iOS 8 Catches Up

Apple’s newest software, iOS 8, made its way into the bustling tech market on September 17. Like most new Apple products, it opened with high expectations. However, like any other software, it does have shortfalls.

Preparing for the update is a painstaking process for those who have trouble managing space on their Apple devices. The update requires 4.6 GB of free space, and for many people, this requires deleting many of their beloved apps. However, once the update is complete, it is possible to re-download the deleted apps.

Now, for the new and improved aspects of iOS 8. The multifunction keyboard is by far the most attractive feature of this new software. Like popular messaging apps such as WeChat and WhatsApp, iMessage has incorporated voice messaging, making it slightly more interactive. Recently, apps like SwiftKey have helped make typing easier by offering word predictions once a user types in a letter or two. Apple follows this trend yet again, but establishes the SwiftKey-like keyboard into their new design to make users’ lives easier.

In addition to the modes and filters available on iOS 7, iOS 8 contains advanced yet easy to use editing software to alter pictures on various levels. Now, it is possible for Apple products to change brightness, contrast, highlights, color, etc. And if you delete one of these carefully edited pictures, Apple gives you an opportunity to recover your deleted photos within 30 days. As for the camera itself, Apple users can take videos in time-lapse (a feature allowing videos in either slow-mode or fast-mode). Plus, Apple has introduced a self-timer to take that perfect shot. For those creative photographers, some of these new features can open up great possibilities.

A completely new feature of iOS 8 is the health app. Its design is yet another example of Apple’s renowned simplicity: a heart in the right-hand corner, floating in a white background. The app itself is quite intriguing. It helps the average user track almost everything, ranging from nutrients as common as calcium levels to others as unknown as molybdenum levels. As Apple states, “‘How are you’ has a new meaning.” Now you can keep track of health and fitness data all in one convenient place.

As for Siri (a voice equally annoying as it is helpful), Apple has given it a new feature to recognize

music playing in the background. Sure, it’s cool and interesting, but apps like Shazam have already deciphered what Apple considers its best yet.

Apple has truly given the iPhones and iPads a new make-over. These new additions make Apple devices feel richer and more aligned with their competitors such as Samsung or Google since many of these features are readily available on a Samsung Galaxy or Nexxus. Apple has finally jumped on the bandwagon and has been able to catch up with its fierce competitors.

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