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Apple released the first tenth update for iOS 8, which he promised last week during the keynote. iOS 8.1 marks the first major update to iOS 8, which brings new services and, in cooperation with OS X Yosemite, fully operationalizes the Continuity function, i.e. the linking of mobile devices and computers. You can download iOS 8.1 directly on your iPhones or iPads (but again, prepare more than 2 GB of free space), or through iTunes.

Craig Federighi, senior vice president overseeing software, said last week that Apple is listening to its users, which is why, for example, iOS 8 is bringing back the Camera Roll folder, whose disappearance from the Pictures app caused a lot of confusion. Much more important, however, are the other services and functions that iOS 8.1 will bring into operation.

With Continuity, iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite users can receive calls from their iPhone on their Mac or seamlessly transition between divided tasks between devices with Handoff. Other functions that Apple showed already in June at WWDC, but are only available now with iOS 8.1, because Apple did not have time to prepare them for the September release of iOS 8, are SMS Relay and Instant Hotspot, which already worked for some users in previous versions.

SMS Relay

Until now, it was possible to receive iMessages on iPhones, iPads and Macs, i.e. text messages traveling not over mobile networks, but over the Internet. However, with the SMS Relay function within Contiunity, it will now be possible to display all other SMS messages sent to these devices by a connected iPhone on iPads and Macs without access to the mobile network. It will also be possible to create new conversations and send SMS directly from the iPad or Mac if you have an iPhone with you.

Instant Hotspot

Creating a hotspot from your iPhone to share your Mac's internet connection is nothing new. As part of Continuity, however, Apple makes the whole process of creating a hotspot much easier. You will no longer have to reach for your iPhone in your pocket, but activate Personal Hotspot directly from your Mac. This is because it automatically recognizes if the iPhone is nearby and immediately shows the iPhone in the menu bar in the Wi-Fi menu, including the strength and type of the signal and the battery status. When your Mac isn't using your phone's network, it intelligently disconnects to save battery. In the same way, the Personal Hotspot can be easily called up from the iPad.

iCloud Photo Library

Some users have already been able to try iCloud Photo Library in beta version, in iOS 8.1 Apple releases a new photo synchronization service for everyone, albeit still with the label beta. Not only by removing the aforementioned Camera Roll folder, but also by redesigning the original Photo Stream, Apple has thrown confusion into the Pictures app in iOS 8. With the arrival of iOS 8.1, all services related to photos should finally start working, and thus the situation will be clarified.

We will describe how the Pictures application works in iOS 8.1 together with the launch of iCloud Photo Library in a separate article.

Apple Pay

Another major innovation that iOS 8.1 brings, but so far only applies to the American market, is the launch of the new Apple Pay payment service. Customers in the United States will now be able to use their iPhone instead of a regular payment card for contactless payments, and it will also be possible to use Apple Pay for online payments, not only on the iPhone, but also on the iPad.

More news and fixes

iOS 8.1 also brings many other fixes and minor changes. Below is a complete list of changes:

  • New features, improvements, and fixes in the Pictures app
    • iCloud Photo Library Beta
    • If the iCloud Photo Library beta is not turned on, the Camera and My Photo Stream albums will be activated
    • Low space warning before starting time-lapse video recording
  • New features, improvements, and fixes in the Messages app
    • Ability to send and receive SMS and MMS messages on iPad and Mac
    • Addresses an issue that could sometimes cause search results to not be displayed
    • Fixed a bug that caused read messages to not be marked as read
    • Fixed issues with group messages
  • Addresses Wi-Fi performance issues that may have occurred when connected to some base stations
  • Fixed an issue that could prevent connection to Bluetooth hands-free devices
  • Fixed bugs that could cause the screen to stop rotating
  • New option to select 2G, 3G or LTE network for mobile data
  • Fixed an issue with Safari that could sometimes prevent videos from playing
  • Support for Passbook ticket transfers via AirDrop
  • New option to enable Dictation in Keyboard settings (separate from Siri)
  • Background data access support for apps using HealthKit
  • Accessibility improvements and fixes
    • Fixed an issue that prevented Assisted Access from working properly
    • Fixed a bug that caused VoiceOver to not work with third-party keyboards
    • Improved stability and sound quality when using MFi headphones with iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus
    • Fixed an issue with VoiceOver that when dialing a number caused the tone to play continuously until the next digit was dialed
    • Improved reliability of handwriting, Bluetooth keyboards, and Braille collaboration with VoiceOver
  • Fixed an issue that prevented the OS X Caching Server from being used for iOS updates
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