likely to be welcomed by users. New shooting modes will be introduced in iOS 8, including Time Lapse mode and a Timer, and brings Panorama mode to iPad users. An improved Photos interface will also be introduced.
The biggest news, however, was that Apple has opened its camera controls to developers, which means there's likely to be more to get excited about when the software launches in the autumn.
Mac continuity
If you own a Macbook and an iOS device, iOS 8 will introduce a bunch of features that improve continuity between devices - something almost non-existent, bar iMessage support, in iOS 7.
First off, Airdrop now works between iOS and Mac OS X, which means you'll no longer have to email yourself images, for example, and can instead ping them straight to your Mac. Handoff was perhaps the most impressive feature on show, allowing a user to start writing an email on an iPad, for example, and then easily finish it on their Mac.
Apple also shocked with the news that Mac owners will be able to answer phone calls on their laptop or desktop computer with the introduction of iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite, while text message integration has been expanded to non-iOS devices. This sees Apple addressing the long drawn out bug which has seen Android users unable to receive texts from iPhone users.
Enterprise
Although it brushed over the subject during its WWDC keynote, Apple has added a bunch of new enterprise tools in iOS 8, making the operating system much more attractive to businesses when compared with iOS 7.
First, security within apps has been improved, Apple adding the ability for expanded data protection in the form of password protection of all the major data types - Calendar, Contacts, Mail, Messages, Notes, Reminders - and third-party apps.
Apple has also introduced per-message S/MIME, allowing users to encrypt individual messages, along with VIP threads, a feature that allows users to mark an email thread as important to receive instant notifications on it.
Beyond that, iOS 8 will also bring support for Exchange out of office replies, busy/free notifications in Calendar and encrypted backups, among others.
In Short
Apple's iOS 8 operating system might not seem like a big change aesthetically, but the new features it brings, such as Mac Continuity, improved Notifications and its Healthkit and Homekit apps, are likely to be welcomed by users of last year's iOS iteration.
However, some might be disappointed that Apple hasn't changed its design, with iOS 7 receiving much criticism for its "flat" design and parallax effects, which will remain in iOS 8.
We've stacked up iOS 8 against last year's release to see what features you can expect.
Notifications
Apple has made some fairly major tweaks to Notification Center, a feature which was first introduced in iOS 7, and therefore somewhat limited.
Chief among these tweaks is the addition of interactive notifications, which lets you reply to messages or 'Like' a Facebook post, for example, without having to leave the app you're already in.
Apple has also introduced Android-style widgets, which developers can start building to appear in the drop-down menu. Apple's Craig Federighi showed off an eBay app that's already available, which will allow users to bid on items from the notifications screen.
Compare this with iOS 7 and Apple's tweaks will be welcomed by most, with the feature presently limited to viewing notifications and tapping to jump into apps.
Messaging
Apple's most interesting iOS 8 updates arguably relate to messaging, and the firm has introduced a number of new features.
First off, Apple introduced Quicktype, a feature that could signal the end of Autocorrect. This is a smart word-prediction service which Apple claims will quickly learn how you talk and what words you're likely to type next, depending on who you're talking to. Support for third-party keyboards was also announced, which means iPhone users can soon opt to replace Apple's proprietary offering with Swiftkey, for example.
Apple also announced that iOS 8 users will be able to use Do Not Disturb on specific group iMessage conversations to silence frustrating notifications. The firm has also introduced a Snapchat-style Destruct feature, allowing users to send images, videos or audio messages that will be automatically deleted, unless specified otherwise.
These features are likely to be welcomed by current users of iOS 7, although the firm has been criticised for "ripping off" features from Snapchat and Whatsapp.
Siri
Apple's voice-activated digital assistant, Siri, will see a fairly major update in iOS 8. Mimicking Google Now, users will be able to say "Hey, Siri" to activate the feature, which will soon be capable of recognising songs (thanks to Shazam) and will be able to recognise streaming voice recognition.
Healthkit and HomekitiOS 7 didn't introduce many new apps from Apple, the firm instead focused on touting its redesign. iOS 8, however, sees the arrival of Healthkit and Homekit, with which Apple is looking to challenge the likes of Samsung while making its mark in the Internet of Things (IoT).
Healthkit is similar to Samsung's S Health feature, allowing users to track data such as the number of steps walked, calories burned and so on. Unlike the app found on the Galaxy S5, however, Apple's Healthkit app supports third-party apps, including Nike+.
Homekit is Apple's rumoured smart home application, allowing users to easily control internet-connected devices, such as Philips Hue lightbulbs, from their iPhone or iPad.
Camera
Apple's Camera application saw a major overhaul in iOS 7, Apple adding features such as photo filters, slow-motion video and the ability to shoot square Instagram friendly photos.
Camera hasn't seen such a huge makeover in iOS 8, but Apple has added a handful of features that are likely to be welcomed by users. New shooting modes will be introduced in iOS 8, including Time Lapse mode and a Timer, and brings Panorama mode to iPad users. An improved Photos interface will also be introduced.
The biggest news, however, was that Apple has opened its camera controls to developers, which means there's likely to be more to get excited about when the software launches in the autumn.
Mac continuity
If you own a Macbook and an iOS device, iOS 8 will introduce a bunch of features that improve continuity between devices - something almost non-existent, bar iMessage support, in iOS 7.
First off, Airdrop now works between iOS and Mac OS X, which means you'll no longer have to email yourself images, for example, and can instead ping them straight to your Mac. Handoff was perhaps the most impressive feature on show, allowing a user to start writing an email on an iPad, for example, and then easily finish it on their Mac.
Apple also shocked with the news that Mac owners will be able to answer phone calls on their laptop or desktop computer with the introduction of iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite, while text message integration has been expanded to non-iOS devices. This sees Apple addressing the long drawn out bug which has seen Android users unable to receive texts from iPhone users.
Enterprise
Although it brushed over the subject during its WWDC keynote, Apple has added a bunch of new enterprise tools in iOS 8, making the operating system much more attractive to businesses when compared with iOS 7.
First, security within apps has been improved, Apple adding the ability for expanded data protection in the form of password protection of all the major data types - Calendar, Contacts, Mail, Messages, Notes, Reminders - and third-party apps.
Apple has also introduced per-message S/MIME, allowing users to encrypt individual messages, along with VIP threads, a feature that allows users to mark an email thread as important to receive instant notifications on it.
Beyond that, iOS 8 will also bring support for Exchange out of office replies, busy/free notifications in Calendar and encrypted backups, among others.
In Short
Apple's iOS 8 operating system might not seem like a big change aesthetically, but the new features it brings, such as Mac Continuity, improved Notifications and its Healthkit and Homekit apps, are likely to be welcomed by users of last year's iOS iteration.
However, some might be disappointed that Apple hasn't changed its design, with iOS 7 receiving much criticism for its "flat" design and parallax effects, which will remain in iOS 8.
Post A Comment:
0 comments: