Apple iOS 8 : The 10 most important innovations of the new OS for the iPhone and iPad
The ecosystem expands with over 4,000 APIs that allow iPhone and iPad interface with many devices connected to the world of fitness (HealthKit) and automation (HomeKit), but also new features that developers can access with TouchID, iCloud, cameras and much more.
Below are those that we believe are the most important news of iOS 8.
Continulity
The strength of the iOS ecosystem is the solid (owner) to which it belongs, with which each piece of data can be synchronized between computers on the series Mac and mobile devices connected. 8 iOS allows you to bring the ecosystem to an even higher level, in which many features can be started and completed on the desktop with your smartphone, and vice versa, without any special user interaction.
You are writing an email with your Mac? Thank Continuity can continue to do so with your smartphone simply by accessing the native application. You can also answer your Mac or iPad to an incoming call on the iPhone, if the devices were connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Thank Continuity, AirDrop also works between Mac and iOS devices. For those using a Mac, Continuity is definitely the most important news of the entire release.
Bless
Apple has added a new app among those installed natively on iOS 8. Its task is to measure and evaluate the consistency and the results of the physical training of the user, and sleep habits. Unlike many other proprietary technologies from Apple, Health is offered with a tool for developers that allows many third-party accessories to interface with the applications in order to upload sensitive data otherwise impractical to manually enter. This will also allow use of specific accessories and evaluate data more accurate than those obtainable by the sensors of the device.
Additional Keyboards
The highlight of iOS has never been his level of personalization software. Although IOS 8 is not able to arrive at the levels of Android, were moved considerable steps forward. One of the most noticeable changes will be represented by the keyboards customizable: users can download and install from the App Store additional keyboards, which may also have more features, such as proprietary technologies for predictive text. It will be possible to have, then, the acclaimed Swype technology, already successful on Android, even on the iPhone, and we can expect further developments once developers come into harmony with the news.
Extensions
The extensions are one of the most important news of the entire new version of iOS. Previously, individual applications were thrown into isolated sandboxes, so that it was not possible to perform an exchange of data between them. The functionality extensions allows you to act as an intermediary between the two applications, so that they can communicate on the basis of rules defined by the same developer, who can decide how your content can be viewed, shared, or how it can interact with the other application. This means that applications can add tools for sharing, still trying to maintain some limits to keep the proverbial security of a system to separate sandbox.
Widget
Perhaps the feature most ” plagiarized ” from Android, and one of the distinctive symbols of the latter. The native app on iOS 7 show some information about the Notification Center, but the third-party developers have never had access in a direct, if not with notifications, in that screen. It was remedied with iOS 8 which, thanks to the functionality extensions, allows the display of widgets designed specifically also on the Notification Center. Unlike Android the widget will not appear on the Home screen, but on a callable with a swipe from the top down only when necessary.
Messages
Messages is extended with new features. The one in the bud was a simple application for sending SMS on iOS 8 will allow you to send voice and video messages. You can also send your position, using the technologies of geolocation of the device, in addition to rename the names of the groups. It is already permitted from time news from other options for instant messaging, but that certainly come in handy if available on the app native pre-installed on first boot.
Photo
The Photos app is renamed in photos and gets a substantial modernization with new additional features. You will be able to customize the search, in order to find a specific photo based on where or when it was taken, or by album in which it is located. The user can also save some pictures as favorites, as well as access to numerous tools for a basic post-production ” on-the-go ” directly from the application. iOS 8 introduces a new method for recording time-lapse video, particularly effective especially if you have a tripod.
iCloud
The cloud storage service of Apple is becoming increasingly similar to Dropbox and Google Drive, even if they do not reach the same levels of customization and completeness. The Photo Library now allows to store all the photos within the service, allowing the display also through the web, and not only on iOS devices, Mac or Windows. iCloud now allows you to open any type of document.
Sharing Family
It is a feature desired by many associations for the protection of consumers, which Apple did not hesitate to respond. In the Family is a new feature that allows a maximum of six members of share purchases on your iOS device operated. It will also be shared calendars and photo albums among users, while a member of the group will decide whether to approve the purchases made by other devices.
Siri
Siri has been extended with several interesting features. First of all, the ability to recall the voice assistant with the exclusive use of the voice, through the command ” Hey Siri, ” also is implemented the recognition of single words ” stream “, or word will be recognized immediately after having spoken without having the need to finish the sentence. Siri is now able to recognize the songs, using the algorithm of Shazam famous, and give you the opportunity to purchase content via iTunes directly from the assistant’s voice.
