iOS 8 to Include Battery Usage Per App and Much More

[Roller]

The whole 'Continuity' concept is just brilliantly useful. I can see myself using that a lot!

Me, too. I frequently go back and forth between my Mac and iPhone during the day, and this will make it much more seamless. The ability to answer calls on my Mac will also help. I sometimes miss calls when I'm upstairs in my office and my iPhone is charging downstairs.

Overall, I'm much more excited about the changes in iOS 8 than I was about iOS 7 last year. And that doesn't even take into account all the improvements that developers will be able to implement thanks to extensions and other changes.

As an end user, I don't much care whether a particular feature was available on Android or another mobile OS before iOS. I just want to see Apple implement it in a way that makes my life easier or more productive.

 

[Rogifan]

To be fair those features aren't something Apple was unable to think of, but rather chose not to implement.

Google and Samsung a likes in the another hand will just add features for the sake of adding them without giving any real thought.

That's the difference.

Also we might be getting some of this stuff because the bottlenecks (Steve and Scott Forstall) are gone.

 

[MacrumoursUser]

Also we might be getting some of this stuff because the bottlenecks (Steve and Scott Forstall) are gone.

Also true. Maybe they were too conservative.

 

[scott911]

from article: will include travel time.

thought it read: will include time travel...

 

[Wolfpup]

Yeah Wi-Fi calling might help to tip the scales in Apple's favor over at T-Mobile. They're the only carrier where the iPhone isn't the best selling device.

For those who don't know, this is superior to FaceTime Audio as it totally replaces your cellular signal with Wi-Fi. It's like having 5 bars of signal. You can make calls, send SMS and MMS to any device (doesn't have to be an iOS device) even in an area where you have no signal from your carrier at all. Great for those buildings with materials that block cellular signals. A side benefit too is that when you're overseas it behaves as if you're in the US.

I wonder about encryption doing that... I'd be hesitant to use it unless I was sure it was properly encrypted.

 

[Teddy's]

A long long long time ago in a Samsung Galaxy not so far away...

What good is it for Android to have new features when 9% of Android users actually get it?

Actually that has been around for ages in Android. So make that close to 100%.

 

[cjmillsnun]

Wish Apple would focus on the somewhat annoying issue of "Other" data building up on iOS devices. Wish there was a way to manage that or have a built in system to handle it.

This is data that apps use in runtime. A cache of tweets on a twitter app for example.

 

[Wolfpup]

Its no secret the Apple has lagged with features found in Android.

Like what? I honestly have no idea. Android's a clunky disaster from a company that clearly doesn't have the expertise to make an OS. They only did a clunky implementation of a TRIM-like function and encryption LAST YEAR (and they're still terrible). They're only just now thinking to pre-compile programs for Android (!)

They don't have podcast support. It can't play any audio streams I've ever tried to play with it. Google gives over personal info to anyone you download a program from, etc...

 

[C DM]

Ah, I guess that represents the difference. It's like that way for everyone on 7.1? I recall that being an issue for folks who synced contacts to a non-iCloud source (like Google Contacts or Yahoo address book.) I didn't realize it now affected everyone on 7.1.

Anyway, I remain happily jailbroken on iOS 7.0.6, and yes, full screen contact photos still work for me. And I suspect I'll stay here until iOS 8 drops. Especially now that I won't be needing so many of the jailbreak tweaks I've come to appreciate (as I noticed today, the functionality of my favorite ones are now being rolled into the stock OS.)

Odd that the fullscreen caller ID images went away, that practically sounds like a bug.

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...as would a simple sticker on the back, or on your case, that says "if found please contact: youremail@icloud.com" (or whatever.) Sure, it's a low-tech approach, but it works. Even when the phone's lost cell signal and/or power.

I've always just added the "if found" text to my lock screen image...

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FWIW I have the Google Now launcher on my Nexus 7 tablet (don't worry, I also have an iPhone and iPad mini) and that home scree replacement adds the "Ok Google" command, the device is always listening. And I have yet to notice any serious battery drainage after adding this feature.

Yeah, they completely removed full screen contact photos in 7.1 no matter how you add them. Seemed like a bug but given the redesign of the call screens in 7.1 it also seemed like it was on purpose. At least they changed that in iOS 8 it seems.

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Actually google now and Siri are a copy of Nokia Voice Control. Siri is not an original concept in a phone and apple didn't create it, they bought it.

Nokia could essentially understand everything and have a conversation with you pretty mich like Siri? Or are we talking about simple voice commands that Apple already had before Siri and pretty much most phones had for years?

 

[576316]

Me, too. I frequently go back and forth between my Mac and iPhone during the day, and this will make it much more seamless. The ability to answer calls on my Mac will also help. I sometimes miss calls when I'm upstairs in my office and my iPhone is charging downstairs

Overall, I'm much more excited about the changes in iOS 8 than I was about iOS 7 last year. And that doesn't even take into account all the improvements that developers will be able to implement thanks to extensions and other changes.

As an end user, I don't much care whether a particular feature was available on Android or another mobile OS before iOS. I just want to see Apple implement it in a way that makes my life easier or more productive.

Exactly. People saying that Apple are just playing "catch up with Android" really get on my nerves. I don't think it's like that at all. All I see is Apple evaluating the market and thinking what iOS features people want and what could be implemented in the most useful and constructive way. Android tends to just put random features into the OS and hardware which turn out to be totally useless.

All those statistics about the coverage of the latest version of the Android OS and new iOS features just prove that Apple is the ecosystem you want to be part of. Free updates to all your devices for as long as that's physically possible and a seamless experience which just flows between your devices and makes your life infinitely easier!!

 

[mib1800]

Exactly. People saying that Apple are just playing "catch up with Android" really get on my nerves. I don't think it's like that at all. All I see is Apple evaluating the market and thinking what iOS features people want and what could be implemented in the most useful and constructive way. Android tends to just put random features into the OS and hardware which turn out to be totally useless.

All those statistics about the coverage of the latest version of the Android OS and new iOS features just prove that Apple is the ecosystem you want to be part of. Free updates to all your devices for as long as that's physically possible and a seamless experience which just flows between your devices and makes your life infinitely easier!!

Apple is just chicken. It waits for others to innovate and try new concepts. Then apple just steal those that work. That's how I see it.

 

[576316]

Apple is just chicken. It waits for others to innovate and try new concepts. Then apple just steal those that work. That's how I see it.

I prefer to think of it as Apple sitting back and watching others fail and then learning from other's mistakes. Because then Apple can get it right the first time.

 

[richwoodrocket]

...and most importantly, it retains your outgoing cell phone number so your friends and family know it's you who is calling. As opposed to using SkypeOut to call them, or have them launch an app ahead of time for you to be able to connect, or call from some foreign number due to your temporarily-installed SIM card...

It just works, and when it works, it works seamlessly. Like you're just making a call. Only with strong WiFi and no worry about weak cellular signal standing in your way.

Yeah, WiFi calling is coming in iOS 8, and it's a killer feature for iPhone, finally. And it may get me to switch carriers after all, when I'm due my upgrade in October.

Image

Does the burst mode on there mean burst mode for all devices using the technology that was in snappycam?

 

[bunchofpenguins]

Another Android feature checked off... Will Apple come up with anything original any time soon??

Wow, you're the cleverest poster ever. I certainly never seen anybody use THAT retort before....

 

[bunchofpenguins]

Copied from Android along with third-party keyboards and "hey Siri".

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Oh come on. That's not trolling. After years of "Samesung" comments, the tables have turned, and the Apple fans don't like it.

There's no question Apple are just incorporating features that have been available on other platforms for years.

"Ok, Google" and "Hey, Siri". That's blatant copying, you can't argue with that.

If you consider that copying then Google blatantly copied Radiohead...

 

[chrisbru]

I''m with you, but people have been suggesting that we put ICE contacts in our address books for years while at the same time others have suggested that we lock our phones. It's kind of counter productive.

With our phones locked, it's kind of hard for someone to err return it to us unless we use find my iPhone. Seems like a contact button on the lock screen (or an ICE button) would make a lot of sense, but on the other hand people can take a picture with our phone if they find it!!

If I found someone's iPhone or iPad and wanted to return it, I'd write down how to contact me and take a photo so it'd show up in their photo stream

Gary

Good idea... But photos only upload to photo stream on wifi. So you'd have to be in a spot where the phone was already connected to wifi.

 

[perse]

Bummer. Was really hoping that ios8 would get me back onto an iPhone. Well, maybe iOS 9….

 

[kerrikins]

I prefer to think of it as Apple sitting back and watching others fail and then learning from other's mistakes. Because then Apple can get it right the first time.

I saw this sentiment over on /r/android a lot yesterday. People were commenting about how Android/Google/Samsung may be first to the market with things, but Apple is very good at releasing things when they are ready.

It was really interesting, actually. I used to read HowardForums a lot and it would be filled with Apple bashing, but a lot of current Android users were saying they were quite impressed with the keynote and iOS 8.

 

[576316]

...but Apple is very good at releasing things when they are ready.

I love that.

 

[garylapointe]

Good idea... But photos only upload to photo stream on wifi. So you'd have to be in a spot where the phone was already connected to wifi.

Oops, that's a good point, that wouldn't work. Unless they left it at a place where they'd already connected...

Another limiting factor in returning lost phones!

Gary

 

[cocky jeremy]

Actually that has been around for ages in Android. So make that close to 100%.

Did I mention a specific feature? No. Anything in Android's newest version is only being used by 9%.

 

[Tech198]

ok, this is starting to get like another device i know of

These things have a repeat issue of muddling up here..

Although I could see "battery usage per app" would be good, particularly when you don' know which many hundreds of apps you have, is the 'killer'.

However, when u'r installing and using that app. why the hell did it take this long to wonder ? After you install and use an app, you should know wouldn't you ?

This "battery usage per app" just makes you "not having to think about it because we have it part of iOS"

Apple taking care of us again...

But i'm sure i'll be proven wrong somewhere down the line.

 

[MajesticChicken]

I'd love the "In Case of Emergency" info to be available from the lock screen.

But even if it isn't, if I'm injured I probably still have at least one of my thumbs (I have both scanned), right?

Gary

Your medical ID can be found on the "Emergency" dialer, as long as you have a passcode enabled on your device.

 

[Fofer]

And this is what appears when you tap that:

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Also note, Accessibility's new "Grayscale Mode:"

I wonder if this mode would also provide better battery life, in a pinch? It does on the Galaxy S5's "Ultra Power Savings Mode..."

 

[nep61]

"Hey, Siri" sounds interesting. As I understand it, it'll let you activate Siri without touching your iPhone, which would come in very handy in the car. But that means it'll always be listening. I wonder how much of a battery life hit that will cause.

Not sure if I'm remembering correctly from the keynote but, I think they mentioned the phone would have to be plugged into a USB port in the car ... Which would most likely mean it would be charging... Battery life might not be an issue at that point.