With Apple’s unveiling of the iOS 8 on Monday during the WWDC, a number of people are wondering what the new iOS supports.
iOS 8 is coming out in the fall but it appears that Apple will discontinue support for the iPhone 4, as the company listed the iPhone 4s as the earliest Apple device supported by the update.
The iPhone 5, iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, the iPod Touch 5th generation, the iPad 2, the iPad with Retina display, the iPad Air, the iPad mini, and the iPad mini with Retina display will also be supported.
Apple CEO Tim Cook delivered a statement on the company’s sales figures.
He said that 98 percent of Apple users are on iOS 7 but only 9 percent of Android users are using the latest KitKat OS release, according to BusinessInsider.com.
“Some are on [Android] from four years ago — that’s like ancient history!” Cook stated.
“Less than 1 out of 10 of their customers are on their latest versions,” Cook added. “That means these customers are not getting great new features. They’re not able to run the latest apps, and they’re not getting security updates they need to stay safe.”
Cook also told the audience that 130 million Apple customers who bought one of the firm’s products were first-time buyers of Apple products.
“Many of these customers were switchers from Android. They had bought an Android phone, by mistake, and then sought a better experience. And a better life. And decided to check out iPhone and iOS,” he said.
Here some the highlights:
CHANGES TO MAC COMPUTERS:
— The next Mac system will be called Yosemite, after the national park, now that Apple is naming it after California locales rather than cats.
— You'll be able to search for content on the computer and on the Internet at once, similar to a feature available with Microsoft’s Windows 8.
— Apple is expanding its iCloud storage service so that you can store and sync files of any type, not just the ones designed specifically for iCloud. It’s similar to how other services such as Dropbox let you work with the same files on multiple devices more easily.
— A Mail Drop feature will make it easier to send large files. Instead of pushing the entire file by email and overloading mail servers, the Mac will create a link that the recipient can click for the full file.
— The Mac’s Safari Web browser will have more privacy controls and ways to share links more easily.
CHANGES TO IPHONES AND IPADS:
— Like the new Mac OS, the iOS 8 system will have a universal search tool to cover both your device and the Internet. It will also get the iCloud Drive service.
— The new software will sport interactive notifications, so you can respond to a message without having to leave another app. It will have new gestures, such as double tapping to see a list of frequent contacts.
— A QuickType keyboard promises predictive typing suggestions. For example, if you start typing, “Do you want to go to,” the phone will suggest “dinner” or “movie” as the next word. Currently, the suggestions are limited to spelling corrections.
— IOS 8 will have a built-in health-management tool to help people track their vital signs, diet and sleeping habits. Apple’s chief rival, Samsung Electronics Co., incorporated fitness-related features in its latest flagship phone, the Galaxy S5, and announced plans last week for similar management tools.
— Apple announced new technology for controlling garage doors, thermostats and other home systems, although the company didn’t say how all the pieces will be linked together through what it calls HomeKit.
— For developers, Apple announced the ability to sell app bundles at discounted prices. The fingerprint security system on the iPhone 5s also will be accessible to apps written by outside parties, not just Applefunctions such as unlocking the phone and verifying iTunes purchases.
WORKING TOGETHER:
— Apple’s AirDrop feature, which has let you share files with other devices of the same type, will now let iPhones and Macs share directly with each other.
— A new Handoff feature will let you switch devices more easily, so you can start writing an email on a phone and finish on a Mac. And when a call comes in on your iPhone, you can answer it using the Mac as a speakerphone.
— The iMessage chat service will be broadened to work better with Android and other competing phones. Before, you can text an Android phone from your iPhone, but not from a Mac. And those messages wouldn’t sync to other devices.
ANNOUNCED EARLIER:
— Last week, Apple announced a deal to pay $3 billion for Beats Electronics, a headphone and music streaming specialist. The deal brings rapper Dr. Dre and recording impresario Jimmy Iovine to undetermined roles at Apple. During a demo Monday, Federighi placed a call to Dr. Dre to welcome him to Apple.
COMING SOON:
— Apple typically announces new iPhones in September and new iPads soon after that. Many analysts also believe the company will release an Internet-connected watch as part of Apple’s expansion into wearable technology.
SILENT:
— Despite speculation, Apple didn’t say anything about a long-awaited digital wallet that enables Apple to process payments on iPhones and iPads.
— Apple didn’t provide an update on CarPlay, its project for embedding automobiles with some of the iPhone’s main applications. But Apple did say it'll be possible to tap the Siri virtual assistant without pressing a button. Cars with built-in CarPlay services and radios that are compatible with CarPlay are both expected this year.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
