Apple Introduces iOS 8

Apple on Monday introduced iOS 8, an update to the company’s mobile operating system that powers iPhones and iPads.

A few big overviews they showed off first:

The Notifications Center has a new interactive notifications feature that lets user quickly reply to a message via the notification itself, as opposed to having to launch the message app and move away from the app they are currently using.

Apple has also stated that this works with third-party apps, like Facebook, where you could like a notification, such as a photo or status tag, without having to launch into Facebook itself. In fact, these notifications can be interacted via the lockscreen itself, so you will be able to address these notifications without having to unlock your phone.

You can also find your favorite contacts by double-tapping to multitask. This will allow you to quickly call or FaceTime them.

QuickType is a new version of the keyboard in iOS 8. The keyboard finally supports keyword auto-suggestions to let you autofill quickly. It’s context-sensitive, so it offers up words based on what you’ve already typed.

During WWDC, it was demonstrated that the word predictions were different depending on who you are interacting with. It would suggest more formal words when interacting with a colleague at work, and less formal when with friends.

One of the biggest additions to iOS 8 is a new HealthKit application. The app will monitor users’ heart rates, sleep, weight and blood pressure among other health-related information. It also syncs with third-party fitness devices and apps.

Apple also unveiled HomeKit, a new platform that would enable people to control all the items in their homes with the iPad or iPhone. That means iOS 8 will let people manage their lights, cameras, door locks, switches, plugs, thermostats and other connected devices.

Family Sharing is a new feature in iOS 8 that lets you sync up all the devices in a single family to automatically share media, calendars, reminders, or find my friends. It also allows parents to track their kids’ locations and seek approval on their iPhones or iPads before their kids can purchase new apps on their own devices. Family Sharing also allows for the sharing of multimedia, like photos and videos.

More details at Apple

Source: Ubergizmo, TechCrunch