"It's the biggest change to iOS since the introduction of the iPhone." With those words Apple CEO Tim Cook unveiled iOS 7 at WWDC 2013. The updated operating system comes with a complete overhaul in terms of both design and functionality. With a range of cool new features, iOS 7 will most certainly be a game changer. It drops this fall, but here is everything you need to know about it right now.
New, Sleek UI
The most glaring new feature of iOS 7 is its stunning, redesigned user interface. The sleek look was helmed by design guru Jonathan Ive and offers a more simplistic approach to mobile computing. "Gone are lush, skeuomorphic objects, dials, and textures," writes Joshua Topolsky at The Verge. "Instead, they have been replaced with stark, largely white and open app spaces; colorful, almost childlike icons; pencil thin, abstract controls for settings." Overall, the design reboot gives a more unified feel to the iPhone and hopefully a more pleasant experience for users.
Automatic Updates
All updates are not created equal. This is one of the few changes we're not too thrilled about. The App Store will now automatically update your apps instantly, which means you won't have to do it manually anymore. It'll save you time, sure, but there are some updates better left alone.
Believe me, there are some updates you don't want“ @complex_tech: With iOS 7, the App Store updates your apps automatically. #WWDC13”
— There goes T (@T_Mac202) June 10, 2013
The Parallax Effect
What has always set Apple apart from its competitors is its inventiveness toward technology. With Apple, anything seems possible. Enter the parallax effect, a 3D feature so cool we can already see ourselves toying around with it for hours. Since Ive designed iOS 7 in layers, as you toggle your phone, the layers move in 3D space. This just seems like Ive is showing off, but hey, we don't mind. Check it out here.
The Control Center
iPhone devotees rejoice. There is now a Control Center feature available at any moment on your phone. All you have to do is swipe up, and from there you can access your camera, control your music, or setup Wi-Fi (among many other things). Be in control at all times.
AirDrop
Sharing just got easier thanks to AirDrop. The new iOS feature lets you share content (photos, music, etc) with other iPhone users who are in close range. AirDrop also tells you who you can send content to right within Control Center. It seems Apple finally has an answer to Samsung's tap-based sharing on the Galaxy phone. Well played.
Camera and Photo Features
The updated camera on iOS 7 has new filters and special photo framing a la Instagram. Says Jesus Diaz at Gizmodo: "The app will automatically organize your photos by Collections, Moments and Years. You will be able to see the photos you took last week or at one specific locations, making some photos bigger than others." Whats more, photo supports sharing video through iCloud.
Safari
With full-screen browsing, gone are Safari's scrolling bars and buttons when looking at online content. Also added are gesture-based navigation and a new flipping card-tab feature. Explore the web more freely.
Multitasking
One of our new favorite features is Multitasking, which will be available to all applications. That's right, ALL APPLICATIONS. Browse any number of apps by swiping your finger over the screen. As The Verge noted, "The new card-based multitasking interface is strikingly reminiscent of webOS with large previews of each app."
Will Include iTunes Radio
iTunes Radio is basically Pandora but for your iPhone. It's free, which is great, but ad supported (unless you're an iTunes match subscriber). The new music service works on the iPhone, iPad and iPod, across both Macs and PCs. Spotify and Google Music All Access are officially on notice.
The Weather App Is An Exact Copy of Yahoo's Weather App
One of our favorite apps here at Complex is the Yahoo Weather App, which CEO Marissa Mayer unveiled earlier this year. It's a refreshingly original take on a tried-and-true format: sleek design backed by stunning images. Apple must have noticed this because its updated weather app for iOS 7 looks exactly like the Yahoo iteration. It seems Mayer may be making a bigger impact in the tech world than critics expected. Apple is certainly paying attention.
Improved Siri
There is now a dude Siri. And he can even speak to you in French. With iOS 7, Siri will feature two voice options (male and female) and offer answers in a range of languages (German anyone?). Best of all, Siri is becoming more intelligent with voice commands. Ask it something like, "Lower the volume" or "Decrease brightness" and it will understand. Sweet.
Available This Fall
The wait won't be long. iOS 7 will be available this fall to everyone. A beta version is already open to developers, but expect the full roll out come September/November. iOS 7 will funtion on iPhone 4 models and later, the iPad 2 and mini, and the fifth-generation iPod touch.
