Thursday, 18 September 2014
Apple on Wednesday released the latest version of its mobile operating system for iPhone and iPad users. Some new features include support for third-party keyboards (such as Swype), Touch ID for third-party apps, and new widgets for quick app alerts in the notification center.
iOS 8 is compatible with any iPhone that's 4S or later, the fifth-generation iPod Touch, or any iPad released from the second generation on. Some features are specific to the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, including Apple Pay. The mobile payments service, which works with the NFC chip in the new iPhones, will launch through an iOS 8 update for the 6 and 6 Plus in October. You can download the software by going to the settings app (Settings > General > Software Update) or by plugging your device into iTunes. Apple on Friday also will be shipping iOS 8 on its new iPhones, the 6 and 6 Plus.
iOS 8 marks the second major release of Apple's mobile operating system under the guidance of head designer Jony Ive and new software head Craig Federighi. Apple CEO Tim Cook fired the prior iOS chief, Scott Forstall, in October 2012 in part for refusing to take responsibility for Apple's Maps fiasco. Ive spearheaded a complete redesign of iOS 7, the first major overhaul since Apple introduced the software with the first iPhone in 2007.
Features Include
- Safari Credit Card Scanning
- Battery Usage by App
- Wi-Fi Phone Calls
- Time-Lapse Camera Mode
- Hide Images in Photos App
But there are features that make the iOS 8 update totally worth it. We take a look at five quick points.
- HealthKit and Health
Share and collate health and fitness information through the Health app, complete with the option to create your own medical emergency card
View your most recent health and fitness data in one dashboard, while tracking each app individually through HealthKit
- HomeKit
- Messaging
Voice messaging is now available to send within texts and iMessages
- Touch ID
Touch ID was first introduced in last September's iPhone 5s
- QuickType
iOS 8 provides users with a whole new world of typing opportunities, from swiping rather than typing, or using a traditional keyboard layout.
- Photos and Camera
The iCloud Photo Library allows you to access your pictures from any iOS device.
- iCloud Drive
Access all presentations, documents and images in the iCloud to access through any iOS-enabled device
- Family Sharing
Music, films, books and apps can be shared between family members at the tap of a screen
- Spotlight
Spotlight now considers features such as location and context in its searches
- App Store updates
The App Store has been given an iOS 8 revamp
- Send last location to Apple before your battery dies
- Identify songs
- Credit card scanning
- Hide images from Photos app
- Phone calls over Wi-Fi
- Find which app is using the most battery life
- Get Tips on Using iOS 8 (beta 4)
- New smart Photo Albums
- Time-lapse photography
- Recover deleted photos
- Request desktop site in Safari
- Quick access to recent photos
- The Weather Channel
- Calendar
- FaceTime
- Podcasts
- Choose when an app can use location data
- Grayscale mode
- Improved zoom
- Share sheet customizations
- iTunes Radio in Control Center
- Control Center Redesign
- iCloud Drive
- Suggested Apps
- SMS Relay
- Emoji keyboard icon
- iCloud icons
- Predictive text
- Safari password sharing
Many of the tech giant's recent mobile products will be able to
receive the update. According to Apple, the full list of compatible iOS 8
devices include:
- The iPhone 4S
- The iPhone 5
- The iPhone 5C
- The iPhone 5S
- The iPhone 6 (available Friday)
- The iPhone 6 Plus (available Friday)
- The iPod Touch fifth generation
- The iPad 2
- The iPad with Retina Display
- The iPad Air
- The iPad Mini
- The iPad Mini with Retina Display
Devices that will miss out on the iOS 8 update will be:
- The iPhone 4 and older iPhones
- The iPod Touch fourth generation and older models
- The original iPad
