The iOS 8 Review
by Brandon Chester on September 17, 2014 1:00 PM EST
As another year goes by we see a new iPhone and a new version of iOS to accompany it. We also got a preview of the Apple Watch which will be going on sale next year. Our reviews of both new iPhones will be coming soon, with a look at new iOS features specific to those devices like ApplePay. But with iOS 8 rolling out today to millions of existing iOS users across the iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch, it's worth taking a look at what Apple is bringing to the users that are already in the iOS ecosystem.
This year brings the eighth iteration of Apple's mobile operating system, and with it comes features that users and developers have desired on iOS for many years. On the surface, iOS 8 seems like a minor update compared to the massive visual overhaul that iOS 7 brought. Indeed, there's no new design language, and no enormous changes to existing apps. But under the hood, with its features for application extensibility and continuity across the devices in Apple's ecosystem, it's a massive update that will be revealed over time as developers begin to take advantage of Apple's new features and APIs. If iOS 7 was the biggest update for users since the original launch of iOS and the iPhone 7 years ago, then iOS 8 is the biggest update for developers since the launch of iOS (at the time called iPhone OS) 2.0 and the App Store.
What's unique about iOS is the developer beta process that Apple runs in the time between announcement and release. While Google has taken a step into this area with the Android L developer preview, and Microsoft provides betas for Windows Phone 8.1, no mobile operating system operates on the 2 week beta schedule that iOS does. This cycle is interesting because it gives insight into Apple's development process on a smaller scale than looking at the changes from one major version of iOS to another. With iOS 7, developers became even more involved with this process as Apple began to really listen to the feedback given by people beta testing their software.
For example, the font weighting that we currently have is much heavier than what was originally demoed at WWDC back in 2013. It took many betas for Apple to eventually settle on what was a good balance between appearance and legibility. Likewise with iOS 8, I have observed many changes as Apple has gone through the different beta versions. The design of contact circles in the app switcher went through three or four different versions before Apple eventually settled on their current appearance. The buttons in Notification Center had a similar number of changes. Unfortunately, even when using iOS 8 betas on a daily basis it's difficult to keep track of all the changes made over time. What's most important to consumers is the end product though, and so with the exception of some features like SMS Relay, this review takes a look at the changes when making the jump from iOS 7.1.2 to iOS 8.0.
With that all said, lets dive into iOS 8, starting with the app that users use most.
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retrospooty - Wednesday, September 17, 2014 - link
"from the perspective of a user there's no real wow factor with iOS 8 right now."Wow... Great to see we are allowed to say something slightly negative about Apple now. Seems like its been a long time.
Larryt2000 - Wednesday, September 17, 2014 - link
IDK.... IOS 8's Hand off feature works with third party apps as well as Apple apps, which is insane. Its functionality times 100. That's an insane wow factor. What developers are already doing with IOS 8 features, is crazy. TouchID integration, extensions features from other apps, and the huge developer support on freakin day one, which is something Android and Windows would die for. This is pretty huge.Impulses - Wednesday, September 17, 2014 - link
That was Brandon's point, that part will be a big change, but it's not something someone will realize immediately after starting to use iOS8, hence the lack of wow factor.Mobile OS releases WILL reach a point eventually where they go thru their ME/Vista/8 phases and people are unhappy, underwhelmed, or completely ambivalent.
The big problem then will choice, you can easily choose to stick with XP/7 for years, not so much on mobile.
Impulses - Wednesday, September 17, 2014 - link
I should add, Android is much more likely to face that kinda scenario, Apple and it's users are already more accustomed to a my way or the highway approach (not a shot, it's just a different approach to design) and they've preconditioned Mac already.A year or two ago I fouled l could see Apple losing more market share on mobile but now I think they'll always have a larger maker share there than on desktops.
Larryt2000 - Wednesday, September 17, 2014 - link
Yeah...I can understand users not noticing the features up front, but with the shear amount of developer app updates, and the amount of developer excitement has developers talking up these new features all over the app store. IDK... I think it will take a long time to get people underwhelmed about Apple stuff. I cant see them in the near future approaching a Vista, or Win 8 (which was a mess) phase.Morawka - Wednesday, September 17, 2014 - link
will handoff for imessage be coming to PC? like motorolla connect or jailbroken remote messages?realbabilu - Thursday, September 18, 2014 - link
Unfortunately handoff is gone now in PC hackintosh Yosemite DP7 with BT 4.0 BCM. it was ok on DP6.aktariel - Saturday, September 20, 2014 - link
SMS Relay is currently disabled on DP7 (even for legit Macs). It will likely return when Yosemite is officially released.Deelron - Wednesday, September 17, 2014 - link
I'm not sure it's exactly negative, nor positive unless the prevailing thought is that a free (well, already paid for by owning the type of device) needs some sort of "wow factor" for it to propagate to user devices, particularly as mobile OS's get more mature.theNiZer - Thursday, September 18, 2014 - link
Spot on!