Apple iOS 8 features.Had to Believe but true

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 Apple took the wraps off iOS 8 at the WWDC 2014 conference in San Francisco. The new operating system introduces a host of new features and looks a more polished version compared to iOS 7. The update will arrive in fall this year; in the meantime let’s take a look at all the features introduced on the OS update.

QUICKTYPE KEYBOARD

Apple’s default keyboard has been given a host of new features, chief among which is predictive texting. The keyboard will now suggest you words while you type to enhance your typing experience. It also takes into consideration the context of what you are typing while suggesting words — so for example if you start typing about a meeting in a formal way, the words suggested will be formal in nature too.

EXTENSIBILITY

This too is a big feature announced on iOS 8. iOS has traditionally been a very closed operating system, but with the latest update Apple is letting some of the shackles fall off. Developers will now get access to a few core system apps and modify/add new features to them.

So developers will be able to integrate third-party photo editing apps with the Photos app. If you want to edit a photo on VSCO Cam, you can fire up the app’s interface in iOS’s photo app itself.

Apple has also opened its camera to third-party apps to developers and with the latest camera API, developers will be able to get deeper control of the camera. In other words, you will be able to download camera apps that will offer manual control of exposure, white balance and more.

Much to the delight of many, Apple has also announced support for third-party keyboards. So pretty soon you will be able to download and use keyboards like Swype on iOS 8.

MESSAGING

Apple’s iMessage has got quite a few tweaks that bring it on par with other popular messaging apps like WhatsApp among others. Speaking of which, Apple seems to have borrowed the messaging service’s tap to talk feature. You will now be able press and hold the mic above the keyboard to record and send short voice messages. You can also record and send short video messages by clicking on the camera button on the left.

As far as group messaging is concerned, in addition to adding and removing contacts you can also select the do not disturb feature. You will also be able to share multiple photos and videos at once. iMessage now also allows you to share your location via the message should you want it.

CONTINUITY

This is the same feature that was discussed at length on OS X 10.10 Yosemite. Continuity essentially lets you smoothly switch between Macs and iOS devices. So if you start composing an email on your iPhone, you will be able to finish the email on your Mac in just a click. A part of this feature is Handoff, wherein you will be able send a document from your Mac to your iOS device, just by being in close proximity to each other. This feature also works in reverse.

INTERACTIVE NOTIFICATIONS

Notifications on iOS 8 have been made more interactive this time around. So when you get a message on your phone, you can swipe down wherever you are to immediately reply to the message. You can similarly interact with social notifications too.

TOUCHID IMPROVEMENTS

Apple announced that the TouchID fingerprint scanner it introduced on the iPhone 5S will be available to developers, who will be able to integrate the functionality in their existing and future iOS 8 apps. The TouchID will protect logins and user data, and help users unlock Keychain items, while fingerprint-related data will also be protected.

MORE MULTITASKING

On iOS 7 when you press the home button twice it opened a multitasking window that showed all the apps running in the background. Apple has added more functionality to its multitasking window by adding one’s frequent contacts. These contacts will be seen as icons on top of the app windows and clicking on them will open up options to call, message and FaceTime with them.

FAMILY SHARING

Apple is bringing families closer by letting them share their purchases and photos easily with each other. Up to six members of a family can connect with each other using their Apple ID and the feature will create shared photo albums, shared calendars and also an option to share the family member’s location.

For parents, there is an option to create an Apple ID for their children and keep a tab on it with the ‘Ask to Buy’ feature. So essentially, when a kid wants to download an app, his/her parent will first have to give permission for the transaction.

IMPROVED MAIL

Apple’s email app too has been improved with quite a few new features. It now boasts swipe features, so for example when composing an email, you can swipe the compose window down to refer to other emails. When you have the information you were looking for, you can simply click on the bar at the bottom of the screen to bring the compose window back up.

SIRI

Apple has also improved Siri by adding new functionalities and making it easier to access the digital assistant. Now instead of long pressing the home button, you can simply say “Hey Siri” to fire up the digital assistant. Its new features include Shazam song recognition, 22 new diction languages, it can purchase iTunes content as well as streaming voice recognition.

PHOTOS APP

The photos app has been improved and is better synced with iCloud so the photos and videos can be accessed from any device. Apple has also improved its in-built editing capabilities with new tools like automatic straightening of horizons, adjust light and colors, and automatic fine tuning among others.

HEALTH APP

We have known for some time now that Apple was planning on entering the health and fitness monitoring industry. Right on cue, Apple today announced the Health app and the HealthKit API for developers. The app essentially gathers health-related data from various third-party health and fitness apps and stores them at one place so you can view them at one convenient place.

In addition to all the above mentioned features, Apple has also improved on some of the visuals to make the OS look more polished, improved privacy and security for Enterprise users, improved Spotlight functionalities that include line results from Wikipedia and music on iTunes.

iOS 8 will be available for developers from today onwards and will be widely released for others in fall this year. iOS 8 will be compatible with devices including iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPhone 5C, iPhone 5S, iPod touch 5th generation, iPad 2, iPad with Retina display, iPad Air, iPad mini and iPad mini with Retina display.