Most people may have expected Apple to unveil the new iPhone 6 , but the company presented the new iOS 8 at the WWDC 2014 conference .
The new version of iOS is redesigned and features dozens of improvements, while it works seamlessly with Mac OS X, so users can answer calls and SMS messages via their computer. Let's take a look at the new features one by one.
New Notification Center
In iOS 8, the notification center was redesigned, with an emphasis on interactive notifications, through which users can immediately respond to a notification without having to leave the application they were using, while they also work from the lock screen.
Notifications on the Home Screen have options for how the user will manage them, while Widgets are now available in the Notification Center, which display information about the weather, calendar, etc.
iMessage – Group Messaging
iMessage is the app most iPhone users use, and with the new Tap to Talk, the user can send an audio or video message.
Also in Group Messaging, the user categorizes conversations while search is now improved.
Changes to contacts
With a double tap on the home button, access to contacts is immediate, while with a simple tap on the contact's face, the user can call them, send a message or communicate via FaceTime.
QuickType and third-party keyboards
One of the editors' wishes was to be able to use third-party keyboards and improve the existing keyboard. The keyboard now predicts the next word (like Swiftkey on Android), making typing even faster.
Hey Siri
Hey Siri is the equivalent of Google Now, for voice activation of Siri. Here, the collaboration with Shazam caused a sensation, where the song is recognized through Siri. In addition, songs can be purchased from iTunes with voice commands.
Spotlight
Spotlight search , where through other applications and services, it will suggest actions to the user such as watching a movie, listening to a song from iTunes and much more, however, it remains to be seen in practice whether this can be achieved.
HealthKit
Apple's HealthKit application can draw data related to the user's health and physical condition from other third-party applications and devices, and it is possible that we will also see it in the rumored iWatch .
Family Sharing
The new iOS allows families of up to 6 people to automatically share items such as photos, calendar entries and reminders, as well as shopping apps without each person needing to have their own account.
Photos synced via iCloud
The Photos app is being improved with new editing options, but the key difference is that photos can be synced between devices via iCloud.
iOS 8 will be available for the following devices: iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, 5th generation iPod touch, iPad 2, iPad with Retina display, iPad Air, iPad mini, and iPad mini with Retina display.
Source: e-pcmag.gr
