To the posters who say iOS 8 includes features already available to people with jailbroken devices and on Android. While true, it is irrelevant. The vast majority of iDevice users are not jailbroken and don't also use Android devices. Geez, get a clue.
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Does anyone else think that iOS 8 is a letdown?
- Thread starter chumps52
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As I have said before, don't get me wrong about the fact I like Apple and their products and have no plans to switch, I just think that this update in particular was a bit of a let down.
I know you're just taking the piss, but it still added a lot more than in iOS 8 (at least so far)... Siri, Notification Centre, iMessage, FaceTime, iCloud, etc.
Okay, granted, majority of the features that are showcased on Apple's iOS 8 Preview on their site are minor features, however, the site is showing off the iOS 8 PREVIEW, hinting at more user features to come when Apple has their iPhone event for the iPhone 6.
if you really want to go there.. macrumors users have already found another 102lines worth of changes:
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/19189174/
Yes, but those are the features that are likely to be entirely exclusive to the iPhone 6 etc. that is/are introduced in September.
(Such as when Siri was introduced as an exclusive for the iPhone 4S after the initial iOS 5 Announcment).
So what happens to those of us who cannot afford to pay another £500+ to get another device/phone?
Ah, but is there a detailed changelog like that for iOS 7 and all previous updates? Because it is pretty much guaranteed that every x.0 update before iOS 8 had a lot more changes.
As people have pointed out, Wikipedia is not the most detailed/accurate place to go.
yes there is. you'll also see that apple changed alot with every beta release:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1593268/
I would say iOS 8 is a smaller release, only in the sense of there not being a clear, big new feature to it. iOS 8 is in many ways very focused on refining the user experience that iOS 7 introduced, and there's nothing wrong with that.
In saying that, it's probably Health.app that's going to be the big feature, we just need to wait for it to be utilised by third parties, but hopefully too by Apple, in the form of a smart wearable or sensor-equipped iPhone 6.
It's entirely possible that Health.app will create a whole ecosystem around it and become the big feature of iOS 8 that Apple market their products around.
In saying that, it's probably Health.app that's going to be the big feature, we just need to wait for it to be utilised by third parties, but hopefully too by Apple, in the form of a smart wearable or sensor-equipped iPhone 6.
It's entirely possible that Health.app will create a whole ecosystem around it and become the big feature of iOS 8 that Apple market their products around.
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It still puzzled me after so many years of iOS and Android released in the market people still comparing and complaining on who copies who on those features.
Think about it if there wasn't iOS in the first place, you don't even have android to begin with. If there wasn't android, iOS will not have gone this far today. Without Siri, where is Google Now and Cortana? Without AppStore, will you have Playstore and Windows Store? Just few to name.
Everything will come to a equilibrium state after some times and it no longer important on who copies who's features. It is how those features are been implemented to give us a seamless experiences that matter the most.
You can't deny that the continuity of the OS X Yosemite and iOS 8 going to be a mind blowing user experience. How seamlessly the integration of the mobile and desktop experience that none of the current hardware and software makers are able to come out with except Apple.
The true copycat to me is the Samsung with its latest fingerprint sensor. To me they are just rush to compete with Apple without taking into the user experience. Some of their ideas are novelty but most are half baked to end user.
If you think android is far more superior then just head over. The grass is always greener outside. And indeed android does have a green robot.
Think about it if there wasn't iOS in the first place, you don't even have android to begin with. If there wasn't android, iOS will not have gone this far today. Without Siri, where is Google Now and Cortana? Without AppStore, will you have Playstore and Windows Store? Just few to name.
Everything will come to a equilibrium state after some times and it no longer important on who copies who's features. It is how those features are been implemented to give us a seamless experiences that matter the most.
You can't deny that the continuity of the OS X Yosemite and iOS 8 going to be a mind blowing user experience. How seamlessly the integration of the mobile and desktop experience that none of the current hardware and software makers are able to come out with except Apple.
The true copycat to me is the Samsung with its latest fingerprint sensor. To me they are just rush to compete with Apple without taking into the user experience. Some of their ideas are novelty but most are half baked to end user.
If you think android is far more superior then just head over. The grass is always greener outside. And indeed android does have a green robot.
Fair enough, I guess I just hope they'll do the same this year
Do you know if anyone is compiling a list of changes in each beta like that one?
I know there is this https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1740199/
But that is just a thread of everyone noting down each change they notice. Is there a "master list"; so to speak?
I agree, and I see what you mean with the Health App, but I just don't see how it will appeal to the wider market... Yes it is a "major" feature in the sense that people with medical conditions etc. will use it, but that's where it will end - my view. I do not see myself, or anyone I know who doesn't have medical requirements, making expenses on (what will likely be) expensive other equipment just for this functionality.
I only brought up the Android thing because of how Tim Cook started the iOS keynote by slagging Google/Android off in the first place, and then proceeded to implement features originally taken from Android.
The Yosemite/Continuation features etc. will only affect the (relatively small, in comparison) number of people who use Mac on a daily basis. These are again, my opinions, as from what I have seen the main Mac consumer market are large businesses and those requiring the software for creativity (Eg Garageband). 9 times out of 10 if you went to someone's house their personal/home/family computer will be Windows-Based.
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Better things will likely come, eventually, and I too can see this happening, especially though the opening up of features like Touch ID. However I do still wish Apple themselves had added more features, and not left the majority for developers to do with "third party" apps from the App Store etc.
iOS 8 would only be a letdown if developers fail to implement the new programming goodies they introduced like metal, etc. This is proof from apple that the full power of these chips is not being used and that's very true with the A7. We are still seeing games with graphics that really don't push the envelope. Every year the new devices have twice faster graphics, Phil Schiller uses that line constantly. Yet we never see games that have faster frame rates nor better graphics.
It's all up to the developers.
It's all up to the developers.
Going back to Health.app and its potential for mass appeal, I think that is exactly the issue that Apple are spending (so much) time getting right.
I think that, for Apple, this is their next iPad moment. Delivering a product that no one thinks they want or need to a wide and casual audience, in such a well-presented and planned way (think the forethought of iBooks for the iPad release, and how much we now know about how difficult that was for Apple to build a service around).
Apple need to do a number of innovative things to get Health right, but I have confidence that they will, and that it will become a key feature of iOS 8. They're already developing systems for Health.app to synch its data with your doctor, for example.
I think that, for Apple, this is their next iPad moment. Delivering a product that no one thinks they want or need to a wide and casual audience, in such a well-presented and planned way (think the forethought of iBooks for the iPad release, and how much we now know about how difficult that was for Apple to build a service around).
Apple need to do a number of innovative things to get Health right, but I have confidence that they will, and that it will become a key feature of iOS 8. They're already developing systems for Health.app to synch its data with your doctor, for example.
See, I don't see how health will kick off for a wider audience.
In my opinion, they obviously cannot fit every capability/feature that HealthKit has into the iPhone 6/iWatch, and will therefore need some "backup" from third party companies who develop accessories.
I don't think it will generate mass appeal as these companies will obviously increase their prices significantly for these products, purely because they can stick a label on the box saying "Made for iPhone" or "Designed for iOS 8" etc.
Going back to my previous example, look at Philips with their "Hue" range of lights; at least from what I have seen the cheapest even just one bulb is available for is around £65, whereas a standard light bulb is something like £2. They are overcharging purely because they can say it has an app that controls it etc.
Don't get me wrong, I think Health will be a major feature, as you say with the synchronization of data with your doctor, but just not for everyone, as a significant number will probably still use alternative/"competitor's" products, for the sake of the price.
Haha, Samsung didn't even copy Apple in that way. The bloody thing is useless, Touch ID is much better, apply your finger, in anyway and bingo. With Samsung you have to swipe all the way DOWN in the MIDDLE of the scanner!
agreed. I think iOS 8 is by far the best update ever. It enhances every aspect of iOS in a pretty big way.
I thought it was a let down but I think iOS 8 is more like laying the foundations of everything else (which we won't experience til the developers and outlets/companies take advantage of it)
- iBeacon (we already see a glimpse of how it can be used - Handoff, but I'm sure there are more to come)
- Utilising TouchID more
- All the new APIs for developers to play around with
- Heck, even being able to use SwiftKey already means everything to me lol
After all, iOS is all about stability, performance, quality, and most importantly: awesome quality apps <- THIS is the one I'm waiting for once iOS 8 is officially out
- iBeacon (we already see a glimpse of how it can be used - Handoff, but I'm sure there are more to come)
- Utilising TouchID more
- All the new APIs for developers to play around with
- Heck, even being able to use SwiftKey already means everything to me lol
After all, iOS is all about stability, performance, quality, and most importantly: awesome quality apps <- THIS is the one I'm waiting for once iOS 8 is officially out
These types of topics always amuse me.
Some of these features are late coming but just from the developers sessions they seem very well thought out as opposed to the kind of "Boom, another bullet point" that many other vendors try to do.
Things like Quick Reply, and the widget system, and inter app communications may seem trivial but these are huge backend changes to get these things to work well and consistently. Same with implementing 3rd party service providers and document picked in a secure way for sandboxed items.
Just because someone doesn't understand why something is the way it is doesn't change the level of effort it took to get there. Especially with people watching a developer session, and complaining that it didn't address their needs.
Some of these features are late coming but just from the developers sessions they seem very well thought out as opposed to the kind of "Boom, another bullet point" that many other vendors try to do.
Things like Quick Reply, and the widget system, and inter app communications may seem trivial but these are huge backend changes to get these things to work well and consistently. Same with implementing 3rd party service providers and document picked in a secure way for sandboxed items.
Just because someone doesn't understand why something is the way it is doesn't change the level of effort it took to get there. Especially with people watching a developer session, and complaining that it didn't address their needs.
Actually, Predictive text has been on the iPhone for ages... just not in English. If you use Japanese it's been standard for quite a few years.
Most of the complaints in the thread amount to little more than cosmetic changes or minor things that Apple was never going to do. And we all know that. No use in complaining about the beast when it acts like a beast.
I will agree that there wasn't one single stand-out feature announced. But that doesn't mean there won't be more features announced in the coming months. It feels like they are refining the OS in really nice ways. It is maturing and becoming more sophisticated. That can only be good. Whether or not it's fast enough is a different question.
As for complaints about how it looks and wanting an option to make it look like iOS6 again - Just. Let. It. Go.
I text all the time from my mac. If I could answer the phone while my son is playing angry birds that would be amazing.
I personally didn't see iOS 8 as a let down, and I have been using it since iOS 2.x Sure we may have gotten spoiled with the iOS 4.x era which lasted a LONG time, lets not forget how Apple marketed iOS 4.3 as a major release. I think that iOS 6 presented the least amount in compared to 8.0 today. When we have tons of features that are about unifying the OS X and iOS experience. Features like Handoff, and SMS and Calling for iPad is a BIG deal, and also the opening of TouchID, and 3rd Party Keyboards is a huge sign that Apple isn't what it was formerly under Jobs. Apple is aiming for a more open iOS and we are just beginning, Notice also the lack of cutting off so many devices with this release, usually Apple drops 2 or 3, iOS is quickly catching up with OS X in terms of support, seeing as even Mavericks and Yosemite support the same machines. I think iOS 8 could be that Snow Leopard Release in terms of iOS.
So let me ask this. Everyone I know seems fairly satisfied. It covered many wishlist items. What would everyone that didn't like it wish it had instead?