Apple releases iOS 8

At the Apple World Wide Developers Convention which took place this week, Apple announced that the upcoming update to its mobile operating system, iOS 8 will be available this autumn. Apple approved developers are already able to download the update, but Apple is breaking new ground by making its desktop operating system available to the public before its final release.

Apple have developed their new operating system to give users seamless transition between Apple devices, new predictive messaging and a new Snap Chat type features in messages. Here are a few other features that Apple have announced that will come in the new update:

Notification centre – This has been updated significantly with the iOS 8 update. This now includes a new interactive notification feature, which will allow users to swipe down and reply to a message instantly, this also extends to the lock screen.

Also within the new notification centre users are able to instantly access their favourite contacts list by double tapping, giving users instant access to the people that they speak to most.

Further to this, there are new Mail features which allows user gestures to go directly from a message that is being composed in the user’s inbox, by simply swiping down. This then allows users to check on other apps while in the middle of a draft, then pop right back in to the message they were drafting by tapping at the bottom of the screen.

Quick type – This is a new and updated version of Apple’s current keyboard in iOS 8. The keyboard now has the functionality to support keyword auto-suggestions to allow users to auto fill messages quickly. This is also context-sensitive, therefore suggesting words based on what the user has already typed.

Another plus side to the quick type is that the functionality has the ability to know who the user is messaging and will make auto-suggestions that are right for the particular conversation. For example, it will know whether the user is talking to their partner or their boss.

Continuity – This is a new function across Apple’s entire software systems. This will mean that a user’s phone, iPad and computer will all be aware of each other, allowing users to switch between their devices with a single prompt.

For instance, a user, while composing an email on their computer, a small icon will come up on the lower left hand side of the iPhone. Swiping up, the user will be able to get directly into that same email draft on their iPhone. The same extends from iPhone to Mac. A User could be composing a text message on their phone, and an Apple computer would automatically add an icon to the dock, prompting them to complete the message on the computer.

iMessage – This is most used app on the iPhone. With this Apple have added a group message function within iMessages. Users are able to name the message thread, add and remove contacts and it also gives the user the ability to set ‘Do Not Disturb’ on a per contact basis.

Apple has also added audio messages, which users can send by swiping left on a little beacon on the right of the typing window (similar to the audio feature on WhatsApp). Users are also able to respond to a message in the notification centre with an audio message simply by raising the phone to their ear. They also offer video messaging and location sharing.

Another new feature with iMessages is that users will be able to set their messages, audio messages and video messages to automatically delete after a certain time period, in a very similar fashion to Snap Chat.

Family Sharing – With iOS 8, users are able to merge Apple IDs by introducing Family Sharing, this gives different Apple users the ability to share all the content that they have downloaded from iTunes. This new features allows up to six people to be designated family members. This can also provide a great solution to the problem of children downloading paid apps on their parents’ credit cards; With Family Sharing, the parent gets notified, and then can grant or reject the purchase.

Photos – To date Apple has only allowed a maximum of 1000 photos to be stored at any one mobile device, requiring users to regularly back up their devices in order to save their excess photos. With iOS 8 Apple is now able to offer storages for all of the users photos and video in iCloud with instant access from any of their devices, similar to the way that iTunes holds users music and movies.

With this the users devices are able to sync edits, photos, and devices, but they have new Smart Editing features that let you do some edit photos and videos. With access to more photos users need to have a greater search ability with their devices and iCloud. To compliment this Apple has added a more advanced search within the Photos app that includes auto-suggestions from more recently taken and viewed photos.

Siri – With the new iOS 8 upgrade users will be able to use Siri with out having to even touch their phone and can activate Siri by simply saying “Hi, Siri”. Siri will also have Shazam integration, the ability to purchase content from iTunes, streaming voice recognition and will now be available in 22 new languages.