After much hype and anticipation, Apple’s iOS 7’s release date is tomorrow and we’ve compiled everything we know and have learned about the next-generation mobile operating system so far. Apple first introduced iOS 7 to its loyal, ever-growing user base back at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June, and gave viewers another look at its features during the iPhone 5S & iPhone 5C release event last week. iOS 7 will be available as a free download tomorrow.
Underwhelmingly, Tim Cook et al didn’t shed a whole lot of insight on the upcoming iOS 7 that we haven’t already deduced ourselves, whether through the WWDC showcase or leaked photos and specs. Still, there’s plenty to look forward to for mobile Apple users and early reviews indicate just as much.
Design
One of the controversial aspects of iOS 7 was a complete UI overhaul that cost the likes of Scott Forstall his job last year. Jony Ive spearheaded the project that required him to poach a number of engineers from the OS X Mavericks team, but was still able to ship iOS 7 on time. The project was an attempt to make iOS 7 more user-friendly and aesthetically-pleasing while coordinating thoroughly with the colorful options of the iPhone 5C.
The idea was to strip the UI–which includes apps, icons, and textural features–of their skeumorphism, which was once touted by the late great Steve Jobs. The colors are bolder, the icons are flatter, and the entire system is supposedly more navigable.
Lock Screen
The lock screen creates a parallax effect on the wallpaper, shifting the axis of the entire UI so that the user can have a clear vantage point despite the angle its being held at.
Also from the lock screen the user can access the Notification Center and Command Center by simply using basic swiping cues. Users can swipe down for the Notifications Center and conversely swipe up for Command Center. You can also use the pull down gesture from any home screen panel use the Search feature to scour your device for certain items.
Siri
Siri is also improved. Now with both male and female voice options, Siri is able to access social media feeds like Twitter. Craig Federighi used the example of asking “What is Lady Gaga saying?” and Siri subsequently pulled up the pop diva’s feed.
Safari
Safari for iOS 7 is to be multifunctional to allow for multitasking. Now applicable is the ability for even more than the previously available 8-tabs open at once, as well as easily employable swiping cues, and improved bookmarking for easy access.
AirDrop
Finally with iOS 7, Apple will have an answer to the naysayers who thought its mobile operating system was dead in the water without NFC capability. AirDrop shows users which friends are in close proximity and makes items easy to share anything–photos, articles, documents, social media, etc.–with multiple friends at once. No need to worry about security either as AirDrop will use securely encrypted peer-to-peer Wi-Fi.
Camera
The camera feature will offer a slew of new filters for amateur photographers to salivate over, while the photo app helps to easily manage and share pics, organize photos in albums, and pull out interesting and patterned images that might be of interest to the user.
Early Reviews & First Impressions
Associated Press: “Any significant change in design typically upsets users familiar with the old way of doing things, but I suspect the complaints about iOS 7 will be muted unless there are some terrible bugs in the software that weren’t evident during the brief time that I was given to experiment. I am fairly certain most people who download iOS 7 are going to be pleased. The software makes it easier to navigate around an iPhone and adds some compelling new features.”
TechCrunch: ” By now though, it’s hard to think of iOS 7 as anything but a known quantity — it’s been dissected and criticized and lambasted and adored ever since the first beta was released to developers earlier this year. Now that Apple has pulled back the curtains on the new iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C, it’s time for iOS 7 to start making the rounds in earnest. Sadly, Federighi’s iOS 7 segment didn’t offer up much in the way of new details — it was largely a recap of the stuff Apple talked up at WWDC a few months ago.”
Know Your Mobile: ” The downside is that after I got used to the shock of the design shift, I still wanted more from iOS 7. I don’t need widgets but I do think Apple missed a trick by not incorporating some kind of glance-based information delivery system inside iOS 7. With that said, the most interesting things about iOS 7 may not yet be known – the platform includes more than 1,500 new APIs for developers. And that means there’ll be plenty of interesting new features on the way ahead of its Q4 rollout.”
