APPLE iOS 8

iOS 8: Top 12 New Features

When Tim Cook called iOS 8 a giant release, he wasn’t kidding. The newest version of Apple’s mobile operating system, available now, features a number of improvements to notifications, the TouchID sensor, as well as ways to integrate health information and smart home gadgets. Did we mention third-party keyboards? Here’s a quick rundown of the ten most interesting new features of iOS 8.

1. Notifications are easier to access

Building on iOS 7’s flat interface, iOS 8 lets you do more with the simple double-tap. Now, instead of just showing all your open apps, it also shows thumbnail images of the people with

whom you communicate frequently. From here, you can tap on a thumbnail to call, message, or email that person.

It’s now easier to respond to notifications. If you get a text message, for example, it will appear on the top of the screen as before, but instead of having to open the messaging app, you can reply right from the home screen. This feature also works for Calendar notifications, as well as third-party apps such as Facebook. Don’t want to respond? You can swipe to ignore a message, or decline a meeting invite. You can also set this feature up to work from the lock screen, which will shave a few seconds off your response time. 

Additionally, third-party developers will be able to create widgets that will appear in the notifications drawer. For example, an ESPN SportsCenter widget will show scores from your favorite teams. An eBay widget will let you monitor and even raise your bids. 

2. Siri is more responsive

Siri is becoming a lot more car-friendly, as it will support better hands-free use. You can now just say “Hey Siri” to start the assistant. Further, Siri will work with Shazam to recognize songs, and let you purchase tracks using just your voice. 

3. TouchID for all

Third-party apps will now be able to use TouchID. However, as before, the fingerprint data will remain only on the iOS device. This should make it allot easier to log into Facebook and Twitter, as well as make mobile payments. 

4. Mail navigation with a simple swipe

A few tweaks to the Mail app make it easier to flag and delete messages with a swipe. When composing emails, you can swipe down on a draft to minimize it and access other emails in your inbox. Then, tap on the bottom of the screen to reopen your draft. Other neat tricks include the ability to add calendar events right from email, such as OpenTable invites.

5. Spotlight finds more

Similar to as in OS X Yosemite, Spotlight in iOS 8 gains a few new tricks. Now you will be able to search for apps — not just on your device, but ones that you might want to download — as well as geographic points of interest, news and restaurants. You can also search for songs, and Spotlight will show results from your library as well as ones in iTunes. If you search for a movie, Spotlight will bring up local theater listings, as well as content available for streaming. 

6. Keyboard gets smarter — at last

Finally, predictive typing has come to iOS. Apple’s QuickType, as it’s called, will now suggest words and phrases based not just on who you’re writing to, but also in what app you’re writing.  Otherwise, the keyboard looks the same as before — with still no dedicated number row above the keyboard. 

However, Apple now supports third-party keyboards, such as Swype, which will no doubt please many power users. 

7. Photos and camera get more advanced

iOS 8 provides a new application for managing photos.  Whenever a photo is taken on the iPhone, the Photos App automatically straightens it. The app also provides smart editing tools that can adjust light and color with just a swipe. Photos will also have individual tools available for fine-tuning images.  These will include adjusting exposure, brightness, contrast, highlights, shadows and more.  The Photos framework will be available for third party developers to build upon. iOS 8 also allows camera apps more control of the phone’s shooter, including manual adjustment of focus, shutter speed and ISO (light sensitivity).