Apple

The best new features of iOS 8

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated July 25, 2023

Admittedly, the myriad of new and useful capabilities that Apple's just-released iOS 8 brings to your iPhone, iPod touch and iPad are going to prove hugely popular with mainstream users, to say the least. With iOS 8, Apple is appeasing harsh critics who'd frequently point out that Android is capable of things iOS cannot do, and then some more.

iOS 8 opens up Apple's mobile operating system to third-party development to a much greater extent than ever before. And stemming from relaxed policies, iOS 8 boosts on-the-go productivity with deeper inter-app sharing while implementing some of the features our Android friends have grown accustomed to, but in a typical hassle-free Apple fashion, things like third-party keyboards, custom actions, photo editing extensions within the context of Photos and Camera apps and way more.

And though evolutionary rather than revolutionary, we have no doubt in our minds that iOS 8 is going to significantly improve the functionality of Apple's mobile platform, and perhaps even give some folks less reasons to jailbreak.

To celebrate today's release of the free iOS 8 software update, we proudly present you this detailed overview of more than two dozen iOS 8 features we think you're going to fall in love with at first sight.

Apple releases OS X 10.9.5 with Safari 7.0.6 and various improvements

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Rounding out its day of software releases, Apple this evening has pushed out OS X Mavericks 10.9.5 for Mac users. Developers have been testing the beta over the last few months, and it includes a new version of Safari and various improvements.

Among those improvements is better reliability of VPN connections that use USB smart cards for authentication, which should please enterprise users, and easier access of files located on an SMB server. It's definitely more of a maintenance release.

Poll: did you upgrade to iOS 8?

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 17, 2014

iOS 8 released today and with it came not only plenty new features, but also the usual assortment of teething issues which — as is the norm in the software industry — happen to plague other vendors' software, too.

For example, a last-minute bug discovered in the HealthKit framework has prompted Apple to pull all HealthKit apps from the App Store this morning until the issue is fixed via a software update due by the end of this month.

Aside from this inconvenience, iOS 8 has also been found to slow down older devices such as the three-year-old iPhone 4s.

I'm sure readers will discover their favorite issues with iOS 8 just by scanning their RSS feed and keeping a close eye on conversations on Twitter, Facebook and other social media channels.

But here's the thing: it's all part of the Apple folklore. Early adopters certainly don't mind being part of it, even if it means coping with unforeseen issues, unexpected crashes, broken apps and other problems.

The question is, are you an iOS 8 holdout or an early adopter?.

Rovio Stars launches iOS 8 Metal-enabled game, Plunder Pirates

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 27, 2016

Game industry veterans Midoki and Rovio, the renowned Angry Birds maker hailing from Finland, have joined forces to publish a new game for Apple's platform under the Rovio Stars label.

An addictive combat strategy adventure, Plunder Pirates invites you to build an island in lush three-dimensional graphics and then recruit a pirate crew to set sail for uncharted waters.

The free-to-play download has optional In-App Purchases available, supports Game Center achievements and leaderboards and files as one of the first iOS titles supporting Apple's low-level framework for close-to-the-metal 3D graphics programming, aptly named Metal.

Apple: we’re delaying HealthKit apps until month’s end over a software bug

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 17, 2014

Several health and fitness focused apps were updated in the App Store this morning with plenty useful new features that take advantage of the new HealthKit framework for developers, introduced alongside iOS 8.

An hour later, Apple pulled these newly-updated HealthKit apps from the store due to various software issues with its framework and has now told one journalist that a fix is underway and promised to put them back on the store by the month's end.

Bloomberg talks to Tim Cook, Jony Ive, and other execs about Apple Watch and more

Cody Lee ∙ Updated July 28, 2017

"With an Apple Watch wrapped around his hand brass-knuckle style, Ive reveals that the project was conceived in his lab three years ago, shortly after Jobs’s death and before “wearables” became a buzzword in Silicon Valley." This is just one of the many interesting anecdotes in Bloomberg's new piece on Apple.

Bloomberg Businessweek's Brad Stone and Adam Satariano interviewed several Apple executives, including Tim Cook, Jony Ive and Jeff Williams, after their big event last week. The conversations cover a wide range of topics, including the new Apple Watch, iPhone 6, and how the culture is changing in Cupertino.

Read this before upgrading your iPhone 4s to iOS 8

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 17, 2014

Think twice before updating your rusty old iPhone 4s to the just-released iOS 8 because Apple's feature-packed upgrade makes its handset run most tasks about two times (or more) slower.

iOS 8 will slow down common tasks on the handset, including approximately two times slower launching of stock apps, almost three seconds longer booting and more, ArsTechnica reported Wednesday.

In addition to the performance hit, the three-year-old handset is incompatible with certain hardware-dependent iOS 8 features such as Handoff, AirDrop, the OpenGL ES 3.0 and Metal graphics run-time and more.

Facebook updates Paper for iPhone with iOS 8 compatibility, adds HD video uploading

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2018

The social networking behemoth Facebook has just updated its popular Paper app for the iPhone with iOS 8 compatibility following the release of Apple's mobile operating system this morning.

Facebook Paper version 1.2.2, a maintenance update, also enables high-definition video uploading. Previously, you could only upload photos in high-definition so this is going to be a nice upgrade for users who tend to post lots of video clips to the social network on the go.

Apple’s next product unveiling expected to take place around mid-to-late October

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated December 29, 2017

Apple isn't done refreshing its products this year. According to the same source who shared reliable information on product introduction and timing in the past, AppleInsider has learned that the Cupertino firm is about to unleash another wave of new products during the second half of next month.

Apple's reportedly set internal deadlines for “major new products” of mid-October, with the planned unveiling to reportedly take place during mid-to-late October.

Real Racing 3 ‘Classic Lamborghini’ update brings racing school, 8-player multiplayer and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 6, 2017

Wednesday morning, Electronic Arts’ Real Racing 3 for the iPhone and iPad has received another Lamborghini-themed update bringing out several new features, cars, tracks and other content, including classic Lamborghinis such as the limited-edition Miura and the legendary Countach.

Fans of multiplayer gaming should appreciate that the free-to-play game has introduced a new eight-player, cross-platform multiplayer mode with real-time racing and drafting.

Jump past the fold to learn about other enhancements in this update.

Despite its highest daily output ever, Foxconn still struggling to boost iPhone 6 production

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 17, 2014

Despite huge investment it's made in production lines, workers, sophisticated machinery and tooling equipment, Foxconn, the world's largest contract fabricator, is having issues keeping up with massive iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus demand, The Wall Street Journal's Digits blog reported Wednesday.

“For iPhone 6 Plus, we are still ramping up the production line,” sources tell WSJ. ”Another reason for the limited supply is the shortage of 5.5-inch displays”.

Another person at a display component supplier told the paper that Foxconn is scrapping almost half of the 5.5-inch panels due to quality control issues. The output rate of the 4.7-inch display is reportedly better at 85 percent.

Manufacturing woes stem from the in-cell display technology which allows for a thinner and lighter screen assembly by integrating touch sensors into the liquid crystal display.

Rumor: Apple Watch has LG-made AMOLED screen

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 17, 2014

Apple has rejected tiny panels made by rival Samsung's display-making arm for its wrist-worn smartwatch and has instead opted in favor of curved AMOLED screens made by LG Display, claims a supply chain report filed Wednesday by DigiTimes, a somewhat accurate Taiwanese trade publication.

Citing unnamed sources at LG Display, the publication reports LG Display will supply AMOLED panels for the Apple Watch. “Apple will reportedly not purchase AMOLED panels from Samsung Display and instead will have LG as the sole panel provider for the Apple Watch”, the sources indicated.