iOS 8 Revealed

Apple recently posted their WWDC 2014 conference on every online medium for consumers and business users to see what is new in iOS 8, the latest OS for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. This conference gave developers a large gaze into the realm that is iOS 8 and what it has to offer. There are so many great features that were talked about, but here are some that really change the game.

HealthKit


HealthKit takes all the great things about individual health apps and combines them into one extremely useful tool. Now you can take your heartbeat, track steps, sleep patterns, blood sugar, etc all in one application.

Interactive Notifications

Now there is no need to leave an application to answer a text message. Simply tap the text message on the notification banner and reply to your message without exiting your open session.

Group Messaging

Apple took some great elements from other instant messaging giants like What'sApp and integrated some great features into iMessage, more specifically Group Messaging. Now you can name your group, add or remove users, set your status to Do Not Disturb or leave the thread without interrupting the other users.

Suggestive Text

As an added feature to our beloved Autocorrect, now text messaging and iMessage offers suggested words that you can easily tap while type a sentence. As a bonus feature, it suggests words to reply back with. For example if someone messages me "Dinner or a movie?", my suggestive text will give me three options, "Dinner", "Movie", or "What time?".

Voice Memos

iOS8 takes voice memos to the next level with the built in motion sensor. Now you can listen to voice memos by simply holding the phone up to your hear, to reply hold the phone up to your mouth and start recording. You can also access voice memos from the lock screen.


Siri

Now you can use Siri to purchase iTunes content. Another great feature is the integration with Shazam. Simply hold down your home button to activate Siri and let her listen to the song, she will then gather information from Shazam to let you know who the artist is, the song name and a link to download off iTunes.

Family Sharing

Now consumers can add Family members to their Apple ID payment method, so one credit card is shared across multiple accounts. Up to six users can share apps, music, TV shows and other purchases between devices through the Cloud. Don't want little Jimmy going nuts and downloading apps with Dad's credit card? No problem, a message will pop on Jimmy's phone to ask the primary account holder for permission to purchase an app. Dad will then get the request from Jimmy and decide to accept or decline.

Keyboards

Now iOS has support for other keyboards like Samsung's famous "Swype" keyboard.

HomeKit

HomeKit allows users to integrate all of their home automation applications in one spot. Control your lights, thermostats, plugs and security system from your iPhone. They have also added Siri integration. Use a phrase like "Good Night" and Siri will work with HomeKit to dim your lights, close your garage door and lower the temperature on the thermostat.

Widgets

Although Widgets aren't a must have for iOS users, now you can add more widgets on the pull down notification center.

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