iOS 8 the biggest iOS release ever │ official launch WWDC 2014 │ iOS 8 release date, news and features
Developers can get their hands on iOS 8 right now, but everyone else has to wait a few months for the official release date, estimated to be a little over three months from now.
When it comes to iOS 8 compatibility, Apple requires an iPhone 4S or newer and iPad 2 or newer to update to the latest software.
iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite are going to be joined at the hip with the Handoff feature that lets you pick up where you left off between devices.
iMessages has been a wonderful cross-compatible tool for chatting on iOS devices and Macs – at least until you try to leave your iPhone behind for an Android.
Group messages is also being enhanced for iOS 8 thanks to new features. You’ll be able to add and drop people from conversations and silence non-stop incoming message annoyances via a group-specific Do Not Disturb toggle.
For the times when you do actually respond to texts and calendar reminders on your phone instead of a Mac computer, iOS 8 adds convenient interactive notifications.
Apple claims its iOS 8 keyboard is its “smartest keyboard ever,” and there’s no reason to doubt that since its Quicktype feature adds long-awaited predictive texting that’s akin to SwiftKey and Swype.
Prior to today, there was very little reason to use the ridiculously small 5GB of free space Apple included with iCloud. It was always easier to use a more capable and less expensive Dropbox account.
Apple didn’t announce an iWatch-tied Healthbook app at WWDC, but it did unveil a more plainly named Health app and the developer-focused HealthKit API.
Apple also plans to tie together smart home electronics with its HomeKit framework for connected devices so that you control everything without getting up off the couch.