WWDC 2014 Recap

WWDC keynote speech was yesterday and we saw a lot of  tweaks and updates to OS X and iOS.

Health app: All your data in one place

Before the event, the Internet was abuzz with talk of Apple’s new health and fitness app, Healthbook. The new Health app aggregates all your health and fitness data from third-party apps and wearable devices that are compatible with iOS devices in one, easy-to-read feed. Obviously, iOS 7 didn’t come with a native health app baked in like iOS 8 does, but right now you do have the option of downloading third-party app Nudge, which does almost the same thing.

As more apps and wearables become compatible with the new Health app, it will undoubtedly become an important tool in the integration of mobile devices into fitness and health.

Get smart with the HomeKit

Another topic that had a whole lot of people excited prior to WWDC 2014 was the Smart Home. Apple’s new HomeKit for iOS 8 aims to turn your iPhone into the ultimate remote control. Once more apps and devices are connected, you’ll be able to turn your lights, AC, heat, and other appliances on or off remotely, using the dedicated iOS 8 app from Apple.

Messages takes shots at WhatsApp

Another big improvement iOS 8 issues involves the built-in Messages app. Competing apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Snapchat, and others are becoming more popular every day because of the special features they offer. Now, the iOS Messages app takes everything you like from WhatsApp and puts Apple’s spin on it. You can now send voice recordings and videos right inside the app in addition to images and normal texts – just like on your favorite messaging apps. Additionally, thanks to the continuity feature, you’ll be able to see all your messages on your Mac (thanks to OS X Yosemite), iPhone, or iPad, regardless of whether they were sent using iMessage or not.

Finally: third-party keyboards

One of the most exciting things that Apple added to iOS 8 is also one of the most obvious and mundane: alternative keyboards. SwiftKey, Swype, and other third-party keyboard makers have been working hard to get Apple to loosen up and let iOS users choose which keyboard they want to use. Finally, Apple has swallowed its pride and added keyboard options. It also revamped its native keyboard to be more smarter and more predictive.

Automatic iPhone Hot Spot

Another awesome addition to iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite is the new wireless hot spot function. Anytime you are traveling with your Macbook or Wi-Fi only iPad, you have to find a Wi-Fi network to browse the Internet. Now, with iOS 8 on your iPhone, your iPhone automatically becomes a hot spot for your iPad or MacBook. You don’t have to turn the hot spot on. It just automatically becomes available. That way, when there’e no Wi-Fi to be found, you can rely on your iPhone’s data.

Spotlight smartens search

Spotlight is a long-standing iOS and OS X feature, but now, with iOS 8, Apple has reinvented the popular search function. Spotlight search is now smarter, learns your habits, gives you suggestions, and links up with third-party widgets. The changes on iOS 8 are less obvious than on OS X Yosemite, but it’s still an improvement over the iOS 7 version.

iCloud Drive mimics other clouds

Apple’s iCloud seems like it’s always with us, working in the background even when we’re not looking. It’s always had our back – saving photos and other info that would normally have been lost in the ether. Now, Apple is revamping iCloud to make it work a whole lot more like other cloud storage systems, such as Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive. It’s now called iCloud Drive, and finally will accept any type of file. You’ll only get 5GB of storage free before you have to pay, but the next 20GB of storage costs just $1.

Continuity links Apple ecosystem

Many of the improvements listed above are a result of Apple’s focus on continuity between iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite. Apple’s devices are known for working well together. However, design language and appearance haven’t always been consistent from version to version. However with OS X Yosemite, the experience becomes more cohesive. Not only did OS X Yosemite pick up a lot of design cues from iOS 7, it also added a ton of features designed to ensure seamless integration between iOS 8 and OS X devices. The one of the coolest continuity features is Handoff, which lets you switch from your iPhone to your MacBook mid-email.

Moving between devices is easier than ever: photos, messages, documents, calendars, contacts, and more all sync, from iOS device to OS X device. It’s lovely and very efficient.

iOS 8 is looking good

Overall, iOS 8 is all about taking the mobile OS to the next level in terms of connectivity and continuity. It’s also Apple’s way of preparing for a future in which everything is linked together, including our devices, our homes, our data, and even our bodies. Even though iOS 8 may not seem too revolutionary now, it is laying the foundations for the future of mobile and tech.

Tell us what you thought about WWDC in the comments below.

 

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