We are here on release the next update to Apple mobile operating system, iOS 8. Looking almost as flat as the iOS 7, the theme is a bit rounded giving it an altered look. The functionality is almost same but there are additions to the package including some of the new features “only for Apple”. These features are such, Android users are introduced to from quite a long time, no offence though.
Apple are quoting it as the “Biggest iOS release of the year”
Key Features: iOS 8
Compatibility
Design-Tweaks and changes
There are quite a many tweaks in the basic flat design of the previous iOS 7 that makes the Apple fans crazy and excited.
The notifications from apps like facebook, twitter, messages, etc float on top of the screen allowing to interact with it not leaving the current app.
The multitasking screen shows some people we have added as ‘important’ and can swipe left and right to browse them, tapping one gives them a call or starts a FaceTime.
There are even these changes in the mail app which allows marking a conversation as read by swiping right and displays other options by swiping left.
Continuity
This feature in the update helps keeping the iphones, ipad and the Macs connected like never before. The Handoff allows the user pick up from just where they left. It allows you to pick a call even on the mac, provided all the apple devices are signed in to the same iCloud account.This even allows you to connect you to an iPhone’s personal hotspot if you are out of the wifi range. Can be pretty useful…!
Shazam Integration
The iOS 8 provides now inbuilt Shazam integration for songs. It identifies song for eg. If asked ‘Hey Siri, which song is it playing right now?’ answers with the song details.
Sending Location
If you ever lost your phone, this is the feature which gets handy along with the ‘Find My phone’ service. The iPhone reports the location of the phone each time the battery reaches a critical level. This feature enables Apple to access location of a lost device fora longer time.
Camera
A new mode comes to Camera: Time-lapse videos. iOS 8 allows snapping photos at dynamically selected intervals. The result is a video showing an accelerated sequence of the photos over time. Just set up your device to shoot what you want. Swipe to select Time-lapse mode, tap the Record button, and let Camera record as long as you choose.
Hide feature in Photos
Now an iOS user can hide photos and videos from the Moments, Collections and Years view in the Photos app. These hidden files are, however, visible in the albums view in the ‘Hidden’ folder.(:-D)
Credit Card
In the Safari browser, the camera can be used to scan the credit card for its number and such details during online payments instead of entering it manually and hence saving time and reducing error possibility.
Battery Life Monitoring
Now this is a feature Android users are using since years. But now it is an iOS feature too and even iOS users would be able to monitor their iPhone in terms of battery usage and misbehaviour of apps and services so that battery life can be made efficient.
Better Spotlight
Spotlight feature of the iOS is now better and gives in detailed search results of a term. It dives deep into Wikipedia, News, Nearby Places, iTunes and App Stores for relevant search terms
Wi-fi calling
iOS 8 includes an option for wifi calling. This feature allows the users to use wifi for making calls in case of low carrier signal coverage.
Messages
The messages app in the iOS 8 allows video and audio messages along with the text messaging service and also location sharing informing the near ones where we are. Staying in touch and sending location made easy.
Keyboard
Again this feature is “old days” for Android users. But as an addition to the iOS, apple users have an advantage of third party keyboard support, also Swipe to write is a new feature they will experience. Predictive text will be there to correct the mistakes, and casual word suggestions to make the typing process a little less typo.
And of course, it learns your language style-from casual in messaging and formal in emails and the conversations are private as they are stored on your phone.
Family Sharing
Once set up, family members get immediate access to each other’s music, Maps and location, movies, Calendar events, TV shows, books, and apps and can download with a tap anytime you like, without sharing Passwords and Apple ids-too obvious. The entire family can contribute to a shared photo album just like a group, and everything stays up-to-date on everybody’s devices.
By maps and location shared we know the coordinates of the family members, which can also be hidden. This even enables us to locate the devices in case of a lost or a forgotten iphone or an ipad. This also includes sending permissions for buying apps, books, etc from the app store.
Health
This is quite an addition to both the Android and iOS interfaces. Health and fitness apps are making their way into the lives and devices of the people real fast. The HealthKit keeps the health and fitness apps to stay together.
It gives information of heart rate, calories, blood sugar level, cholestrol, etc. It keeps record of how many calories one burnt a day and also gives an option for sharing details with the doctor.
So these were the features and additions to the iOS 8, some of them really good. Comparing to Android, most of these are added long back and android users are stomach-full using those. Lets see what are the reviews from iOS users regarding these additions…!
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