A new Health app, HomeKit, reciprocity with OS X and some extra features for photo sharing, iMessage and Siri. Yep, iOS 8 is finally here...
Apple’s iOS 8 has been officially revealed at WWDC and boasts several new features and some great interactivity with the also-announced OS X Yosemite.
While the overall look of iOS 8 is similar to last year’s iOS 7, Apple has evidently been hard at work behind the scenes adding in some cool new functionality.
Check oout our round-up of the new iOS 8 features and release date.
Both the iPad and iPhone are on the receiving end of some enhancements, such as a refined notification centre for iPhone and a bird’s eye view of all tabs on iPad.
Apple has introduced interactive notifications that allow users to pull down the notification shade whilst in another app and, for example, respond to a message instantly or like and reply to a Facebook post.
Health is ready to play a big part in Apple’s future plans, and the company spent some highlighting HealthKit and its new Health app. HealthKit is Apple’s destination for all the health tracking data collected through third-party apps and devices. Like newsstand, but for all the health metrics users are collecting these days. Meanwhile, Apple’s own Health app is the company’s way of presenting you with the data in one centralised, and attractively-designed, place.
See what's changed in our iOS 8 vs iOS 7 head-to-head.
Messaging has been shown some love with new features from Cupertino that takes aim at Facebook-owned Whatsapp. For example, you can now send audio and video messages from within iMessage. There’s also the option to set a “Do not Disturb” mode for group message threads.
Serial texters will be happy to know Apple is improving the on-screen keyboard with iOS 8 and adding in an improved recognition service for picking up on furious tapping.
A particularly exciting new addition is the Apple HomeKit feature. It's effectively a home automation certification from Apple and will let you control locks, lights, thermostats and the like inside your own home with your iDevice - or Siri. Apple has already got several partners ready to sign up and it looks like being an innovation to CarPlay that Apple showed off at this year's Geneva Motor Show.
If iOS 7 was about a dynamic new look, then iOS 8 is about building on that with enhanced compatibility. Any shots you take on your iPhone can now be shared across all your devices, so you can edit on your iPad or MacBook thanks to Apple’s iCloud Photo Editing service.
Likewise, if you’re busy working on your Mac with brand new OS X Yosemite installed and someone calls you, you’ll be able to initiate the call from OS X. Similarly, you can use your Mac as a speakerphone as well as have text messages from friends circulated to all iDevices.
Meanwhile, “Family Sharing” is a new feature that means up to six family members can share a single calendar, as well as app and content purchases. Perhaps in an effort to stop the youngsters going to town on your iTunes credit, they’ll have to seek permission before buying any new apps or content.
Lastly, Apple’s iOS superstar Siri is also getting a boost for this year’s model. Apple didn’t dwell on Siri during the keynote, but you can now activate the digital assistant with a simple “Hey, Siri”. Siri is also able to use Shazam for a little help in identifying music tracks for you – and you’ll be able to download the track straight from Siri’s results page.
While developer betas of iOS 8 are out today, launching at WWDC, the consumer version for the rest of us will be with us in the fall. That’s autumn to you and I and, like OS X Yosemite, will be coming to you free of charge.
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