After months of hype and anticipation, Apple CEO Tim Cook and company finally announced the next-generation mobile operating system, iOS 7. As expected, many of the interface updates included a flatter design than Apple users are used to, but the performance capabilities could be unparalleled. Though vague, the release date and specs were announced along with everything you need to know about iOS 7 now. iOS 7 release date is available today in beta, however, the retail iOS 7 release date will not be until this fall.
Tim Cook heightened the suspense by calling iOS 7 the “Biggest change to iOS since the iPhone.” Whether it’s true or not is realistically up to you. As expected, though, iOS 7 features non-skeumorphic icons and apps, each color-coded and simplistic giving the user a harmonized user experience.
The first updates had to do with the lock screen and homescreen. The password prompter to access the device now boasts rounded numbers on a black base to correspond with the anticipated color scheme.
Once open, the homescreen will actually track the motion of the user by turning on an axis to give the best possible angled view of the device. This occurs throughout all of the apps and screens, including messages, calendar, game center, etc.
The “today view” gives instant updates as to what the user has on tap for the day, aggregating calendar engagements and iCloud agendas which, using the new Air Drop function, allows document sharing between iOS devices and Macs through peer-to-peer Wi-Fi.
Safari for iOS 7 has a new full-screen look focused on content and can now afford thte user a smart search field for more complete search results including what’s accessible in the new favorite bookmarks. It also has bolstered parental controls, and secure access to iCloud.
General browsing is made much easier as there’s no more 8-tab limit while cruising through content is made easier by swiping, as is multitasking and sharing.
iOS 7 also includes updates to the respective device’s camera. New Photos app that organize pictures according to moments and place while a bevy of new photo filters allows for patterning albums and personalizing amateur photographs.
New features in the App Store allow the user to search for what’s popular, but also for what’s popular based on where exactly they are. Tracking allows for iOS 7 to aggregate popular apps based on proximity keeping the user up to date on the latest on what’s happening in that area.
Siri now sports a new interface that includes a unique voice-activated sound wave along the bototm of the screen. All new voice options for Siri includes new female and option of male voice in multiple languages. Just as importantly, Siri now recognizes a slew of new commands and answers even more questions using newly integrated Twitter and Wikipedia services, as well as Bing search results.
The fabled iTunes Radio is an actual update too, free with iAds and ad free if you’re an iTunes Match subscriber. The feature is also built into Macs and MacBooks, plus Apple TV, and will be launching in the U.S. soon before other countries.
Finally, Apple is trying to implement iOS 7 for automobiles. That’s right, cars that run on iOS. Though not available until 2014 at the latest, the integration would allow for users to make phone calls, play music, receive message, or use Siri functions to do all smartphone operations using voice recognition transmitted right to your car’s dashboard. Through Siri, all of these operations are now hands- and eyes-free.
