Apple released the latest operating system for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touches on September 18, 2013.
This release contains many features, including a completely all-new visual design. iOS 7 has a more simple design, with “2D” graphics and a uniform look throughout the iOS. Apple has also added many new animations throughout the system, including in Messages, Weather, and when opening and closing applications.
To add to the design, Apple uses translucency across the system to show depth and dimension. iOS 7 also uses more subtle visual changes, including the time changing on the Clock app icon, to make the OS visually interesting.
Along with the new design, Apple also included many new features. One of these features is control center, similar to “Quick Settings” on the Android. It allows users to quickly adjust Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Brightness, and many more settings simply by swiping up from the bottom of the screen. iOS 7 also includes a new notification center, with a daily summary and “All” and “Missed” views of notifications. The look of multitasking has also changed, and users can now quit more than one app at a time.
In the camera app, users can swipe to change between modes, such has still, panorama and video. Users can also apply filters, much like those on Instagram, to their photos, even before they are taken. Photos has also received some remodeling, and now pictures are automatically organized into Years, Collections, and Moments.
Safari, the default Internet browsing application, has also received some remodeling, including the hiding of bars and swiping to go back and forward. Siri also has new changes, including more voices and accents to choose from.
iOS 7 is similar to previous releases of the OS, yet at the same time, completely different. “At first I didn’t like it because I couldn’t find anything,” says Michael David Rowe, a WPU sophomore. “Now I’m used to it and I like it. It’s sleek, modern and sophisticated.”
Apple has received much criticism about iOS 7, including that it too much resembles the look of Android devices. “iOS 7 is decent,” says Kandyce Jones, a junior at WPU. “I have become adjusted but I feel like it resembles a windows phone.”
