A Guide To iOS 7
Apple has radically redesigned its mobile operating system and added some interesting features. Here we explain what's new and what it can do.
WHAT IS IT?
It's Apple's new design for the operating system that powers its portable devices. The seventh version of iOS (www.apple.com/ios/ios7) will be available for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad and will become the new standard.
WHAT IS SO DIFFERENT ABOUT IT?
The interface has had a complete overhaul, which is the first major change for iOS since the iPhone was released in June 2007. The current textured icons with their glossy, reflective look have been replaced by simple block colours, a design that some critics say looks similar to Android. Out will go a type of design called "skeuomorphism", which makes apps look like their real-world counterparts, for example Newsstand publications sitting on wooden shelves and Notes having lined 'paper'. These apps will lose their visual embellishments and become simpler and flatter.
SO IT'S ALL ABOUT THE LOOKS?
To some extent, but the changes go way beyond this. There will be a new control centre that lets you swipe up from the bottom of the screen to access a range of the most useful settings, such as Airplane Mode, screen brightness and Bluetooth. The Notification Center will include a feature called Today that shows at-a-glance information about your day, including birthday reminders and the weather forecast, as well as other useful info. This swipe-down option will also be available on the lock screen.
WHO DECIDED TO CHANGE THINGS?
Sir Jonathan lye. He's the English designer who devised the look of many of Apple's most popular products, from the iPod, iPhone and iPad to the MacBook Pro and iMac. Apple decided to replace the previous head of iOS. Scott Forstall, with Sir Jonathan and gave him the go-ahead to work the same magic on its software that he has already carried out on its hardware.
BUT DOES IT DO MORE THAN iOS 6?
Yes. The design is built around the way most of us use iOS devices and has a smarter multi-tasking feature that recognises the apps you use the most and keeps them up to date in the background. Sin i the "intelligent personal assistant" will be more natural-sounding and offer a choice of male and female voices. But the biggest shock is that iOS 7 ditches Google in favour of Sing, which may be seen as an attempt to distance Apple products from those of Android, its biggest rival in the smartphone and tablet market.
IS IT EASIER TO SHARE CONTENT?
Yes, using a new feature called AirDrop. You'll be able to see which of your contacts are close by and select the person you want to share content with. Since AirDrop uses peer-to-peer transfers, it will not need a network or any setting up. The data is also encrypted to ensure that it is private and cannot be picked up by a passing stranger.
HAS APPLE IMPROVED SECURITY?
Yes. If your device is stolen or lost and someone turns off Find My iPhone or decides to erase the gadget, then it will be rendered useless until your Apple 10 and password are entered. As long as you are careful with your password, this will ensure the thief cannot use your device and it should, when word gets around about this feature, deter them from taking it in the first place.
AND WHAT'S THIS NEW RADIO FEATURE?
lt's called iTunes Radio and it's a free music-streaming service that's similar to Spotify. It features adverts but if you subscribe to iTunes Match for $29 (£19), you can enjoy ad-free listening. Apple says there will be more than 200 stations and thousands of new songs every week. The service will only be available in the US at first, but it should launch in the UK shortly afterwards.
WILL IT TAKE BETTER PICTURES?
Although iOS 7 won't enhance your camera by increasing its resolution, it will let you apply all kinds of new photo effects to your pictures. You will also be able to switch between video, photo, square images and panoramic mode with a simple swipe. The Photos tool has been improved to let you organise images and videos based on time and location.
BUT ARE MAPS AS BAD AS EVER?
No, in fact Apple Maps has significantly improved since its disastrous launch last year. When iOS 7 is introduced, it will offer a night mode for maps that makes them easier to see in the dark. Apple says iOS 7 will integrate better with other devices, for example hooking up with in-car "infotainment" systems. You'll be able to control the Apple device via your car controls and get turn-by-turn directions, play voicemails and return missed calls.
HOW ABOUT BROWSING?
Safari was recently redesigned to speed up browsing on iOS devices. You can now view web pages full-screen, and searching is much easier. Passwords and credit cards can be securely saved in iCloud Keychain and filled in automatically on forms, and you can block dodgy websites using the enhanced parental controls.
CAN MY EXISTING APPLE DEVICE USE iOS 7?
That depends on which model you own. Apple confirmed that iOS 7 will be available as a software update for the iPhone 4 and later, the iPad 2. Following after will come updates for the iPad Mini and fifth-generation iPod Touch. You will not be able to install it on older devices.
HOW MUCH WILL iOS 7 COST?
Nothing. Apple has never charged to IA upgrade to the latest version of iOS and it's not going to start now. As soon as it becomes available. You can download iOS 7 via your Internet connection.
WHEN WILL IT BECOME AVAILABLE?
It's likely that iOS 7 will arrive this autumn to coincide with the launch of the new iPhone. Whether that will be the Phone SS or iPhone 6 is anybody's guess, but while a fixed date for iOS 7 has not yet been confirmed, you'll know it's coming when social media and the press begin to go into a frenzy.
It's Apple's new design for the operating system that powers its portable devices. The seventh version of iOS (www.apple.com/ios/ios7) will be available for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad and will become the new standard.
WHAT IS SO DIFFERENT ABOUT IT?
The interface has had a complete overhaul, which is the first major change for iOS since the iPhone was released in June 2007. The current textured icons with their glossy, reflective look have been replaced by simple block colours, a design that some critics say looks similar to Android. Out will go a type of design called "skeuomorphism", which makes apps look like their real-world counterparts, for example Newsstand publications sitting on wooden shelves and Notes having lined 'paper'. These apps will lose their visual embellishments and become simpler and flatter.
SO IT'S ALL ABOUT THE LOOKS?
To some extent, but the changes go way beyond this. There will be a new control centre that lets you swipe up from the bottom of the screen to access a range of the most useful settings, such as Airplane Mode, screen brightness and Bluetooth. The Notification Center will include a feature called Today that shows at-a-glance information about your day, including birthday reminders and the weather forecast, as well as other useful info. This swipe-down option will also be available on the lock screen.
WHO DECIDED TO CHANGE THINGS?
Sir Jonathan lye. He's the English designer who devised the look of many of Apple's most popular products, from the iPod, iPhone and iPad to the MacBook Pro and iMac. Apple decided to replace the previous head of iOS. Scott Forstall, with Sir Jonathan and gave him the go-ahead to work the same magic on its software that he has already carried out on its hardware.
BUT DOES IT DO MORE THAN iOS 6?
Yes. The design is built around the way most of us use iOS devices and has a smarter multi-tasking feature that recognises the apps you use the most and keeps them up to date in the background. Sin i the "intelligent personal assistant" will be more natural-sounding and offer a choice of male and female voices. But the biggest shock is that iOS 7 ditches Google in favour of Sing, which may be seen as an attempt to distance Apple products from those of Android, its biggest rival in the smartphone and tablet market.
IS IT EASIER TO SHARE CONTENT?
Yes, using a new feature called AirDrop. You'll be able to see which of your contacts are close by and select the person you want to share content with. Since AirDrop uses peer-to-peer transfers, it will not need a network or any setting up. The data is also encrypted to ensure that it is private and cannot be picked up by a passing stranger.
HAS APPLE IMPROVED SECURITY?
Yes. If your device is stolen or lost and someone turns off Find My iPhone or decides to erase the gadget, then it will be rendered useless until your Apple 10 and password are entered. As long as you are careful with your password, this will ensure the thief cannot use your device and it should, when word gets around about this feature, deter them from taking it in the first place.
AND WHAT'S THIS NEW RADIO FEATURE?lt's called iTunes Radio and it's a free music-streaming service that's similar to Spotify. It features adverts but if you subscribe to iTunes Match for $29 (£19), you can enjoy ad-free listening. Apple says there will be more than 200 stations and thousands of new songs every week. The service will only be available in the US at first, but it should launch in the UK shortly afterwards.
WILL IT TAKE BETTER PICTURES?
Although iOS 7 won't enhance your camera by increasing its resolution, it will let you apply all kinds of new photo effects to your pictures. You will also be able to switch between video, photo, square images and panoramic mode with a simple swipe. The Photos tool has been improved to let you organise images and videos based on time and location.
BUT ARE MAPS AS BAD AS EVER?
No, in fact Apple Maps has significantly improved since its disastrous launch last year. When iOS 7 is introduced, it will offer a night mode for maps that makes them easier to see in the dark. Apple says iOS 7 will integrate better with other devices, for example hooking up with in-car "infotainment" systems. You'll be able to control the Apple device via your car controls and get turn-by-turn directions, play voicemails and return missed calls.
HOW ABOUT BROWSING?
Safari was recently redesigned to speed up browsing on iOS devices. You can now view web pages full-screen, and searching is much easier. Passwords and credit cards can be securely saved in iCloud Keychain and filled in automatically on forms, and you can block dodgy websites using the enhanced parental controls.
CAN MY EXISTING APPLE DEVICE USE iOS 7?
That depends on which model you own. Apple confirmed that iOS 7 will be available as a software update for the iPhone 4 and later, the iPad 2. Following after will come updates for the iPad Mini and fifth-generation iPod Touch. You will not be able to install it on older devices.
HOW MUCH WILL iOS 7 COST?
Nothing. Apple has never charged to IA upgrade to the latest version of iOS and it's not going to start now. As soon as it becomes available. You can download iOS 7 via your Internet connection.
WHEN WILL IT BECOME AVAILABLE?
It's likely that iOS 7 will arrive this autumn to coincide with the launch of the new iPhone. Whether that will be the Phone SS or iPhone 6 is anybody's guess, but while a fixed date for iOS 7 has not yet been confirmed, you'll know it's coming when social media and the press begin to go into a frenzy.
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