Apple have announced a major iOS update for their iPhones, iPod Touch and iPad devices.
iOS 8 is to be released this summer and includes a slew of new features.
Here is a brief list of the features of iOS 8:
- iPhoto Library
- Messages, Mail
- QuickType - (A Better iOS Keyboard)
- Family Sharing
- iCloud Drive
- Health
- Spotlight
- Connect your iPhone, iPad, Mac.
The iPhoto Library is a new addition which stores all your photos and videos in the cloud. You can organize your photos and videos on your devices, and also on the web. You also get 5GB of iCloud storage for free, with premium plans offering more space.
The Messages app now lets you send audio messages. Just tap to record and send it. You can also start and take part in Group Conversations, send multiple Photos and Videos, and share locations to your friends.
The Mail app in iOS 8 brings quick navigation through the sidebar, which you can use to jump to the Drafts and your Inbox. The Mail app also brings in some useful swipe functions too. You can swipe towards the right on an email to mark it as unread, and ti the left for Flagging it, Deleting it and more.
The new Keyboard (QuickType will offer better contextual predictions, and will allow you type entire sentences with just a few taps.
And for the first time, iOS will support third party keyboards. So expect to see popular ones like Swype, SwiftKey and the like on the iTunes store.
(Notice the Swype symbol on the bottom row of the keyboard?)
The new Family Sharing options, will let you share all your iTunes purchases, iBooks and App Store purchases with your family. Up to six people can share them. You can also manage your kid’s device from your own, thus restricting purchases. You will also be able to share photos, a calendar and more with your family too.
The iCloud Drive allows users to edit documents on one device, and it saves the edits on your other devices. You can also create a document on your Mac or Windows 8 device and access it across your iOS devices.
The Health app in iOS 8 lets you keep track of your activities, and monitor your health in an organized way. You can create an emergency card with important information such as your blood type and allergies. Ths will be available right from your lockscreen, which will be very useful in case of a medical emergency.
The Spotlight feature lets you search for anything you want. Be it News, Movie times, or a Wikipedia article. It gives you relevant results based on location and context.
iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite connects your iPhone, iPad and Mac. So, you can answer calls and send/receive text messages from any of your devices. You can also share your iPhone’s internet connection with your iPad using the new Instant Hotspot
Here is the list of devices that iOS 8 will be compatible with:
iPhone 4s, 5, 5c, 5s, iPod touch 5th generation
and
iPad 2, iPad with Retina display, iPad Air, iPad mini, iPad mini with Retina display
The new update will unfortunately not be available for the iPhone 4 which was first launched in 2010. Considering the fact that Apple supported the device for over 48 Months, it has an incredible run as it receieved all OS updates including minor ones from iOS 4 – iOS 7.1.1.