Apple's iOS 7 comes out swinging with an overhauled design
that re-skins practically every element with a gleaming new interface. While
some new behaviors go along with the updated apps, iOS 7's changes are more
cosmetic and iterative than they are groundbreaking. That's completely
understandable; not every update can spark a revolution.
However, apart from a few notable innovations, iOS 7 doesn't
seem like it's enough to overturn criticism that its growth has stalled, that
it's less innovative than archrival Android, and that it borrows heavily from
other competitors (in truth, they all steal ideas from each other). At least
not at this point in the game.
Design
Gone are the skeuomorphic interface elements that make icons and apps look like leather or paper or felt. Gone, too, are the slightly bubbly icon effects. Flat graphics and a dappled, pastel color scheme bring an elegant look. When you move the phone or tablet, Apple promises a 3D effect that makes your wallpaper appear some distance behind the icons. The important thing to note here is that even though it looks completely different, it's still easy to pick up and use right away because the core functionality is largely the same. In other words, browsing in Safari is as easy as ever, but there are now extra tools on hand for sharing via AirDrop, and a smooth tab-browsing interface.
Gone are the skeuomorphic interface elements that make icons and apps look like leather or paper or felt. Gone, too, are the slightly bubbly icon effects. Flat graphics and a dappled, pastel color scheme bring an elegant look. When you move the phone or tablet, Apple promises a 3D effect that makes your wallpaper appear some distance behind the icons. The important thing to note here is that even though it looks completely different, it's still easy to pick up and use right away because the core functionality is largely the same. In other words, browsing in Safari is as easy as ever, but there are now extra tools on hand for sharing via AirDrop, and a smooth tab-browsing interface.
Control Center and Notifications
One of the few actually new features to come to iOS is the Control Center, which finally (finally!) puts your most-used settings front and center, and is available from any screen. In iOS 7, you can swipe up from the bottom of the display to bring up quick-access tools, like a Wi-Fi meter, brightness, Airplane mode, music controls, and more.
One of the few actually new features to come to iOS is the Control Center, which finally (finally!) puts your most-used settings front and center, and is available from any screen. In iOS 7, you can swipe up from the bottom of the display to bring up quick-access tools, like a Wi-Fi meter, brightness, Airplane mode, music controls, and more.
Control Center also integrates a small flashlight tool,
signaling the death of so many third-party flashlight apps.
In the Notifications pull-down menu, three tabs show you all
your alerts, the calls and messages you've missed, and a new "today"
pane that tracks your goings-on. It's a small but useful expansion of the
current notifications pull-down.
AirDrop
Mac users will cheer the addition of AirDrop in iOS 7, a peer-to-peer file-sharing service that will soon support the iPhone 5, fourth-generation iPad, and iPad Mini. AirDrop works by creating local ad-hoc networks among nearby users. So if you want to share a photo, you'll hit the share button, and automatically see others around you who are also on iOS 7. From there, you just tap a friend's picture and iOS 7 uses Wi-fi and Bluetooth to send your photo (and the recipient can accept or decline). It also offers the option to make you invisible to nearby iOS 7 users from the Control Center.
Mac users will cheer the addition of AirDrop in iOS 7, a peer-to-peer file-sharing service that will soon support the iPhone 5, fourth-generation iPad, and iPad Mini. AirDrop works by creating local ad-hoc networks among nearby users. So if you want to share a photo, you'll hit the share button, and automatically see others around you who are also on iOS 7. From there, you just tap a friend's picture and iOS 7 uses Wi-fi and Bluetooth to send your photo (and the recipient can accept or decline). It also offers the option to make you invisible to nearby iOS 7 users from the Control Center.
Siri
Apple's favorite digital voice assistant gains some more personality in this latest revamp. In fact, "she" has a brand-new voice; two, if you count the male version you can ask to talk to you instead. Though we have played with the new iOS, the male voice was not included in the beta release, so we'll have to reserve judgment.
Apple's favorite digital voice assistant gains some more personality in this latest revamp. In fact, "she" has a brand-new voice; two, if you count the male version you can ask to talk to you instead. Though we have played with the new iOS, the male voice was not included in the beta release, so we'll have to reserve judgment.
A new sound wave animation appears at the bottom of the
screen when you speak, and Siri's results come up in full screen, not just a
tiny card. We did notice that Siri still takes some time to respond search
queries, so Google Search still holds the speed record for voice searches. We also
like what we heard in the keynote that Apple will be adding
"high-quality" for non-English languages over time, including French
and German.
By far the most substantial addition, and one that's truly
useful, is that iOS 7's Siri can trigger actions on your phone's system
settings, like play a past voice mail, turn on Bluetooth, and increase the
brightness settings. Many voice assistants can't do this, so it's nice that
Apple has increased Siri's capabilities this way -- though it isn't clear how
deep into the controls your voice can go. You can also ask Siri to search
Wikipedia and Twitter.
Now we just need to see Siri's listening accuracy and
response time kick into higher gear.
FaceTime audio
The days of abandoning FaceTime every time you want to make a straight audio (rather than video) call from your iOS device are coming to a close. Apple announced that high-quality calls over Wi-Fi will complement video calls for those who would rather talk while on the move.
The days of abandoning FaceTime every time you want to make a straight audio (rather than video) call from your iOS device are coming to a close. Apple announced that high-quality calls over Wi-Fi will complement video calls for those who would rather talk while on the move.
Automatic updates
A tiny, but enormously time-saving addition, the App Store gets automatic app updates in the new OS. This new feature was bittersweet because while we don't like constantly looking at the updates notification, there are some apps that we want to see the new features before we update. Apple assured us in our meeting that auto updates can be turned off in the settings.
A tiny, but enormously time-saving addition, the App Store gets automatic app updates in the new OS. This new feature was bittersweet because while we don't like constantly looking at the updates notification, there are some apps that we want to see the new features before we update. Apple assured us in our meeting that auto updates can be turned off in the settings.
Multitasking
Apple may sneer at Microsoft, but it certainly likes its rival's aesthetics when it comes to multitasking. Now, double-tapping the home screen brings up not just tiny thumbnail icons of your open apps, but also a tall preview (like a mini screenshot) of what you're looking at. Borrowing from Android's recent app list, swiping away a preview closes the app.
Apple may sneer at Microsoft, but it certainly likes its rival's aesthetics when it comes to multitasking. Now, double-tapping the home screen brings up not just tiny thumbnail icons of your open apps, but also a tall preview (like a mini screenshot) of what you're looking at. Borrowing from Android's recent app list, swiping away a preview closes the app.
Below, you'll find a list of the iOS 7 features that Apple
focused on today, and next to that, a brief description of how that trait
exists on Android, Windows Phone, and BlackBerry rivals (or at least one
manufacturer's take on said platform). Read on below for more detail about how
iOS 7 stacks up.
|
iOS 7
|
Android 4.2
|
Win Pho 8
|
BlackBerry 10
|
|
Control Center
|
Yes, varies by phone-maker
|
No, settings
menu |
System access settings
|
|
Notification center
|
Detailed notifications
|
Live tile
badges |
BlackBerry Hub, badges
|
|
Multitasking preview
|
Recents list
|
Multitasking preview
|
Active Frames grid
|
|
Surfaced camera modes
|
Varies by Android skin
|
Third-party
lenses |
Video, Time Shift modes
|
|
Photos grouped by
years, location |
Albums, other filters
|
Albums, date
|
Albums, recent
|
|
Shared photo stream
|
Samsung Galaxy S4
|
Share one by one
|
Share one by one
|
|
Peer-to-peer sharing (AirDrop)
|
Android Beam (NFC)
|
Tap + Share (NFC)
|
NFC sharing
|
|
Unified browser bar
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Personalized radio/discovery
|
Google Play Music All Access
|
Nokia Music
|
Third-party app
|
|
Voice access to
system settings |
Samsung's S Voice
|
No systems access
|
No systems access
|
|
Automatic app updates
|
Optional, by app
|
'Update all' option
|
Individual
|
|
Password-protected
reset |
No
|
No
|
No
|
|
In-dash integration
(iOS for cars) |
Driving mode/S Drive
|
Nokia Drive
|
Third-party apps
|
deja vu?
Apple does push the industry forward with some capabilities that are all its own -- like iOS 7 for cars and using Siri to toggle system settings. (Samsung's S Voice does the latter, but not Android Voice Actions.) Even with driving modes for individual handsets, such deep car integration will be tough for the others to beat and even match without strong automotive partnerships.cnet
Apple does push the industry forward with some capabilities that are all its own -- like iOS 7 for cars and using Siri to toggle system settings. (Samsung's S Voice does the latter, but not Android Voice Actions.) Even with driving modes for individual handsets, such deep car integration will be tough for the others to beat and even match without strong automotive partnerships.cnet
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