To much fanfare and anticipation, Apple is expected to unveil the brand-new iOS 8 in early June at WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference). This is leaving the Apple-loving crowd in a frenzy to find out exactly what the features will be with the new operating system. The iOS 8 will be released on the new iPhone 6, of course, but it will also be compatible with older devices. Interestingly enough, there have been some photos and rumors running around the internet that are related to what is coming in the next few months, and of particular interest is a photograph showing iOS 8 running on an iPhone 5s. Is it real, and if so, what does it say about what iOS 8 has to offer? Here are the details to get you up to speed.
New Apps
With a close-up look at the leaked iOS 8 picture, it is clear that there are quite a few new applications that are coming down the pike. Among these new apps appear to be the following:
- Healthbook – To keep up with Samsung, rumor has it that the new iOS 8 will feature Healthbook, a tool to record various fitness and health information. Healthbook will supposedly keep track of steps taken, distance covered, calories burned, and the amount of weight lost.
- Preview and TextEdit – Borrowed from the Mac, Preview and Text Edit both make use of iCloud and allow users to handle and view various file types.
- iTunes Radio – Currently available within iTunes, the new operating system appears to offer a standalone iTunes Radio app, which would allow users to create radio stations ala Pandora based on genres, artists, and favorite songs.
- Watch Utility – This tiny tile holds a lot of unspoken promise, leaving many wondering if the iWatch is just around the corner. Samsung launched its Galaxy Gear to a lot of excitement, but the results fell a bit flat with the consumer public. Certainly, the idea has potential, and it remains to be seen if Apple will soon be jumping on the smartwatch bandwagon.
- Tips – Although this icon also appears on the iOS 8 leaked photos, it is unclear what it will be used for. Most in the know folks anticipate this being a kind of help menu.
Other Updates
Since iOS 7 was such an aesthetic change for Apple, it is not anticipated that iOS 8 will be much of a departure appearance-wise. There are, however, expected to be a number of tweaks and updates that will make existing features work better, including an improved Apple Maps with better location data, more points of interest, and mass transit directions, as well. It is also anticipated that Siri’s capabilities will be more expansive, including the ability to navigate third-party apps and automatically open certain apps as needed, such as Healthbook during exercise.
More Rumors
Another widely circulated rumor about the new iOS 8 is that Apple has partnered with Shazam to create some integrated song identification feature. Shazam has long been the standard in this type of software, so the idea of Apple featuring Shazam is most definitely intriguing, to say the least. Users can also expect to see better integration and seamless transitions when it comes to existing features, making the new operating system the smoothest and most sophisticated to date.
The Bottom Line
Of course, no one can be for certain that any of the rumors are true, as Apple remains decidedly tight-lipped about the whole thing. Whatever is to come is sure to be amazing . . . and leave the public hungry for iOS 9.
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