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iOS 8 Messages app feature: Video messages
Yesterday we showed you one of the fun new features of the iOS 8 Messages app -- Audio messages. But did you know that iOS 8 also brings you video messages? It's even more fun, and potentially more useful. To quickly send a fast video message to a friend or associate, launch the Messages app and tap the New Message button. On the left side of the edit field where you normally enter your text message -- and on the opposite side from the microphone button we talked about yesterday -- you'll find a camera button. First, add a recipient to the "To:" field at the top of the message. Now all you need to do is tap and hold that camera button. Initially, the Messages app assumes that you wish to send a message from yourself, so it uses the front-facing camera. As with the regular Camera app, there's a button shaped like a camera with a pair of circling arrows in it -- tap that to switch to the rear-facing camera instead. Similar the Audio message feature, a quarter-circle user interface appears in the lower left corner of the Messages app. On it are three buttons -- a red one that you tap to start and stop recording your video, a camera button if you just want to take a still shot instead, and an X button for canceling the entire process. When you're done recording your video, you can either tap the play button that replaces the record button to review what you've just done, tap the X to delete the recorded video, or use that arrow button to send it to your recipient. In order to keep from filling up your iPhone or iPad with these little videos and audio snippets, the Messages app deletes them from the sender's phone after a preset amount of time. If you wish to keep the video or audio snippet, there's a small "Keep" link that appears below your sent video that makes sure it doesn't disappear. Note that if you'd prefer to save the video (either as a sender or recipient), you can just tap and hold the video snippet to make a pop-up menu appear, then select Save. That stores the video in the Photos app. So, do the video messages show up on iOS 7 devices, and are they viewable? The answer to both questions is yes. iOS 7 users will need to wait until they upgrade to iOS 8 before they'll be able to swap obnoxious video messages with you with a few taps. Be sure to stay tuned to TUAW over the next few weeks as we dive deep into the new features of iOS 8.
iOS 8 camera app: Smart Composition
Certainly one of the iPhone's most-used features is the camera. There are a huge number of camera apps available, and I certainly take more photos than I make phone calls. The iPhone camera doesn't compete with a dedicated DSLR, but it is among the finest camera phones there is in terms of picture quality. With iOS 8 there are quite a few new features to enhance your photography. Some of these features have been available in other apps, but all of them are nicely integrated into the stock photography software Apple provides. One of the most interesting new features is what Apple calls 'Smart Composition Tools'. These features, when activated, will automatically straighten horizons ( a big problem in many photos) and do some smart cropping. After you take your photo and notice the horizon is tilted, you enter the edit mode and select the crop tool. IOS 8 will make a pretty intelligent guess about how level your camera was, and make the edit instantly. You can also adjust this manually, so you can tilt the image if that's what you want. The crop tool isn't too exciting. You get a bunch of aspect ratios, like 5x4 or 16x9. Once the boundaries are set, you can manually move them for the composition you are looking for. I sort of half-expected some face recognition and automatic cropping to balance the sides of the image, but the process is completely manual. So the big feature here is auto-levelling. This is going to fix an awful lot of photos that weren't shot with the camera level. Of course you have to enter the crop mode to make it work. In my next post, I'll take a look at iOS 8 smart photo adjustments and later, things like the new time-lapse mode and the new filters and editing tools.
A new iOS 8 Messages app feature: Audio messages
One of the features you're going to love in iOS 8 will keep you from doing a lot of typing or dictation to get your messages across, and that's the new audio messages capability in the Messages app. After launching the new Messages app and tapping the New Message button, the first obvious sign that something is new is the little microphone button next to where you'd normally type in your text. You still have the microphone key on the keyboard for doing Siri dictation of messages, but this is different -- it's what you'll use to record and send an audio message. To record and send one of these messages really takes only a thumb or one finger. Tap and hold the microphone button to record the message, then swipe up to send it to your recipient. These gestures are done in a semi-circular interface that appears on the screen (see screenshot at right). If you want to listen to the message before it's sent, all you need to do is tap on the Play button that appears in that circle, and you'll hear what you just recorded. At this point, there's no way to edit the messages -- if you goof up while recording, your only recourse is to delete the recording by tapping an X in the interface, then re-recording the message. Once you receive an audio message, listening to it is a piece of cake -- you just tap on the play button in the message bubble to have it played back. Recipients also get a "raise to listen" option, where raising the phone to your ear will play back the audio message. In testing, the audio messages were perfectly playable on iOS 7 devices, so if your friends or loved ones are a bit hesitant to upgrade their devices, that shouldn't be an issue. Of course, they won't be able to respond to you with an audio message until they update to iOS 8... Be sure to stay tuned to TUAW over the next few weeks as we cover many of the new features of iOS 8.
Apple will reject any wellness apps that store private health data in iCloud
Given recent events surrounding the security of cloud-storage accounts, Apple is keen to reassess any updates to iOS. The company has revealed that any Healthkit apps storing a user's private wellness data in iCloud will be flat-out rejected from the App Store. That same info, gathered by apps using the Healthkit API, is under even further restrictions when it comes to advertising and data-mining, as well. As 9to5Mac spotted, if an application uses the data for reasons other than "improving health, medical, and fitness management, or for the purpose of medical research," the app won't survive. This is just another bit of evidence from Cupertino as to why it rejects applications from the App Store. The thumb-downs go for other possibly less-nefarious aspects as well, including what happens with collected keyboard-activity data. If you're interested in poring over the updated list of terms yourself, Apple's got you covered. We recommend pouring a frosty beverage, though -- reading the full roster could take until September 9th. [Image credit: Associated Press]
iOS 8: Hey Siri!
It's surprising how much I both love and am bothered by the new Hey Siri feature. It offers what's probably the best and the worst of all iOS 8 features at the same time. So what's this dichotomy? How can I be so split down the middle about this? Let me explain. iOS 8's new "Hey Siri" offers a voice activated prompt. If you're driving and your iPhone is connected to a power source, or if your iPad is charging across the room, you can shout out "Hey Siri, set a timer for 3 minutes" and Siri will do exactly that. A few minutes later, your device will beep and you'll know to take the eggs off the stove. "Hey Siri" is great for quick calculations ("What's 371 divided by four?"), for shazaaming ("What's that song?"), for requesting songs ("Play something by Josh Turner"), for directions ("How do I get to a gas station?") and so forth. The hands-free functionality is amazing. At the same time, you have to be really really careful about where and when you deploy "Hey Siri". I can't tell you how many times I've been talking on my landline and Siri pipes up and offered to run a web search based on my current conversation. It's a little embarrassing when chatting but it can be quite serious in professional meetings or with privileged conversations such as in a medical setting. Fortunately, you can easily disable voice-activated Siri. First, just unplug your device. "Hey Siri" is currently limited to power-tethered use. Second, you can override Siri by hopping into Settings > General > Siri > Voice Activation and toggle the option to OFF. This is a feature that really should have been placed into the Control Center -- I encourage you to file a feature request to put it there! But once you're back away from those possibly awkward moments? Turn that feature right back on because Hey Siri is a real favorite, warts and all.
Apple will reportedly announce its next iPhone on September 9th
Grab that box of sodium chloride, folks -- it's rumor time. Re/Code is reporting that Apple will hold its next iPhone event on September 9th. And while any publication can pull a date out of the hat and report on it, this particular entity has a good track record predicting Apple events (even when it was AllThingsD). This date places it just a few days after Samsung's upcoming product launch at the IFA trade show in Berlin; traditionally, this is where the Korean manufacturer announces its next Note flagship smartphone, so it's not too hard to see Apple taking on its arch rival with a similar-sized product. According to rumors, the company plans to introduce a 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch version of its next iPhone. Still, nothing's set in stone, so we'll let you know as soon as we get official word from Cupertino. Update: Both Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal are also corroborating the September 9th report with their own sources.
KeyPoint wants you to try its multilingual smart keyboard for iOS 8
There's soon going to be a glut of custom keyboards for iOS 8, many of which will have word suggestions in multiple languages. However, they might not be as well-versed as KeyPoint Technologies' upcoming Adaptxt for iOS. Besides supporting over 100 languages, the keyboard touts 30 dictionaries targeted at specific industries; it shouldn't be flummoxed when you're chatting with your accountant or lawyer. It will also be aware of both your location and the apps you're running, so word predictions should change when you go on vacation or check out a favorite social network. KeyPoint is only taking sign-ups for a beta test at this stage -- not surprising, since iOS 8 isn't out yet -- but it's already promising that Adaptxt will be free on iPads and iPhones alike.
iTunes Extras now available on Apple TV, will launch with iOS 8 in the fall
Apple's iTunes Extras feature has offered customers a behind-the-scenes look at rented movies for some time, but up until now it only existed on the desktop. Thanks to an update that went out today, you'll now be able to view iTunes Extras on your Apple TV. To get the additional content, your device must be running software version 6.2, which was released last week. The iTunes Extras material, including deleted scenes, images and director's commentary, will automatically be added to your previously purchased HD movies. Additionally, movie studios will now be able to add more content to extras at any time. This update is good news for film buffs who use Apple's set-top box, but it still leaves iPhones, iPads and iPods devices out in the cold. That will change when the company releases iOS 8 this fall, though, so iTunes Extras is slowly making its way to every important platform.
Split-screen multitasking on an iPad could work like this
In the run-up to the reveal of iOS 8, there was a frission of eager rumors that Apple could add split-screen multitasking to the iPad, but then... nothing. Well, the good news is that code referring to it has been found nestled inside Apple's incoming mobile OS upgrade, although we can't regard this as confirmation that it'll ever launch on iOS 8. More hopefully, however, Steve Troughton-Smith has gone as far as to tinker with the iOS 8 iPad Simulator to enable (at least partially) said split-screen skills, with a two-finger swipe to the side. The Safari web browser, at least in this test, can be swiped to take up specific quadrants of the screen, down to 75 and 50 percent, while at 25-percent size the browser looks awfully similar to the iPhone iteration -- which, well, makes a lot of sense.
iOS 8 makes it tougher for WiFi hotspots to track your location
Apple made a hullabaloo over iOS 8's user-accessible privacy controls during its WWDC keynote, but it now appears that some of the biggest safeguards are under the hood. Security guru Frederic Jacobs has noticed that iOS 8 uses random network identifiers when scanning for WiFi access, and will only reveal a device's true ID when it connects. In other words, hotspot operators can't get your position simply because you're walking by with an iPhone in hand -- you have to sign in first.
Fleksy offers sneak peek at iOS 8 keyboard with beta preview program
One of the most exciting developments for iOS 8 is support for third party keyboards. This seemingly minor feature will help narrow the gap between Android and iOS when it comes to flexibility. To this day, Swype is the only thing I miss from Android. Most of us will have to wait until fall for this feature, but if you're participating in beta testing iOS 8, the folks at Fleksy have good news for you. Fleksy is currently offering a sneak peek at its iOS 8 keyboard for beta testers. You can register for the beta here. The announcement was made via Twitter. Head over to their website and get registered. Fleksy is already running on iOS 8! Register for the beta at http://t.co/fhkQWDzXJO. Follow us for updates. pic.twitter.com/u6uWqAJ6Jn - Fleksy (@fleksy) June 4, 2014
Apple: Putting doctors, trainers and nutritionists in your pocket
It's been a long day. You were in meetings from nine in the morning until five in the evening, with barely enough time to eat in between. So you gorged on donuts from the cafeteria and indulged in a slice of pizza on the way home. When you enter that dietary data in your nutrition-tracking app on your iPhone, you get a notification that you've exceeded your daily caloric amount, sidelining your weight loss goals. Feeling guilty, you lace up your running shoes and head out to the park with a Fitbit in tow, knowing that you need to burn at least 500 calories to get back on track. Feeling pretty good after the run, you get a text from your doctor reminding you to have a good night's sleep tonight to rectify the erratic sleep patterns she's been tracking via a daily health report app. You tell her that will definitely not be a problem. This is a picture of the future that Apple is envisioning with HealthKit, one of the more interesting features of yesterday's iOS 8 announcement. In essence, it's Apple's attempt to unify and share the disparate data of your health and fitness apps with each other, and -- if you want -- with your medical institution as well. With HealthKit, Apple wants to be the one-stop shop for your health and fitness needs. It's a rather ambitious goal, but it's also a necessary one given the increasingly crowded fitness field. And, of course, it also lays the groundwork for that long-rumored iWatch.
AirPlay on iOS 8 doesn't need a network to stream your media
Right now, Apple's AirPlay media streaming requires an established WiFi network to fly. That's fine when you're at home, but do you really want to ask for a friend's hotspot password just to show vacation photos on their Apple TV? Mercifully, iOS 8 will let you skip that hassle. One of the many under the radar upgrades to the software is peer-to-peer AirPlay support -- you can now share content to an AirPlay-capable device as long as you can make a direct connection.
Engadget Daily: Apple announces OS X Yosemite, iOS 8 and more!
Today, we watched Apple unveil OS X Yosemite, iOS8 and its own smart home platform, went hands-on with ASUS' new Zenbook NX500, learned about Samsung's Tizen-based smartphone and more! Read on for Engadget's news highlights from the last 24 hours.
Here are a few lesser-known new features in iOS 8
Widgets! QuickType keyboard! Hey, Siri! Interactive notifications! Like most new versions of Apple's mobile OS, iOS 8 comes with its fair share of features that, in theory, will help improve the experience from the previous version. Our list of new features covers nearly every highlight from Apple SVP Craig Federighi's presentation, but every year there's always one slide filled with additional enhancements the company doesn't have enough time to call out individually on stage, and every year that slide disappears within a few seconds. So, what else will iOS 8 offer that wasn't specifically called out by Hair Force One?
SwiftKey, Swype and Fleksy are already making iOS 8 keyboards
When Apple revealed that iOS 8 would allow third-party keyboards, one big question came to many people's minds: would some of the better-known Android keyboards make the leap? In short, yes. SwiftKey says it has "already started" porting its heavily customizable software to iOS; Swype tells Engadget that it "can't wait" to support Apple's platform. Fleksy, meanwhile, is going so far as to take sign-ups for a beta program and vows to be "one of the first" with a solution. The odds aren't high that you'll get something like Google Keyboard on your iPhone (we've asked to be sure), but you won't be hurting for input methods when iOS 8 is ready this fall.
iOS 8 lets your iPhone make WiFi calls on T-Mobile
Apple covered a lot of ground during its iOS 8 launch, but it glossed over a big, big deal for some iPhone owners: WiFi calling support. When the upgrade is available in the fall, subscribers on T-Mobile and other supporting networks can use WiFi hotspots for phone conversations instead of worrying about cellular reception or roaming fees. The feature is arguably overdue when Android and Windows Phone have supported it for a while, but it's a welcome addition for iOS fans who'd rather not switch platforms (or rely solely on voice over IP apps like Skype) just to get a better calling experience. [Image credit: John Moore/Getty Images]
SwiftKey confirms iOS 8 version
SwiftKey has confirmed they are going to release an official iOS version on iOS 8, as reported by ZDnet. In a blog post today, Ben Medlock and Jon Reynolds (SwiftKey's co-founders) stated that since iOS 8 will officially support third-party keyboards, SwiftKey will be one of those choices. From the post: We first brought a taste of our technology to iOS in January this year with the launch of the free note-taking app SwiftKey Note. Are we going to build SwiftKey Keyboard for iOS 8? Of course we are. We've already started. Check out the rest of our WWDC 2014 coverage throughout the week!
iOS 8 apps can share data, features with each other
Apple's annual developer conference is well underway, and it just revealed what could be a seismic shift in the iOS world: Third-party apps will soon be able talk to each other. Historically, applications on iOS have lived in their own silos, without being able to share data and features, but that's set to change in iOS 8. Apple has given developers "Extensibility" tools -- a suite of APIs, if you want to get technical -- that they can wield to let their apps share everything from documents to translation services. A demo onstage showed a Bing extension for Safari doing inline translation of a Japanese website, and using Pinterest to share a photo from a website in just a few taps.
Siri in iOS 8 will let you identify songs and buy from iTunes
Siri is going to learn a few new tricks in iOS 8. As rumored, the voice assistant will now identify songs using Shazam; if you want to find out the name of a catchy track, you don't have to fire up a separate app. You'll also have the option of buying iTunes content. The speech-recognition system is smarter, to boot -- it now shows what you're saying in real time, and you can start commands by speaking, "Hey, Siri" (much like Android KitKat's "OK Google") instead of holding down the home button. There's no mention of integration with third-party apps so far, but this is still a big step forward for iOS users who prefer voice dictation for all their tasks.
