Michal Ždanský On June 2, Apple will present the future of its operating systems, where iOS 8 will probably receive the most attention. The current version, whose new form Apple presented last year, marked a significant break in the previous OS design, when rich textures were replaced by simple vector icons, typography, blurred background and color gradients. Not everyone was enthusiastic about the new, flatter and greatly simplified design, and Apple managed to fix a lot of ailments during the development of the beta version and in the update.
There is no doubt that iOS 7 was created with a bit of a hot needle, between the departure of Scott Forstall, the former head of iOS development, the appointment of Jonny Ivo as the head of iOS design, and the actual presentation of the new version of the system, only three quarters of a year passed. All the more, iOS 8 should sharpen the edges of the new design, correct previous mistakes and determine other new trends in the appearance of iOS applications, but also among mobile operating systems in general. However, edge grinding itself should only be a fraction of what we should expect in iOS 8.
Mark Gurman from the server 9to5Mac in recent weeks, he has brought a significant amount of exclusive information regarding iOS 8. Already last year, just before the introduction of the seventh version, he revealed what the design change in iOS 7 would look like, including graphic designs that were reconstructions of screenshots that he had the opportunity to see. Over the past year, Gurman has confirmed that he has really reliable sources right inside Apple, and the vast majority of self-sourced reports have proven to be true. Therefore, we consider his latest information about iOS 8 to be credible, unlike those coming from dubious Asian publications (Digitimes,…). At the same time, we also attach a few of our own findings and wishes.
Healthbook
Probably the most important innovation should be a completely new application called Healthbook. It should bring together all information related to our health, but also fitness. Its design should follow the same concept as Passbook, where each category is represented by a different card. The Heathbook should visualize information such as heart rate, blood pressure, sleep, hydration, blood sugar or blood oxygenation. Bookmark Activity should in turn function as a simple fitness tracker measuring steps taken or calories burned. In addition to weight, the weight category also measures BMI or body fat percentage.
The question remains how iOS 8 will measure all the data. Part of them can be provided by the iPhone itself thanks to the M7 coprocessor, which theoretically can measure everything in the tab Activity. Another part could be provided by existing medical devices designed for the iPhone - there are devices for measuring blood pressure, heart rate, weight and sleep. However, the Healthbook goes hand in hand with the long-discussed iWatch, which, among other things, is supposed to contain a significant number of sensors for measuring biometric functions. After all, over the last year Apple has hired a large number of experts who deal with this measurement and have experience in the development of sensors and measuring devices.
The last interesting item is then Emergency Card, which stores information for emergency medical cases. In one place, it will be possible to find important health information about a given person, for example, prescribed medications, blood type, eye color, weight or date of birth. In theory, this card could play an important role in saving a life, especially if the person is unconscious and the only way to this valuable data is family members or medical records, which often do not have time to access and the administration of the wrong drugs (mutally incompatible with the prescribed drugs ) could be fatal for that person.
iTunes Radio
Apple appears to have other plans for its iTunes Radio service, introduced last year. It originally released the customizable internet radio as part of the Music app, but instead of a single tab, it is reportedly planning to rework it into a separate app. It will thus better compete with apps like Pandora, Spotify whether Rdio. A placement on the main desktop will definitely be a more prominent position for iTunes Radio than being a semi-hidden part of Music.
The user interface shouldn't be too different from the current iOS music app. It will be possible to search playback history, buy songs being played in iTunes, there will also be an overview of promoted stations or the ability to create stations based on a song or artist. Apple reportedly planned to introduce iTunes Radio as a separate app as early as iOS 7, but was forced to postpone the release due to problems in negotiations with recording studios.
Maps
Apple is also planning several changes for the map application, which did not receive much praise in the first version due to the exchange of quality data from Google for its own solution. The appearance of the application will be preserved, but it will receive several improvements. The map materials should be significantly better, the labeling of individual places and objects will have a better graphic form, including the description of public transport stops.
However, the main novelty will be the return of navigation for public transport. Under the leadership of Scott Forstall, Apple eliminated this in iOS 6 and left MHD to third-party applications. The company relatively recently bought several smaller companies dealing with urban public transport, so timetables and navigation should return to Maps. The public transport layer will be added as an additional view type in addition to standard, hybrid and satellite views. However, the ability to launch third-party applications for public transport should not completely disappear from the application, probably not all cities and states will be supported in the new maps. After all, even Google only covers public transport in a few cities in the Czech Republic.
Notification
In iOS 7, Apple redesigned its notification center. Gone is the quick status update for social networks, and instead of a unified bar, Apple has divided the screen into three sections - Today, All and Missed. In iOS 8, the menu should be reduced to two tabs, and Missed notifications should disappear, which, by the way, rather confused users. Apple also recently bought the developer studio of the Cue app, which worked similar to Google Now and displayed relevant information to users. Apple will likely incorporate parts of the app into the Today tab, which could provide more information for the current moment.
As far as notifications are concerned, Apple could also enable actions for them following the example of OS X Mavericks, for example the ability to reply to SMS directly from the notification without having to open the application. Android has been enabling this feature for quite some time, and it's also one of the most celebrated features of Google's operating system. At the moment, notifications on iOS can only open the app. While, for example, tapping on a message takes us straight to the conversation thread where we can reply, Apple can do a lot more.
TextEdit and Preview
Rather surprising is the claim that TextEdit and Preview, which we know from OS X, should appear in iOS 8. The Mac versions include iCloud support and synchronization to iOS is directly offered, however, strangely, according to Mark Gurman, these applications should not serve for editing. Instead, they would only allow viewing of files from TextEdit and Preview stored in iCloud.
So we should forget about annotating PDF files or editing Rich Text files. The iBooks and Pages applications available for free in the App Store should continue to serve these purposes. It is a question whether it would not be better to integrate cloud synchronization directly into these applications instead of releasing software separately, which itself will not be able to do much. Gurman further claims that we may not even see these apps in the preview version of iOS 8, as they are still in the early stages of development.
Game Center, Messages and Recorder
iOS 7 stripped the Game Center app of green felt and wood, but Apple may be getting rid of the app altogether. It was not used much, so it is being considered to preserve its functionality directly in games where the service is integrated. Instead of a separate application, we will access the leaderboards, friend list and other essentials through third-party applications with an integrated Game Center.
As for the messaging application combining SMS and iMessage, the application should receive the option to automatically delete messages after a certain interval. The reason is the growing space that old messages, especially received files, take up. However, automatic deletion will be optional. Changes await the Recorder application as well. Due to complaints from users about the lack of clarity and unintuitiveness, Apple plans to redesign the application and arrange the controls differently.
Communication between apps and CarPlay
Another issue that is often criticized is the limited ability of third-party applications to communicate with each other. Although Apple allows easy transfer of files from one application to another, for example, sharing to different services is limited by Apple's offer, unless the developer includes specific services manually. However, integration of third parties into pre-installed applications may not be possible.
Apple has reportedly been working on the relevant data sharing API for several years, and it was supposed to be released from iOS 7 at the last minute. This API would, for example, allow you to share an edited photo in iPhoto to Instagram. Hopefully this API will reach developers at least this year.
In iOS 7.1, Apple introduced a new feature called CarPlay, which will allow you to control connected iOS devices on the display of selected cars. The connection between the car and the iPhone is to be provided by the Lightning connector, however, Apple is developing a wireless version for iOS 8 that will use Wi-Fi technology, similar to AirPlay. After all, Volvo has already announced the wireless implementation of CarPlay.
OS X 10.10
We don't know much about the new version of OS X 10.10, dubbed "Syrah," but according to Gurman, Apple plans to take inspiration from the flatter design of iOS 7 and implement an overall redesign of the user experience. Therefore, all 3D effects should disappear, for example for buttons that are "pushed" into the bar by default. However, the change should not be as big as it was between iOS 6 and 7.
Gurman also mentions the possible implementation of AirDrop between OS X and iOS. Until now, this function only worked between the same platforms. Maybe eventually we'll see Siri for Mac.
And what would you like to see in iOS 8? Share it with others in the comments.
It would be enough for me if iOS 8 could switch applications using Cmd+Tab on the BT keyboard :)
Yes, greater integration with the BT keyboard is useful... Its inclusion in games is probably hampered by the fact that not many people use it...
After all, iOS7 was released here and 8 is already expected?
this way? a year ago?
If there is a year from September 2013 to April 2014, then you have quite a lot of fun in life :)
It depends what you're comparing... iOS7 was introduced last June and soon a beta was out, which a lot of people installed... There are two months left until the same event dedicated to iOS8... So it's no wonder that speculation is starting... If we were dealing with an official release, then yes, until release still far away :-)
yes, the usable iOS 7.1 came out a few weeks ago, and even that is not quite right yet, and the beta version cannot be considered a golden master.
It would be enough for me if they fixed the buggy iCloud synchronization (Pages, My Stream...), the buggy synchronization of music and audiobooks between Mac OS X and iOS, that would be awesome and at least half of the other bugs. In short, to turn it into a phone after all these years that I won't have to restart once every two days for basic things to work properly.
Most of all, it needs REAL multitasking for the ipad, at least 2 apps at the same time
it would be enough for me if iOS 8 looked the same as iOS 6. I would upgrade without hesitation..
At least they could fix the notification center. Where are the times when you learned from it what the weather will be like... I really don't feel like reading text information about wind strength, etc. in the morning... The icon with a number is simply, I believe, much more practical for the vast majority of users. If I'm wrong, I'd be very surprised ;-)
And you can't look out the window?
1) I would like some kind of power saving mode where you can only use a few selected applications and 10% battery will last you for a day
2) I would like it if the weather icon changed according to the weather, just a cloud, sun, etc.
3) When extending the lower bar, I would appreciate that the functions we want here could be selected. For example, I would remove AirDrop and instead put a link to reminders and the like
I agree with the bottom bar, I personally would definitely like to turn mobile data on/off there.
Complete agreement. Turning mobile data off and on is sorely lacking here, turning it off through settings is terribly tedious... I switched from Android and I have to say I expected a bit more from iOS.
With iOS8, it would be enough for me if SIRI knew at least Czech and the appearance could return to the way it was in iOS5 or 6.
In no case should OSX10 be adapted to the ugly design of iOS7 with a lot of white, leave it as it is.
I'm curious how iOS 8 will work on older devices like the iPhone 4s and 5. iOS 7 is already an incredible eater and I have almost everything turned off except for Wi-Fi.
So if this will be iOS 8, and I believe that it will be - it only confirms my belief about APPL's helplessness. Since the departure of Jobs, NOTHING with a typical WOW effect has come - sorry NOTHING! APPLE has become a company that shamelessly exploits the potential of what has already been done in the past - and this can probably work quite reliably for a few more years in its marketing...
I've seen it for a long time like you, and we're not alone with this opinion, not only are they more or less clueless, but they can't even release something of quality anymore, they're just quickies, just to release something into the world and not lose their image and shares. Forstal was fired because of stupid maps on which basically nothing was worth, and they still haven't made it to a significantly better end, and who are they going to fire for the shriveled iOS7? its failed icon design? The red iTunes is really the bomb, so far it really only benefits from long-term original plans and schemes
How about a Mac Pro?
Apple won't surprise me with anything anymore, but I don't blame it either, basically there's nothing to think about, I'd just like better system stability when installing iOS 7.1, it's improved a bit but it's still not the same, I'd like SIRI in Czech and Slovak and better battery life, otherwise nothing for me no mistake, and as far as improvements are concerned, they could redo multitasking, the notification and settings center, it would be better if they combined the notification and settings center into a pile in the upper blind where I have everything in a pile, and on the bottom part they would add a multitasking that I slide out with my thumb, similar to I pushed out the settings center, it's easier than double-pressing the home button, which is time-consuming, I don't use the home button anyway, I've gotten used to gestures, but even so, when invoking multitasking, I have to double-tap the desktop gesture to invoke multitasking, it would be better to invoke it with a gesture thumbs up, it's a shame that Apple doesn't screw this up like this, sorry people, it's just my opinion, how I would imagine it, and if they solved it like this, I'd be satisfied
It's great that iTunes Radio will be like the app itself, but until it works in the Czech Republic, it's useless for us. What I would give for Pandora :/
Create an id on the American store and itunes radio will be unlocked for you immediately :)
But then I'll have to switch between the two id's right?
Personally, I would take, for example, when the iPhone is discharged, a flashlight and a symbol are shown to connect the iPhone to a source. I would like it if the time was also displayed. I think many customers would appreciate it.
haha and do you believe that this had a jailbroken 5 even with battery percentages over the entire icon?
At the time of iOS 5 and 6, I've been waiting for a long time for a new design and I'm finally satisfied. If the OS (X?) looks similar, I will only be happy.
If the subsequent OS X looks like iOS7 or the patchwork in the picture in the article, then help the Lord…
however, in the end: still better than Micro$oft
there are people who don't know this and it doesn't matter how much they earn, Johnny should go design paper boxes and not OS X, the next return of the design of IOS 6 to the entire ecosystem and we are where we were, in the times when it was clear how things work even without instructions...
I have the same opinion. I really like iOS 7, but I don't expect such a radical change in OS X.
Will iOS8 still be for iPhone4?
I don't think so anymore
Given that they had a problem optimizing iOS7 for IP4 so that it would be usable, iOS8 will definitely not be IP4.
TextEdit and Preview? – I don't see any application of these apps on iOS.
Can I ask if you think that iOS 8 will also be available on the iP 4S? I own this device and I'm satisfied, but I'm quite afraid that Apple will completely cut off the 3,5-inch screens and only deal with 4-inch ones. May I ask your opinion
Does anyone know if there will be Czech in Siri?