This afternoon, Apple has released an iOS 7 beta version of its mobile operating system and uploaded it to its iCloud beta site. According to Apple Insider, “The newly updated iCloud.com includes the iOS 7 icons for Mail, Contacts, Calendar, Notes, and Reminders. The icon for Find My iPhone has also been given a simpler, iOS 7-style look.”
Apple has been releasing beta versions of iOS 7 to devs on a systematic basis, roughly every other week barring any setbacks. Apple Insider notes that the goods uploaded to iCloud beta today aren’t likely to be anything new as registered Apple developers have been privy to the iOS 7 betas of weeks past that typically include minor tweaks and bug fixes.
As for iOS 7 itself, there’s plenty for Apple users to look forward too. Surely they’ve all heard about the UI overhaul for months, as it was also detailed at the annual WWDC, but Apple has more in store for its ever-loyal user base.
Interestingly, the entire UI of iOS 7 shifts on an axis when physically shifted by the user in order to give the best possible viewing angle. Even better is that this feature extends beyond the home screen and occurs with all apps.
The comprehensive redesign also includes the new unlock screen with rounded numerals, multiple pages for each app, cleaner typography all around, full screen edge-to-edge photos, ability to swipe between messages or apps, the notifications center available directly from lock screen, and “today view” which shows all that’s on tap for the day from all information saved in iCloud and in your calendar.
Safari for iOS 7 appears to be multifunctional as well, allowing for more than the previous 8-tabs open at once, easily navigabale swiping cues, and improved bookmarking for easy access.
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.
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 collections (albums), and pull out interesting and patterned images that might be of interest to the user.
[image via iOS7Stuff.com]
