By Henry Powderly
Newsday
Apple’s latest mobile operating system update, iOS 8, arrived a couple of weeks ago featuring not only a new look for the systems, but a host of new features appearing for the first time on Apple’s flagship mobile devices.
The release came two days before Apple’s newest phones, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, hit retail stores.
Here’s a look at a few standout changes you can expect to see when you update your devices. Only iPhone 4S and above, iPad 2 and above and the fifth-generation iPod Touch will be able to download and install iOS 8.
Multimedia messages: Text messages really aren't just text messages anymore. Apple's iOS 8 now allows users to send audio messages, insert location data or even send a video as part of the conversation. The software also allows for naming group chats, and gives users the ability to leave group chats once they have responded. Apple's new messaging platform also allows for sending multiple photos or videos in a chat.
Apple health: Perhaps one of the most anticipated features in iOS 8, Apple Health adds a host of monitoring programs to the company's mobile devices. The software allows users to check vitals such as heartbeat and daily calories burned, as well as create a digital health card that lists important medical information such as any allergies or conditions they might want accessed in case of an emergency. Health also includes a developer's kit, which should open up a host of integration between third-party health and fitness apps and iOS 8's native health dashboard.
Family sharing: No more giving your significant other your Apple password to download apps or songs you've already bought. The new iOS 8 adds a family sharing feature allowing users to designate accounts of family members who can share any app or digital download. The feature also allows families to share calendars to keep events in sync. Family sharing also extends to photo albums, giving users the ability to access and contribute to shared albums across the family. There is also a parental account function to monitor and approve any purchase made by kids in the family.
Photos: It's not called iPhoto anymore; it's just Photos. Apple's new photo management software comes as part of iOS 8 and adds a ton of new features. Browsing can now be done by location, date or other tags. At the same time, Photos gives users new photo editing and composition features, as well as filters. Interestingly, Photos also gives developers the ability to make their filters accessible in the program. It will be interesting to see if popular vintage photo apps integrate in the near future. Photos also comes with a feature for shooting time-lapse videos.
Custom keyboards: Android users have long touted that system's ability to install third-party keyboards that offer different typing features, including swipe. Now Apple has jumped on board. At the same time, the native keyboard in iOS 8 will now feature word suggestions, which can speed up note-taking or any kind of extensive typing done on iPhone or iPad screens.
Spotlight search: Apple is bringing an enhanced search feature to its devices with iOS 8 and the upcoming OS X Yosemite system. Users searching in their device's search field will now get results from apps, Web pages such as Wikipedia, news sites and the user's own mail archive, among many other things.
iCloud file access: In the latest iOS, Apple has added cloud-based file features that allow users to access and edit documents, spreadsheets, PDFs, images and other files across devices. Though not unlike Google's Drive feature or services like Evernote, Apple is betting that customers will prefer its native cloud feature to the competitors. You will need Apple's upcoming computer operating system, OS X Yosemite, for it to work with Apple computers.
Continuity across Apple devices:The release of iOS 8 will at last sync Apple computers, iPads or iPhones when it comes to most tasks. Emails started on one device can be picked up on another. SMS messages and even phone calls can be answered across devices. The feature also allows a Mac laptop to tap into a nearby iPhone to create an instant hot spot that the computer can use to connect. As for Web browsing in Safari, the connectivity feature will allow users to pick up the same Web pages across devices. To use the feature, you must be logged in to Apple's iCloud, though.
