First Glimpse of iOS 8

iOS users will have plenty of new things to familiarize themselves with this Fall. That’s when iOS 8 arrives, and Apple’s updated mobile operating system promises an abundant supply of new features and enhancements that aim to help you communicate and share more easily.

Will It Run On My Device?

iOS 8 will be compatible with 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. So it looks like the iPhone 4 will be no longer supported by Apple (iOS updates).

iOS Preview

I had a chance to review the new iOS features and enhancements and would like to share some of them with you.  (You can get a full preview — with photos —  of iOS 8 at Apple’s website – http://www.apple.com/ios/ios8)

Photos

• Photos will be integrated with iCloud so that every photo and video you take now lives in iCloud
• You can access and download them anytime from your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, OS X devices or the web
• It can automatically keep the original high-resolution photos and videos in iCloud and leave behind lightweight versions that are perfectly sized for each device
• To help you sort through all the photos in iCloud, you can search by location, time, and albums you’ve set up. And there are smart editing controls that help you quickly edit and crop photos from your device
• Your changes are immediately uploaded to iCloud and visible on your other devices. And the edits are nondestructive, so you can always revert back to your original if you change your mind

Messages

• You now will be able to capture and send audio from within the message editor.  There will be a new microphone button that let’s you record directly into your conversation
• Users who receive a voice recorded message can raise the phone to their ear to hear the message (don’t think that will be practical for the iPad)
• Video messages can be sent in almost the same way, and watched directly within the Messages app
• it’s now possible to send multiple photos or videos in a single message instead of requiring a separate message for each photo
• You can start a group conversation and give it a name
• Leave the conversation whenever you want or turn on Do Not Disturb and then read through the messages when you have time
• You’ll also be able to share your location in the middle of the conversation by displaying a map of your location right in your message

Design

• There are several new user interface enhancements and features.  Here are just a few notable features…
• Interactive notifications (that pop up on your screen) let you take action on texts, email, calendar invitations, reminders, and even messages from apps like Facebook right from their notification banners — without leaving the app you’re in
• Double tapping the home button will not only show your most recent open apps (multitask bar), but it will now show, at the top of the screen, your most recent contacts and favorite contacts.  You will be able to tap a recent contact to call, text, or start a FaceTime call
• The Mail app has a new swipe down gesture that minimizes an email being composed to let a user do things like quickly copy and paste between messages.  You can simply tap the minimized draft message to resume editing
•  Mail is now smarter, recognizing information like dining reservations, flight confirmations, and phone numbers, allowing it to be add to Calendar, Contacts, and other relevant apps
• Safari will now let users tap the Sidebar to see your bookmarks, Reading List, and Shared Links

QuickType

• Now when you type, you’ll see choices of words or phrases you’d probably type next, based on your past conversations and writing style
• QuickType will learn your email and text style as well as learn your conversation style with your contacts and predict text you will use during your conversation
• Your conversation data is kept only on your device, so it’s always private

Family Sharing

• Family members (up to 6) get immediate access to each other’s music, movies, TV shows, books, and apps. Download what you want with a tap anytime you like. All without having to share an Apple ID or passwords
• This feature allows family purchases to be bought with the same credit card and it allows children to initiate purchases that must be confirmed by a parental device
• Family Sharing automatically sets up a family photo stream where you can share photos, videos, and comments. And everything stays up to date on everyone’s devices
• It also lets families share a calendar and reminders
• Family Sharing can automatically share your location with your family members and show you where they are, too

iCloud Drive

• iCloud Drive lets users store presentations, spreadsheets, PDFs, images, or any other kind of document within iCloud, making them accessible on any Mac or iOS device. It functions similarly to Dropbox, with a dedicated folder within Finder on OS X Yosemite (new Mac OS) that users can drag files to
• Edits you make on one device appear on all of them
•  iCloud Drive now allows apps to share files, a file can be accessed in one app and then manipulated in another

Health

• Health app functions as a dashboard that aggregates data collected from various health and fitness apps
• Connect Health app to your medical provider’s app to communicate your data to your doctor (ex: Mayo Clinic app)

Continuity

• The Handoff feature now let’s you can start working (ex: writing an email) on your iPhone and pick up where you left off when you sit down at your iPad or Mac
• This all happens automatically when your devices are signed in to the same iCloud account. Use Handoff with favorite apps like Mail, Safari, Pages, Numbers, Keynote, Maps, Messages, Reminders, Calendar, and Contacts
• Now your Mac or iPad can make and receive phone calls on by proxy to your iPhone as long as your iPhone is running iOS 8 is on the same Wi-Fi network
• Incoming calls show the caller’s name, number, and profile picture.
• You can click or swipe the notification to answer, ignore, or respond with a quick message.
• Making a phone call from your iPad or Mac is just as easy. Simply tap or click a phone number in Contacts, Calendar, or Safari. It all works with your existing iPhone number, so there’s nothing to set up. <== how cool is that!

Spotlight (search)

• Spotlight is now able to show suggestions from the Internet, iTunes, App Store, locations nearby, and more. For example, when searching for a movie using Spotlight, the search results will include both movie showtimes and relevant iTunes links

Siri

• Siri can now be activated with the voice command “Hey Siri,” and the voice assistant also features integration with Shazam, identifying songs upon request (which gives you the opportunity to purchase that song from iTunes)

Wrap Up

Whew…can you believe that the above preview is just scratching the surface of the updates and changes Apple has included in iOS 8?  These are the major features and enhancements announced today, but I would guess that there are dozens if not hundreds more of little tweaks and updates scattered throughout the iOS 8 update.

Again, if you want more details and photos of iOS 8, please check out the Apple preview website – http://www.apple.com/ios/ios8

I am planning on putting together a video to demonstrate all the new iOS 8 features once it is released to the general public in Fall.  Until then, I will be sharing more about iOS 8 in the coming editions.

Hope you learned something today…if you did, pat yourself on the back and go show off to your family, friends, and coworkers.  You deserve it!

“Get Your Mobile On!”©

– iPad Expert Dave

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Dave Rebro

“iPad Expert Dave”

iPadExpertDave@drcs-solutions.com