Just this month, Apple hosted their annual Worldwide Developer’s Conference, and ultimately shook the world of tech-heads across the globe. The conference is usually used to show off and present new software to the world, but this year, in addition to previewing iOS 8 and OS X 10.10, they also had some big things in for developers. In this article, we will briefly go over the happenings in the technology world, and inform on what exactly is going on.
To start off, iOS 8. The eight major instalment of their mobile operating system comes just one year after the iconic and game-changing iOS 7. iOS 7 was a major and unique overhaul in user interface and design for iOS, and although iOS 8 does not feature another dramatic new look, it does come with some handy new features.
One thing Apple emphasizes through their products is the stressed importance — er, the benefits, rather, — that come with having the complete Apple lineup. To do this, they add in additional features and perks available strictly to those that have iPads, MacBooks, and iPhones. Sorry, if you still have a PC, but have an iPad, you will undoubtedly miss out and not experience all of what iOS 8 has to offer. For those of us who have invested in the Cupertino based technology, there is certainly a lot of benefit to be had. The biggest feature iOS 8 has to offer is one of those benefits, called Continuity, and Handoff.
With Handoff, you will be allowed to write up an email on your Mac, and pick up your phone to complete the message, without ever skipping a beat. With Continuity, it is possible to be browsing your favourite website, and when in need of switching to your phone or tablet, you can pick it up, and it will automatically go to where you left off on your Mac. This, along with some overall improvements in a facet of areas in iOS 8, the eight edition is looking to be nothing huge per say, but a solid upgrade.
For Mac OS X 10.10, the name is now Yosemite. OS X 10.10 likely received the biggest and most exciting new line-up of features. The boys and girls in Cupertino gave their operating system and improved and sleek new user interface, with redesigned icons and new system fonts. Likely to please those who aren’t too concerned with heavy usage of their Macbook, it is surely a nice touch and a new thing we have yet to see in an OS X upgrade. Outside of that, Yosemite offers tons of new exciting features such as Airdrop with iOS devices, the ability to email attachments up to 5 GB in size, and an all-new new iCloud Drive, where suers will be able to upload any kind of file and access it on any iOS or Mac devices they are signed in to or own.
The implementation of this directly into the raw operating system will likely cause a shift in Mac users from using third-party, more expensive services such as Dropbox and Google Drive. OS X Yosemite will also have an amazing new feature called Continuity, and Handoff. These two features make switching between your iPad or iPhone to your Mac seamless. With the ability to pick up exactly where you left off, whether you were in the middle of typing up an email, editing a spreadsheet, or typing a document on your Mac, you can pick up on your iPad just by swiping up on the lock screen and your iOS device picks up exactly where you left off. Another extension of this feature is the new ability to make, and even take phone calls on your Mac. By seamlessly connecting with your iPhone, your Mac will now have the ability to take those calls, even if your iPhone is at home charging and you’re still at the office.
Lastly, the developers had a lot to be satisfied with. Apple introduced a brand new programming language, named Swift. The advantages of using Swift is its condensed coding, better performance on iOS & Mac devices, and the simplicity of the language. Developers will also be able to take better advantage of 3D graphics in their apps, with a new feature named Metal being a part of the 3D rendering process, which aims to better the performance on devices. With Swift, an upgraded compiler, and better performance on iOS devices, plus the expected processor upgrades for devices that debut this fall, things should be phenomenal.
In all, Apple released a plethora of key new upgrades for their users. Beta versions are already out, but final releases of everything will occur this fall. Expect some new hardware in the fall as well, and we will be sure to inform you of such upon début.
