iOS 7, as you're likely already quite aware of, is an absolute huge departure from the status quo. Apple has completely abandoned the design concepts that it established in the 2007 debut of the iPhone, which have been prevalent up until now. The operating system that was once known as iPhone OS, now resides on numerous devices, from various iterations of iPhones, to iPads to iPod touches. The design language has been fairly consistent across the board since its inception.

So why the big change? After iOS head-honcho Scott Forstall's ouster, Apple decided it was time to go in another direction. Its operating system, looking a bit long in the tooth, was in dire need of an overhaul. With Forstall gone and renowned hardware design specialist/Steve Jobs right-hand-man Jonathan Ive now in control, iOS is headed in a remarkably different direction.

iOS 7 is the result of said new direction, and it's a radical departure from iOS of old. All of the design language, from the biggest feature down to the smallest, has been completely replaced with something new. Even the ringtones and alerts that we've grown to love (or hate) from previous iterations of iOS have been replaced.

What we have now is an operating system that feels slightly familiar, but is basically a completely new experience, at least from a visual and sensory perspective. For that reason, we've deemed it appropriate to go in-depth with many of the various aspects of change in this walkthrough. The goal of this walkthrough is to provide you with a complete and comprehensive look into what makes iOS 7 tick.

iOS 7 represents a bold new direction for Apple post Steve Jobs. It's a huge step for a company that has lived in the shadow of its beloved co-founder since his passing. This is the first footstep out of that shadow. This, ladies and gentlemen, is iOS 7.