Apple has introduced its newest mobile operating system, iOS 8, this week during the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference. Here are 10 of the biggest changes that were introduced:
1. Text messages, e-mails, reminders, events, and even application notifications such as Facebook will pop up at the top of the screen, allowing you to answer them then and there, without exiting from what you are currently doing. Choose to reply to the text without having to enter the Messages app, hit snooze on a reminder, or accept an event, all while remaining in your current tab.
2. E-mails will now recognize appointments, reminders, events, and even phone numbers and ask to add them to your phone for you.
3. Photos in your camera roll can now be searched for. The search tab allows you to put in the location the picture was taken in, the album it’s in, and even the day or time it was taken.
4. Photo editing now comes with the ability to straighten horizons, modify the brightness, contrast, and exposure, and gives you many more filters to choose from. The video camera also now comes with the ability to record time-lapse videos.
5. Messaging has been completely redefined. Group texts can now be named, and the person who began the chat has the power to include or delete people from the group chat. People can leave the group chat when they desire, or turn on Do Not Disturb and read the messages at their own time, instead of having the phone constantly go off. Also, you can now send voice records by holding the “record” button that is provided next to the keyboard.
6. You can tap to see every attachment that has been included in your conversation with someone, instead of having to scroll for hours until they text you and you have to begin all over again.
7. Texting also allows the option to send someone an exact location of you through the Maps app. You can choose how long you want them to know your location – one hour, a day, or indefinitely.
8. The keyboard now predicts what you will say next, and brings up words or phrases that you might think about using, allowing you to tap once to add the word. The phone also takes into account who you are talking to, and the way you normally communicate with them, whether laid back or more professionally.
9. Family sharing allows up to six people to share music, books, applications, and even a photo album. You can create a family calendar, and share one credit card, being able to manage what the kids spend.
10. Probably the biggest change is the introduction of the Health app. The app can manage your heart rate, cholesterol, blood sugar, and even monitor your workouts and tell you how many calories you burned. It is also able to give you an average of how many hours you sleep at night.
iOS 8 is expected to be released to late-model iPhone and iPad owners within the next quarter. The WWDC runs from June 2-6 in San Francisco.