Apple iOS 8 – Why is it the world’s most advanced mobile OS?
iOS 8 is getting better and better. The latest version is 8.1.3 and there are two more versions that are in beta mode - 8.2 and 8.3 (8.4 is still a rumor). Apple also confirms that they have finally convinced more users to upgrade their mobile OS from iOS 7 (or earlier versions) to iOS 8. As of March 2, 2014, the percentage of iOS 8 users is 75%. This is based on the Apple App Store radar.
Noticeably, many of our tech blogger friends and foes are becoming super busy updating and re-posting their reviews, blogs, criticisms, and even rumors on the latest mobile OS. This time, they have a lot of applications to dive into compared to iOS 7. Apple’s monthly version update is also a challenge.
There are over 40 major categories of built-in applications in iOS 8. Nine of these features will be used for the very first time by iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 plus users. These all-new features include Photos, Messages, Design, QuickType, Family Sharing, iCloud Drive, Health, Continuity and Spotlight.
They have their reviews, I have mine. Here’s a recap on what these features say about the new iOS 8.
Photos
Apple added Time-lapse mode on your iPhone’s camera. They also added new flavours and twists on the photo filters and editing tools. You can now easily adjust the light, color, contrast as well as fine-tune other photo properties with the new Photos App.
No, it’s not as powerful as Photoshop but it can make your gentle looks even more professional.
New search tools were also added on the photo library so you can instantly find, edit and share photos to your friends and family members.
Messages
With the new Messages app, sending photos, videos, voice recordings and file attachment can now be done in seconds. You can also share your location with a map as attachment. This seems to be better than Skype, somehow.
Design
Design is all about highly interactive notifications. This feature avoids interruptions on what you’re doing. Say a text message comes in or an email notification pops out of your screen, you can reply without leaving the game app you are addicted into. Its multi-tasking brought up to the next level.
QuickType
This feature will help you on your grammar and sentence composition uncertainties. It is no longer a word or phrase auto-suggestion which we often use on most smartphones. Apple added predictive text engine as well as third-party keyboard designs so that you can choose to be casual, formal, funny or hip-hop on your conversations.
Family Sharing
Apple is now an advocate of apps sharing. However, sharing is only limited to your family circle. This feature leverages the iCloud and iTunes functionality. Whether it’s a book, music or app purchase, the Family Sharing will allow up to six members of the family to share those contents with each other. An organizer, which can be the dad or mom, can setup a family account so that purchases can be easily tracked.
Warning: Don’t approve your son’s intended purchase of an adult video.
iCloud
iCloud has been there for years. With iOS 8, you can sync and manage almost all types of files on all your devices. Here’s how it works. Create a file on Mac, drag it to iCloud, grab the file on your iPad, do some edits then bring it back to iCloud, and open the file on your PC.
What’s the difference? It’s fast. It’s automatic. You also have the option to upgrade your cloud storage space right from your iOS device.
Health
With the addition of HealthKit app, all your health and fitness data located on other apps will be consolidated and displayed on a single screen. Depending on your level of confidence to the app, you can make your iPhone an extension of your Electronic Medical Records (EMR).
Could this mean that physicians can now diagnose your health problems through your iPhone?
Continuity
Continuity is about enhanced connectivity between your devices. It’s the iCloud sync feature and more than that. You can now answer a call on your iPhone using your iPad or Mac. The same way, you can initiate a call, an email or an SMS from your Mac or iPad using your iPhone’s 3G or 4G network. These would only be possible if all your devices are in the same Wi-Fi network.
Spotlight
Apple now introduces its version of Google Now. Although this iOS 8 feature don’t use voice search, text search instead, the result that it will give are as intelligent as what you’re thinking. Whatever you want to search, Spotlight will spot the most relevant answer or suggestion, in seconds.
The full horse power of these features is up to you to explore. There are some reports about annoying problems with iOS 8 and iPhone 6. But I think Apple had already fixed them. Note that there are two iOS 8 versions currently in beta mode. While waiting for their release, find time to enjoy the new iOS 8 on your iPhone.
