Apple unveils iOS 8 with interactive notifications, QuickType keyboard, group text enhancements
While taking the wraps off of iOS 8 on Monday, Apple showcased a broad array of new features for users, including interactive notifications, a faster and smarter text entry system dubbed "QuickType," and enhancements to Messages that will improve group texting.
One of the highlights of iOS 8 are new interactive notifications that allow users to reply to text messages or accept calendar invites without leaving the app they are currently in. These new interactive notifications can be invoked from their temporary banner that appears at the top, as well as on the lock screen.
The iOS keyboard has also been revamped with predictive typing suggestions, a feature Apple has dubbed "QuickType." It also intelligently interprets appropriate responses: In one example, a text message asked whether the user wants to do dinner or a movie, and suggestions were either "Dinner" or "Movie."
These new suggestions learn a user's language and words they prefer, but Apple also emphasized privacy, saying that the information will never leave the device.
Continuity features on iOS and Mac also allow users to easily share content, receive standard text messages on other devices like an iPad or Mac, and even remotely enable Personal Hotspot.
Messages has also been improved with the abilities to name threads, add and remove users, and even enable "Do Not Disturb" for a specific thread.
Recent contacts and favorites are also shown in the multitasking view, allowing users to quickly place phone calls, send messages or start a FaceTime call. Safari on iPad will also also gain a new tab view that is similar to the iPhone view.
When composing mail, users can now swipe down to access other mail without closing the message being written. Mail also adds the ability to quickly delete messages or flag them, while smart integration with Calendar allows events to be easily added.
Spotlight searches have also been expanded, now allowing users to find news, songs, movies and other content that may not be saved on the iPhone.
iOS 8 also adds support for iCloud Drive, allowing users to easily open documents from other compatible applications. Edits are saved back to their original location, so there aren't different versions or copies. iCloud Drive syncs to iPhone, iPad, Mac and Windows.
Additionally, Apple introduced a new Family Sharing program for content purchased from the iTunes Store. Up to six family members --?who all share the same credit card -- can access each other's purchased content automatically from any device.
In a nod to regulators, Family Sharing also includes a new parental control feature that will notify parents when their child wants to make a purchase through the App Store. The parent can then accept or reject the purchase.
Also coming along for the ride are a number of new editing options in the camera, including an extended automatic "fixing" mode. In one demonstration, Federighi brought up a simple levels tool that allowed him to scrub over a live preview to find an aesthetically pleasing setting while iOS adjusted a number of variables in the background to achieve the desired effect.
Siri received an update as well, with a new "Hey, Siri" function that allows users to activate Siri with their voice while driving. Additionally, the personal digital assistant now supports song recognition via a new partnership with Shazam.
One of the highlights of iOS 8 are new interactive notifications that allow users to reply to text messages or accept calendar invites without leaving the app they are currently in. These new interactive notifications can be invoked from their temporary banner that appears at the top, as well as on the lock screen.
The iOS keyboard has also been revamped with predictive typing suggestions, a feature Apple has dubbed "QuickType." It also intelligently interprets appropriate responses: In one example, a text message asked whether the user wants to do dinner or a movie, and suggestions were either "Dinner" or "Movie."
These new suggestions learn a user's language and words they prefer, but Apple also emphasized privacy, saying that the information will never leave the device.
Continuity features on iOS and Mac also allow users to easily share content, receive standard text messages on other devices like an iPad or Mac, and even remotely enable Personal Hotspot.
Messages has also been improved with the abilities to name threads, add and remove users, and even enable "Do Not Disturb" for a specific thread.
Recent contacts and favorites are also shown in the multitasking view, allowing users to quickly place phone calls, send messages or start a FaceTime call. Safari on iPad will also also gain a new tab view that is similar to the iPhone view.
When composing mail, users can now swipe down to access other mail without closing the message being written. Mail also adds the ability to quickly delete messages or flag them, while smart integration with Calendar allows events to be easily added.
Spotlight searches have also been expanded, now allowing users to find news, songs, movies and other content that may not be saved on the iPhone.
iOS 8 also adds support for iCloud Drive, allowing users to easily open documents from other compatible applications. Edits are saved back to their original location, so there aren't different versions or copies. iCloud Drive syncs to iPhone, iPad, Mac and Windows.
Additionally, Apple introduced a new Family Sharing program for content purchased from the iTunes Store. Up to six family members --?who all share the same credit card -- can access each other's purchased content automatically from any device.
In a nod to regulators, Family Sharing also includes a new parental control feature that will notify parents when their child wants to make a purchase through the App Store. The parent can then accept or reject the purchase.
Also coming along for the ride are a number of new editing options in the camera, including an extended automatic "fixing" mode. In one demonstration, Federighi brought up a simple levels tool that allowed him to scrub over a live preview to find an aesthetically pleasing setting while iOS adjusted a number of variables in the background to achieve the desired effect.
Siri received an update as well, with a new "Hey, Siri" function that allows users to activate Siri with their voice while driving. Additionally, the personal digital assistant now supports song recognition via a new partnership with Shazam.
Comments
Remove myself or DND a group message? The best news ever. Other than that, meh- just more minor improvements to the best mobile OS by a mile.
Quicktype, finally Swiftkey style. Love it. It's all about continuity...Ecosystem. yup.
Good to see Apple is still innovating /s
These are all old Android features from years past.
Which Android version are you talking about- the measly 9% on Kitkat?
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Thing is, does Android even have a one of them?
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is that the new iphone?
Were all of these features really missing from iOS? These are all old Android features from years past. Pretty embarrassing.
Good to see Apple is still innovating /s
By this logic no one else could have ever created a touch screen phone because "these are old features"
Of course not.
It actually took longer than I thought for the pimple-witted trolls to wake up in their parents' basements.
SUBCATEGORIES OF
SUBCATEGORIES OF
SUBCATEGORIES OF
SUBCATEGORIES
YEEESSSSS YESSSSSSSS YEEEEEEEEEES
I’m actually going to use the App Stores now!
Did I understand correctly that I'll be able to send and receive standard SMS text messages from my Mac? If so, WOOHOO! I hate typing on the tiny little iPhone keyboard when I have a Mac sitting right next to me! That's one of the features I've always really liked about OS X Messages and wished I could use with contacts who don't have Apple devices.
Thing is, does Android even have a one of them?
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Google Predictive Text Keyboard is available to all Android users on 2.3 and later. Introduced in 2012.
Android Expandable Notifications were introduced with Android 4.1. Also in 2012.
"Okay, Google" is about a year old and available to all Google Now users (4.1 and up)
iCloud drive is clearly an attempt to duplicate Google Drive from the very beginning of Android.
Did the App store really not have subcategories???? It's 2014 that must be a joke.
FYI Android 4.1 or above is on 71% of Android devices, which is somewhat substantial. I don't know anyone earlier than 4.2
SMS will not be sent or received from your Mac. That requires a device with a cellular connection as that communication happens over your mobile provider's carrier signal. What it looks to do is have the iPhone aware that an SMS has arrived, then forward it to iMessage (over IP) that will have some sort of tagging so your other devices know this originally came via SMS so the conversation and transmission can remain intact.
Google Predictive Text Keyboard is available to all Android users on 2.3 and later. Introduced in 2012.
Yeah, but it’s nothing like this.
Which was a pathetic attempt at copying the storage from .Mac.
Where is the guy claiming WWDC was going to be underwhelming?
Holy Cow! That was f**king incredible!
Android's had the predictive text thing since version 2.3, which was years ago. But Apple took this one farther by stealing it directly from SwiftKey, circa 2008.
Here comes the FUD, doodle doo doo…
Here comes the FUD, and I say…
Get out now.
*guitar riff*