Finally the hype is over, Apple is unveiling most anticipated Apple iOS 8. Most of the rumors regarding iOS 8 is now true. Apple iOS 8 is continuing the design and feel of iOS 7 with enhanced features and improvements. This time there has been made a lot of improvement regarding users experience.
Apple iOS 8 Official Details and Features:
iOS 8 brings improved keyboards, iMessage app, Spotlight, Interactive Notification, Mail and Quick Type.
Interactive Notifications
When doing some work or playing a game and some notification appears like you get a message, with interactive notifications you don’t have to switch between apps to respond to the notification. Now simply you can pull down from notification shade and repond from there. It also works for Facebook notifications, Facebook messages, and calender events.
Spotlight:
Spotlight was introduced in Mac OS X and it was obvious that it will be introduced in iOS 8 as well. Spotlight in Apple iOS 8 lets you search for apps, even the apps you have not downloaded, songs in iTunes and movie times. It even lets you search the location and gives direction to that location as well.
QuickType Keyboard
Keyboard in iOS 8 has been refreshed at last. It will now predict more effectively what you are trying to say and support Swype. Just like the popular Android keyboard, SwiftKey.
Mail:
Mail is improved in iOS 8. Now you do not even need to open the mail to take certain action. You can delete a mail, flag it or can do some more actions by tapping on more just by a single swipe.
Improved iMessage:
iMessage got a huge update. You can now send voice messages and video messages from within the app just by tapping a button and recording your message. It was not possibble before. Instead you had to go to the camera or voice recorder to record your message and then by adding it in iMessage. Even more you can respond to incoming messages by putting your face in front of front camera. Isn’t it cool?
Continuity:
Continuity between iOS and Mac OS X is a very impressive new feature introduced by Apple. Continuity lets you receive your iPhone calls on Mac if your iPhone is in the house and someone else in your family is using it. You will get a notification when someone calls you and you can receive the call with your Mac. Mac will be converted in to the speaker for your iPhone when you answer the call. Moreover you can start an Email message on your phone and finish it on your Mac.
Improved AirDrop:
AirDrop can be used now to share files between a Mac and an iOS device. Sharing files was only possible between two iOS devices or two Macs before.
Instant Hotspot:
You can use your device as an instant hotspot now. In this way you will be able to share your cellular data through WiFi.
HealthKit:
iOS 8 includes HeathKit. It helps you to track your personal health and fitness data. It provides an easy to access hub which lets you keep track of yoyr health metrics on the daily basis and you can check your fitness report of a long period of time. Nike and Mayo Clinic will be working with Apple to improve HealthKit.
Family Sharing:
Apple iOS 8 introduces Family Sharing which lets 6 members of family share iTunes purchases between them. Each account must be linked to same credit card to share the purchases. Family Sharing also enables the sharing of calendars, reminders, photos, and Find My Friends locaions across devices. It also let parents prove or deny what their children buy on iTunes.
New Photos App:
Photos app is redesigned and improved. The new Photos app lets you view your photos across different iOS devices and it will always show the latest edits as long as your iOS device is connected to internet. Photos gives you 5 GB free storage to start with and if you want to store more photos, you’ll have to purchase more storage. Plans include: 20 GB storage for 99 cents per month, 200 GB for $3.99 per month. More plans will be available soon according to Apple. Photos will not make its way to desktop until 2015.
Hands Free SIRI:
Siri has some new features now. It is now integrated with Shazam so it can now identify songs, movies and TV. it can now turn up your thermostat through the new smart home framework. And now like “OK Google” in Android, you just have to say “Hey Siri” to wake the Siri up without even touching the phone.
Enhanced Touch ID support:
For the first time ever, touch ID support is extended to third party apps. With no requirement of JAILBREAK, you will now be able to log in third-party apps via Touch ID.
Compatibility and Availability
iOS 8 is compatible with iPhone 4, iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPhone 5C, iPhone 5S, iPod touch 5th generation, iPad 2, iPad with Retina display, iPad Air, iPad Mini, iPad Mini with Retina display. As you can see Apple has dropped support to iPhone 4 this time. The latest iOS 8 will be available for all these devices this fall for free. Before that, you can get the beta version now.
How exited you are to try these new features of iOS 8?