On the 2nd of June, 2014, Apple unveiled the successor to iOS 7, their eighth installment, aptly named, iOS 8. While iOS 7 underwent some major changes with a ‘flat’ look and a newer design, iOS 8 seems to be concentrating more on functionality and diversity. Unveil
A lot of issues of its previous iterations seem to have been addressed and the biggest news here is the Developer Access which will no doubt boost the end users options with what they can achieve on their Apple devices. Rather than mull over what the competition has and has had, Apple seem to be wearing blinders whilst showcasing the world what the iOS 8 really has to offer. And that is good news for everyone, as we do not need more gun slinging accusations or a series of patent wars. Moving on, let us dive into the most eye catching features which will benefit the user and provide a much newer iOS experience.
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Compatibility and Release
If you have a predated device it is time to upgrade to one of the supported devices to avail these brand new features. The official release date is not out yet, but it should be available for download three months from now.
Healthkit and Health App
Apple is going big on health and fitness. With various wearable devices already in the market, Nike, FitBit and the others will also be able to integrate their devices to the Health app for collation of medical data. Mayo Clinic, the medical giant, is said to be closely working with HealthKit to store the users’ vitals in a centralized database which will be able to automate intimations to the patient’s doctor. Healthkit will also integrate with Epic Systems, the largest electronic health records company in the US. There will also be an emergency card on the lock screen, in case of an emergency.
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Continuity – Airdrop
People have been waiting over the years for a multiverse where different devices don’t just connect with each other, but actually mirror each other. We are much closer to that reality after the revamped Airdrop was unveiled at the WWDC. This feature is clubbed with OS X Yosemite for Mac users, which will also be available for download around the same time the iOS 8 is launched. This comes across as the first step in a device cross over for an Apple multiverse. Further versions may have more to share and connect. Instant HotSpot feature will replace the current personal Hotspot 2.0 which enables you to quickly tether data from any device.
Quicktype – And third party keyboards!
This is somewhat of a breaking news alert. Finally, Apple is going forward with an enhanced keyboard that is intuitive and self-learning and will give you suggestions every time you type the first letter. That’s not all; the keyboard will know which app is using it and behave in a particular way, since your typing style could vary when you type an email as opposed to a message. Still not convinced? Then let’s go to the homerun Apple has hit. ‘Extensions,’ as Apple calls them, will let third party applications offer keyboards other than the iOS system keyboard. This makes way for Swype, TouchPal, and Swiftkey, among others, to make a considerable impact on iOS 8 and enable users to choose which input method they prefer. Flexible enough, is it? You decide.
Messaging
iMessage is also going bigger. It is spruced up in iOS 8 by including location sharing, audio notes, pictures, and video which are standard features on the hugely successful, Facebook acquired application, Whatsapp. It is also reported to ‘self-destroy’ sensitive messages much like what Snapchat offers with its pictures.
Camera Time-Lapse Mode
Apple claims that the iPhone is the world’s most used camera, and there is little surprise that they are adding more to it. iOS 8 will feature a host of photo editing capabilities for every picture clicked without having to visit the photo gallery. The biggest photo feature will be the ability to capture Time-Lapse moments which has recently made inroads into smartphone cameras.
Look Siri, no hands!
Get ready to interact with Siri by uttering the magic words ‘Hey Siri.’ Also, Shazam will be integrated for quick identification of songs and provide a direct option to download from iTunes.
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Game On! Metal replaces OpenGL
Mobile games also seem to be on the list of changes for Apple. OpenGL will no longer enjoy the exclusivity it has been since Metal will ensure games run more smoothly on iPhone's and iPad's by lowering the graphical processing power they require. Expect games with richer content and incredible visuals as developers will be itching to get this up and running. Just look at the lifelike rendition below along with the comparison chart!
iCloud Drive
Attention, Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive and others! Upload and store any file extension for easier access across any device. Get 5 GB free after which the rates for this service are as follows;
- 20GB - $0.99 per month
- 200GB - $3.99 per month
- Multiple tiers available up to 1 TB
Battery Usage by Apps
iPhone and iPad app users who complain about unknown battery drainage will now be able to see which apps consume how much battery.
Other notable enhancements and new additions include:
- Interactive Notifications – Dismiss, read, comment without having to move to each app.
- Today Extensions – Aka widgets, will let users access their daily data like weather, stock prices etc with ease
- Spotlight Search – Centralized search across the web, the App Store, and your device
- Family Sharing – Up to 6 Family members can share a credit card and their apps. No more multiple payments for the same app. Plus, minors can request for an app purchase which will send a purchase request to the cardholder
- Improved Email
- iCloud Photo Library –Will sync pictures from one device to all clubbed devices via the iCloud service
- Touch ID and Developer Access – Handsets with Touch ID can expect a lot more use of it with developer access for more Touch ID features across various apps
- Send Last Location' for Find My iPhone App – Sends the last location to Apple before the phone is turned off or loses battery
- Web Browsing Privacy Feature – DuckDuckGo in Safari
- Location-based lock screen apps will appear on the bottom left or right of your screen depending on where you are
This and a lot more is to be expected from Apple within the next few months. The iOS 8 is reaching out to the masses like never before. The next installment of their handset (rumored as iPhone 6) should see a lot more than what has been laid out here, and it means that the Cupertino giant would be revving up for this release.
