What's Coming in iOS 8.1: Apple Pay, SMS Relay, Instant Hotspot, Camera Roll, and More

[12vElectronics]

The thing I'm most excited about:

The return of the Camera Roll.

Apple, don't change things just for the sake of change. Maybe, just maybe, you did alot of things right the first time 'round!

 

[Hitch08]

I really hope this fixes the BT issues with my car.

 

[macosxuser01]

But then people would have one less thing to complain about, until Apple had to deal with both a release on iOS and a (major) release on the Mac on the very same day. Double the fun, or double the issues that invariably accompany release days?

Yeah, it's a shame they weren't so stupid to go that route.

Touché. I also forgot about maybe not good for Apple's servers to release an update iOS and Yosemite on the same day

 

[phillytim]

I don't think there is a thing wrong with letting Camera Roll go the way of the dinosaur. It's really just a rote, cumbersome way to find photos; especially once you get used to the Collections/moments area.

To move ahead, something must always be left behind.

That's why Microsoft Windows is the bloated monster that it is, they try to keep EVERYONE happy by dragging along tons of legacy code! ARRRRGH

 

[peterdevries]

Please fix the bug that keeps the screen from turning. It is one of the most annoying bugs I have ever experienced

 

[DMinTX]

I wish they would have added the instant hotspot for the iPad too. I didn't get an LTE iPad because I always have my phone anyways, it would have been nice to simplify the process (but then the sales of LTE models would go down)

If you mean having a WiFi iPad connect to a IPhone, then they did. Using it right now between my iPhone 5s and iPad Air.

 

[knemonic]

They probably should of just waited to release Yosemite on Monday.

Agreed. I know it's prob rough on their servers to make a 5gb upgrade, iWork updates and then 8.1 updates all at once, but at least it would all be functional at the same time.

 

[DMinTX]

I'm about ready for a new ipad. It would be nice to save some cash and get the wifi version.

Has anyone head if an iPad would use instant hotspot with your phone, or just Macs?

Using it right now to connect my WiFi iPad Air to my iPhone 5s as the Instant Hotspot.

 

[bbplayer5]

It was really annoying upgrading to Yosemite and realizing all the new features are contingent on 8.1.

Really?

 

[knemonic]

Does anyone know if developer is gonna put out an app that allows you to view the iCloud drive as say a folder?

I thought maybe good reader might have updated to slow this but not yet. That's one thing I do appreciate Dropbox for.

 

[FlyersPh9]

Off Topic: Do you know how Verizon quality is in Philadelphia. I'm visit home later this year.

I'm happy with it! I get LTE coverage pretty much everywhere except for underground on the subway (which is to be expected).

 

[knemonic]

Really?

You realize the bulk of the new features in Yosemite are iphone dependent right?

 

[BruceEBonus]

O2 don't allow me to use tethering via Bluetooth for my ipad or laptop on my iPhone. But. Does this mean if you have Yosemite on a Mac. And IOS 8.1 on the iPhone. Then I can be out and about with both and use the iPhone as the HotSppt now? That can't be right?

 

[mikethebigo]

Any chance it is working only while your phone is tethered to your Mac? I thought I had instant hotspot as well, but it only appears when my phone is plugged into my Mac (charging).

Nope. Untethered, if I have personal hotspot switched to on, I can wirelessly activate the hotspot on my mac with one click.

 

[docal97]

I'm actually surprised they haven't pushed 8.1 GM to developers yet. It's kind of odd they're making them wait until the public has it.

Maybe the second beta is the GM?

 

[SeattleMoose]

Always good to see real innovation!!! Camera Roll sounds like a really cool new feature!!!

 

[eric4]

I thought AirDrop between Mac and iOS was supposed to be available in iOS 8 and Yosemite. I tried it and my devices don't see each other. Is this something that should be there? Or will it be there in 8.1?

I'd like to be able to movie video clips or projects I'm working on to my phone to see how it looks there. I wonder if it will allow moving a video to the Videos app. Or a sound file to the Music app. Syncing via iTunes is cumbersome if I just want to move a few temporary files for testing.

 

[kerrikins]

i wish apple would just SLOW DOWN.
releasing features that arnt ready for primetime yet.
broken health app.
OS updates that disable features.
bugs galore.
TOO many hands in too many different areas.

wish it was they focused on making their devices perfect than every year overhaul.
god forbid we go ONE year without anything new. would rather have a stable phone for an extra year than a 700$ device that only does 3/4 of what was promised.

iCloud drive??? yeah.

Nah, two years would be way, way too long. That's practically an eternity in the tech world. I can't think of a single manufacturer who doesn't update their flagships every year.

What they need to do is step up the testing and the support for features they're implementing.

 

[mrbyu]

If you mean having a WiFi iPad connect to a IPhone, then they did. Using it right now between my iPhone 5s and iPad Air.

I guess he explicitely meant the "instant" hotspot feature, so he wouldn't need to take his iPhone out of his pocket to create a hotspot that he could then connect to with his iPad. Yeah, I know right. It takes too long to take out my expensive phone of my pocket to create a hotspot manually, so that I can go online on my expensive tablet. First world problems.

 

[C DM]

I wonder what will be taken out to make room for the camera roll? Recently added? Or will camera roll just be another album added to what's already there? Can't wait to find out. Besides Apple Pay, it's what I'm most interested in.

Camera Roll will be back and Recently Added won't be there, basically as it was back in iOS 7 in that respect.

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I don't think there is a thing wrong with letting Camera Roll go the way of the dinosaur. It's really just a rote, cumbersome way to find photos; especially once you get used to the Collections/moments area.

To move ahead, something must always be left behind.

That's why Microsoft Windows is the bloated monster that it is, they try to keep EVERYONE happy by dragging along tons of legacy code! ARRRRGH

It's another way to filter/organize photos. Nothing wrong with having another option for those who want to use it (as those who don't care about it simply can use the other options that are already there). Pretty simple.

 

[spectrumfox]

Maybe the second beta is the GM?

Oh god, I hope not. There are still some glaring problems with the second 8.1 beta that need to be cleared up.

 

[C DM]

They probably should of just waited to release Yosemite on Monday.

Probably would have been quite a server/CDN load to have a public OS X and iOS release out on the same day.

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I'm actually surprised they haven't pushed 8.1 GM to developers yet. It's kind of odd they're making them wait until the public has it.

How come an 8.1 GM wasn't released to developers?

Doesn't seem like there was a plan for a GM for this update. Similar to iOS 7.1 I believe that didn't have a GM.

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Any word from Verizon, AT&T, etc. on the hotspot feature? Is the service going to cost extra or work with our current plans? We all know they won't give you anything for free so I'm expecting the hotspot feature to be blocked.

Nothing in relation to that changes with the iOS changes--it all depends on the plan you have from your carrier basically.

 

[geoffm33]

Nope. Untethered, if I have personal hotspot switched to on, I can wirelessly activate the hotspot on my mac with one click.

The new feature is instant hotspot. So with personal hotspot turned off, you can activate the hotspot from the mac.

 

[C DM]

Can anyone confirm that 8.1 will allow you to force the phone to use edge networks. There seems to be mixed reports. With the poor quality of 3G where I am along with the lack of LTE, this could prove useful.

I believe that at least partially depends on your carrier allowing for that option to be there--if the carrier provides for it then it should be available in iOS 8.1 (as various people with various carriers have seen it in the iOS 8.1 betas).

 

[adbe]

O2 don't allow me to use tethering via Bluetooth for my ipad or laptop on my iPhone. But. Does this mean if you have Yosemite on a Mac. And IOS 8.1 on the iPhone. Then I can be out and about with both and use the iPhone as the HotSppt now? That can't be right?

That isn't right. It's just a way to have a client device activate hotspot mode on the phone, rather than drilling into the phone's settings to activate it.

If you can't create a hotspot now, nothing's going to change for you.