14 DAY TRIAL // Available immediately to developers and slated to debut publicly this fall, iOS 8 is the latest generation of Apple’s mobile software that will power new and existing iDevices with features like iCloud Photo Library, conversations in Messages, the Health app, predictive typing, and Family Sharing.
A flagship feature in the new iOS 8, iCloud Photo Library gives you access to all of your photos and videos across the system, while the Photos app now automatically straightens horizons and lets you adjust light and color, as well as access individual fine-tune options and smart editing tools.
The Messages app gains Conversations and Tap to Talk allows you to share voice messages with a swipe-up gesture on the Send button. The same gesture works for sharing videos and photos. Group messaging and location sharing are also emphasized in the new Messages app.
Dubbed Healthbook by the media in its rumor stage, the Health app in iOS 8 was confirmed earlier today by SVP of Software Engineering Craig Federighi. According to Apple, this tool will aggregate information from various health apps and fitness devices, while developers can enable health and fitness apps to communicate with each other.
Apple’s QuickType keyboard in iOS 8 offers predictive typing and takes context into account intelligently. For example, it can detect who the recipient is or in which app you’re typing. It will also suggest favorite phrases, and everything that the keyboard learns is encrypted on your device.
Introduced in OS X Yosemite and inherited by iOS 8, iCloud Drive finally offers Dropbox functionality to iOS customers in a native form. According to the Cupertino company, “iCloud Drive brings a whole new level of collaboration between apps, providing seamless access and the ability to work on the same file across multiple apps.”
Developers can immediately download the iOS 8 beta and SDK today, while regular customers will have to wait until fall to get the software.