For a simple “how to” for updating your iPhone or iPad, click here.
For a full list of all the new iOS 8 Features, click here.
By Elijah Loving | Director of Training, TechOrchard
Just two days ahead of Apple’s iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus release, consumers will have the opportunity to download the new iOS 8. Touted by Apple as “the biggest iOS release ever,” iOS 8 will leverage the flat design from iOS 7 while providing updates to many of its most popular apps and introducing new connections between apps and other Apple devices. Before accessing your free iOS 8 download on September 17, discover TechOrchard’s top six features of the new operating system you won’t want to miss.
1. SMS and phone calls on Mac
iMessages is a wonderful cross-compatible tool for chatting on iOS devices and Macs alike. All of your iOS 8 SMS messages will finally appear on your Apple tablet and computer. iPhone calls can be answered on the tablet or computer, too, though upgrading your Mac to the newly announced OS X Yosemite is required. Plus, seamlessly send video and voice messages with a simple touch and swipe.
2. Handoff and WiFi hotspot
iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite will have the ability to work in tandem with the Handoff feature that lets you pick up where you left off between devices. For example, send your documents, notes or phone call from one device to another and back to make project completion and timely follow-up a breeze.
3. Group messaging and location sharing
Group messages are also being updated in iOS 8. You’ll be able to add and subtract people from conversations and silence non-stop incoming message annoyances via a group-specific Do Not Disturb button. Meanwhile, the new location sharing is ideal for meeting up with friends, family or coworkers in even the most hard-to-find places.
4. QuickType keyboard
With the new QuickType feature, your iPhone will offer predictive text based on everything from how you’ve type previous messages to the recipient of your message to what type of content is being entered. Additionally, third-party keyboards such as the popular Swype, which has been available to Windows and Android users for some time, will give iPhone users the opportunity to choose their favorite input method or layout systemwide.
5. A useful iCloud
Before today, there was very little reason to use the small 5GB of free space Apple included with iCloud given the many free accounts of much larger storage available online. Apple promotes that will change when iOS 8 launches alongside iCloud Drive as a competitor to Google Drive, Dropbox and Box. Users will still have to pay for access to more than 5GB of space but will benefit from the added ability to store more file types across devices, including documents, presentations, spreadsheets, PDFs and images.
6. Siri and Spotlight updates
Siri, Apple’s voice assistant, will start responding to the simple command “Hey Siri,” allowing busy users an awesome hands-free experience. The upgraded Siri can now recognize songs and help you purchase iTunes tracks with your voice alone. Apple also promotes that Siri will be a better listener, matching what you’re saying in near-real-time. Meanwhile, Spotlight searches go beyond your device, populating information from Wikipedia, the news, nearby places, the App Store and other sources, similar to the Mac OS experience.
Looking for other ways to make the most of your mobile devices? Or need help upgrading while ensuring security of your device’s data? Contact TechOrchard at 913-685-1475 for help!
