Everyone is talking about the Apple iOS 8 platform, which is reportedly in the development stage at present. Can it really bring in any improvements over the already popular iOS 7? It definitely can, and here’s how!
Since its release in September last year, the iOS 7 mobile application platform has garnered an enormous fan-following across the globe, among techies and general users alike. Adding to the excitements of iPhone/iPad fans is the rumor that, the all-new iOS 8 would also be probably ready for launch, by the end of 2014. Let us here focus on certain features that would make the iOS 8 platform even more efficient and user-friendly than its predecessor:
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A revamped iCloud – Dropbox can be used as the document manager application on iOS 7 – but that does not really mask over the grossly unsatisfactory workflow performance of the iCloud setup. We can reasonably hope that, on the iOS 8 platform, it would be much easier to securely store documents in the cloud network. Oh, and could Apple please see to it that files can be attached to emails?
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A quicker way to clear app notifications – On iOS 7 handsets with a fairly large number of mobile apps with push-notification feature, clearing these notifications can be a trying task. There is a tiny cross sign on the screen, which has to be double-tapped – to clear one notification at a time. Apple can take a cue from the Android phones, and offer a single swiping option to check all app-notifications at once.
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The Healthbook app – One of the first things that got most people hooked on to the rumors about iOS 8 was that, it would be having an exclusive Healthbook mobile application. As per early reports, the functions of Healthbook are going to be much more holistic and useful, than the reports generated by any random apps created by iPhone app development companies in India or abroad. Apart from monitoring vital health metrics, the default application would also have options to set reminders. Health-conscious users are surely looking forward to using it!
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Arranging the pre-installed apps on the display screen – We have accepted the fact that, without doing an iOS jailbreak, it would never be possible to install third-party apps on an iPhone/iPad. However, users should at least have the option to move/hide the pre-installed widgets and applications as per their requirements. A bit of personalization would surely bolster the popularity of iOS 8.
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Provision of real-time device status information – You have probably heard about the ill-effects of launching multiple smartphone apps on an iOS 7 device simultaneously. It would be handy if, on iOS 8, the actual bandwidth consumption, CPU usage and battery drain that every app causes could be monitored. Designers can either put such information on a panel near the bottom of the screen, or put it in a separate dialog box.
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A separate folder for Screenshots – It has been nearly half a decade since Apple announced that screenshots could be taken with iPhones. While this has been a great addition to the overall phone features, confusions often crop up – since the screenshots are stored under the common ‘Camera Roll’ folder. It would only take a minor tweak to create a separate folder for all the screenshots taken with a device powered by the latest version of iOS.
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Multiple user accounts – This one is really necessary. There can be times when a family-member or a friend borrows your iPhone for some time – and you definitely do not want him/her to unwillingly damage the important files and data stored in the device. Hence, iOS 8 should have provisions for separate ‘Guest’ accounts – to accommodate other people needing to use your handset. If you have a toddler at home, you would like to download a few cool iPhone apps for kids as well, which makes the presence of a ‘Child’ account essential too.
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More advanced Touch ID features – On most iOS 7 devices, Touch ID is required only for unlocking them. News is in the air that on the soon-to-release iOS version, Touch ID is going to get a significant lift in its functionality. It should ideally be able to store fingerprint data, so that downloading apps become easier and quicker. Provided that Guest Account options are indeed provided on iOS 8, anyone other than the main user (identified by Touch ID) of the device would automatically be redirected to a new account.
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Split-screen display – Slightly far-fetched, but it would indeed be a valuable feature on the new iOS platform. Toggling between multiple apps is not the easiest task on iOS 7 devices, and things would become a lot easier if the screen could be divided into two parts – for simultaneously working on more than one application. It is definitely possible on an iPad – and since iPhone 6 would probably have a larger screen too, Apple can give this a serious thought for its mobile handsets as well.
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Instant reply option to messages – The OS X Mavericks has it, and there is no reason why iOS 8 can’t have it either. Instead of tapping on a WhatsApp or iMessage notification, navigating to the new message and then composing a reply – it would be great if all this could be done on a separate popup dialog box. That way, users won’t have to quit from the apps that they are currently using, to reply to messages.
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Presence of a ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode – With techniques for iPhone development in India and overseas gathering pace with every passing quarter, why should users have to remain content with only caller-block features? It can well happen that a person is not in a position to place/receive calls (maybe, during a meeting) – but needs to access the other features of the iPhone. Activating the ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode would block out all calls for specific periods of time, without your having to block any individual caller.
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Better parental control features – These are not only necessary for monitoring the usage of engaging apps for kids on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. Secure parental lock would rule out the possibility of accidental in-app purchases. Only recently, Apple had to cough up a pretty hefty penalty – precisely on this count. With its main rival, Google Android, also lacking proper web filtering and parental control functionality, Apple has the opportunity to surge ahead with iOS 8.
An advanced iOS 8-powered device should support group calls via FaceTime too (at present, only single two-way calls are supported). There is a common complaint that notifications have to be separately cleared from multiple devices (if being used) – and that also needs to be addressed. The navigation features, already a delight on iOS 7, can become even more intuitive on iOS 8. Apple can make us fall in love with its devices all over again…only if it pays heed to the above factors, while chalking out plans for the new platform.
Hussain Fakhruddin
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