14 DAY TRIAL // After pundit John Gruber’s reporting that iOS 7.1 is launching “any day now,” another source corroborates the imminent launch of Apple’s upcoming software update. According to this source, the bits will be rolling out “within one week.”
Apple expert John Gruber let out a small tidbit yesterday, noting that iOS 7.1 will coincide with the opening of Apple’s first iTunes Festival in the United States.
The interesting thing about it is that it’s actually not a coincidence. As Gruber put it, “Apple is going to stream the performances to iOS devices using an app, but I've heard from a little birdie that the app requires iOS 7.1 (which explains why the app isn't out yet). That means iOS 7.1 should ship any day now.”
While Gruber merely makes an assumption based on these facts – a very logical one at that – MacDailyNews now offers its own confirmation citing its own sources.
“Apple will release iOS 7.1 within one week, people familiar with the situation tell MacDailyNews.”
The blog has it on file from these people that iOS 7.1 will deploy the recently-announced CarPlay feature, which Apple promised to make available “as an update to iOS 7.”
Alongside CarPlay, Apple will further deploy “numerous tweaks and refinements to the iOS 7 look, a revamped power off screen, an improved system-wide keyboard, faster iOS animations, improved performance, plugged memory leaks, and more,” according to the same people.
Considering that Apple has offered support for 2010 hardware with the release of iOS 7, there’s no reason to assume that the compatibility list has changed in any way.
As such, iOS 7.1 should become available for iPhone 4, iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPad second-generation, iPad third-generation, iPad fourth-generation, iPad Air, iPad mini, iPad mini with Retina display, and iPod touch fifth-generation.
The flagship feature of iOS 7.1 is undoubtedly CarPlay. Formerly referred to as “iOS in the Car,” the infotainment system gives iPhone users an easier and much safer way to make calls, send and receive messages, listen to music, use Maps, and control various other functions from the car’s dashboard.
Siri, Apple’s voice-powered personal assistant, will also be integrated into every CarPlay-enabled vehicle. Currently, only a handful of cars are compatible with the feature. These include some upcoming new models from Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo, but numerous other vendors have it on their 2014 roadmap.