iOS 7

iOS 7
A version of the iOS operating system

iOS 7.1 running on an iPhone 5S.
Developer Apple Inc.
Source model Closed, with open source components
Initial release September 18, 2013 (2013-09-18)
Latest release 7.1.2 (11D257) / June 30, 2014 (2014-06-30)[1]
Platforms iPhone 4
iPhone 4S
iPhone 5
iPhone 5C
iPhone 5S
iPod Touch (5th generation)
iPad 2
iPad (3rd generation)
iPad (4th generation)
iPad Air
iPad Mini (1st generation)
iPad Mini 2[2]
Kernel type Hybrid (XNU)
License Proprietary EULA, except for open-source components
Preceded by iOS 6
Succeeded by iOS 8
Official website iOS 7 at the Wayback Machine (archived September 8, 2014)
Support status
Third-party application support only
Support will end in 2017

iOS 7 is the seventh major release of the iOS mobile operating system designed by Apple Inc and successor of iOS 6. It was announced at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 10, 2013, and was released on September 18, 2013.[3] iOS 7 features a completely redesigned user interface, a design credited to a team led by Apple's SVP of design Jony Ive.[4]

At Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference in 2014, CEO Tim Cook announced that iOS 7 was installed on 89% of all compatible iOS devices.[5][6] iOS 7 was succeeded by iOS 8, which was released on September 17, 2014. Support for the iPhone 4 was dropped in 2014 when it was announced that it would not receive iOS 8.

History

On June 10, 2013, iOS 7 Beta 1 was announced and released to registered developers in the iOS Developer Program after the WWDC keynote speech,[2] supporting the iPhone 4 onwards, and the iPod Touch (5th generation). iOS 7 Beta 2 was released to developers on June 24, 2013, adding support for the iPad 2 onwards, and the iPad Mini.[7][8] On September 10, 2013, at their iPhone event, Apple announced that iOS 7 would be publicly released on September 18, 2013, for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. The Golden Master of iOS 7 was released shortly after the event.[3]

On March 10, 2014, Apple released iOS 7.1 to the public, this was the first significant update to the OS since it was launched in September 2013. The update landed almost 5 months after the first beta of 7.1 was made available to developers. Many improvements were made to the OS including, performance enhancements, UI tweaks and Siri enhancements. iOS 7.1 was also the first update which allowed people who were running a beta version of the OS to update over the air to the final release.

Design

iOS 7 was unveiled during the opening keynote of the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 10, 2013. Billed as the "biggest change to iOS since the introduction of the iPhone," the most noticeable change was an overhaul of the user interface.[2] In a promotional video shown during the keynote, Ive described the update as "bringing order to complexity," highlighting features such as refined typography, new icons, translucency, layering, physics, and gyroscope-driven parallaxing as some of the major changes to the design.[2] The design of iOS 7 noticeably departs from skeuomorphic elements such as green felt in Game Center, wood in Newsstand, and leather in Calendar, in favor of flat graphic design[2] with a multi-plane 2.5D structure.[2][9][10]

iOS 7.1 brought many further design tweaks. The iOS keyboard has new Shift/Backspace key highlights, the slide-to-power-off UI has been redesigned, the Phone app has a new-look dialer, and the icons for Phone, Messages and FaceTime apps have less vibrant colors.[11] It also added support for CarPlay for select iPhone models.

Features

AirDrop

Main article: AirDrop

iOS 7 integrates Apple's wireless sharing feature AirDrop for the iPhone 5 onward, iPod Touch (5th generation) onward, iPad (4th generation) onward, and iPad Mini 1st generation onward.[2][10][12]

App Store

Main article: App Store

The App Store provides more search options by age range and introduces a new section called Near Me, which allows the user to find out which apps are popular in their area. The App Store also supports automatic app updates. Prior to iOS 7, the user had to initiate the update process.

Camera

The new camera interface supports the three previous photo modes (video, photo, and panoramic photo) as well as a new square photo mode. iOS 7 also offers live photo filter previewing with nine filters to choose from, as well as a new Burst mode, and 120 fps video recording (on supported devices).[2][10]

Control Center

Main article: Control Center (iOS)

The Control Center display is available by swiping up from the bottom of the screen. It provides access to settings such as airplane mode and brightness, media controls, AirPlay and AirDrop, and shortcuts to several apps including a built-in flashlight, clock, calculator, and camera.[10] Other functions offered are the ability to turn on or off Bluetooth, and Do Not Disturb; lock the screen’s orientation; play, pause, or skip a song, and see what is playing; connect to AirPlay-enabled devices; and quickly access the clock, calculator, and camera apps. Users also have access to AirDrop, previously only available on Macs and newly added in iOS 7, as a method of transferring files between iOS devices.[13]

Music and iTunes Radio

Main articles: iTunes and iTunes Radio

Along with user interface changes, the Music app also integrates Apple's iTunes Radio service, which is a free, ad-supported service available to all iTunes users, featuring Siri integration on iOS. Users are able to skip tracks, customize stations, and purchase the station's songs from the iTunes Store.[14] Users can also search through their history of previous songs.[15] The number of track skips are limited like Pandora Radio's service.[15] ITunes Match subscribers will be able to use an ad-free version of the service.[16] The service has pre-loaded stations, including a playlist of trending songs on Twitter.[15] The service also generates a radio station based on input like a single artist with songs by them and others similar.[15] The service's selection is expected to learn the user's preferences from input whether the user likes or dislikes the track.[15]

Currently, iTunes Radio is available only in the U.S. and Australia, but Apple has announced plans to offer the service in other countries at a later date.[17][18] The service is only available for iTunes, iOS, and Apple TV platforms.[15]

Multitasking

Main article: Multitasking (iOS)

iOS 7 builds on the limited multitasking introduced in iOS 4 and provides full multitasking for all apps. The multitasking layer also provides for background updating of apps, and previews of all running apps. The new Multitasking dock in iOS now shows a screenshot of the whole app rather than just the icon.

CarPlay

Main article: CarPlay

CarPlay (formerly iOS in the Car), released as part of iOS 7.1, uses Siri integration in selected car models to offer eyes-free and hands-free satellite navigation, phone, music and messages integration through the car's screen.[2] It supports all Lightning-enabled iPhones.[19][20]

Other updates

There are seven dynamic wallpapers included in the operating system. All seven have "bubble" designs with different colors. The bubbles in the wallpapers move based on the device's accelerometers and gyroscope. Static wallpapers now move with the gyroscope in an effect called Parallax.

Safari in iOS 7 integrates the smart search field first used in Safari 6 for OS X and Mavericks' iCloud implementation of iCloud Keychain. Other changes include infinite tabs, parental controls, and improvements to Twitter sharing and Reading List. The tab area has also been rearranged to look at the tabs from above rather than a paged front-on view.[2][10] Siri features a new translucent redesign to match the rest of the system, new male and female voices, greater control over system settings, and Twitter, Wikipedia, Bing, and Photos integration.[2][10] The trusted devices feature alerts the user when they connect their iOS device to a new Mac/PC by asking them if they trust the current computer.[2][10] This feature is meant to prevent iOS devices from being compromised by potentially malicious software on computers or charging devices. Other changes mentioned, but not fully featured in the keynote, include audio-only calling with the new FaceTime Audio, Notification Center syncing and availability from the lock-screen, Tencent Weibo integration, Wi-Fi Hotspot 2.0, OS-level call blocking, app-specific virtual private networking (VPN), and activation locking through Find My iPhone.[2]

Problems

Users complained of decreased battery life when upgrading from iOS 7.0.6 to 7.1.[21] In lab testing, Ars Technica found some hardware models experienced minor battery depletion, while others experienced no statistically significant changes.[22]

Hoaxes

During the iOS 7 release, fake advertisements claimed that the update would cause devices to become waterproof and that AirDrop was a mechanism for protecting the device's screen from breaking when dropped.[23][24]

Reception

The Verge wrote that the 2013 iOS redesign's flat, minimalist design language was informed by apps including the 2013 word game Letterpress (pictured).[25]

iOS 7 has received generally mixed reviews.[26][27] The Nielsen Norman Group compiled a thorough User-Experience appraisal in which they summarize, "Flat design hides calls to action, and swiping around the edges can interfere with carousels and scrolling."[28] David Pogue of The New York Times however, praised iOS 7, saying that users will become accustomed to the dramatically changed interface, and will come to enjoy the utilitarian and additional Siri features. He also noted that iOS 7 was the biggest change in the current generation of iOS devices, not the iPhone 5S and 5C.[29] Darrell Etherington of TechCrunch stated that although "iOS 7 will be a dramatic change from the iOS many users already know and love, but on balance it’s an update packed with plenty of new features that make using Apple’s mobile devices easier and more enjoyable."[30] In contrast, developer Matt Gemmell suggested that the early criticisms had focused on the redesign of the home screen, missing a successful simplification of user interfaces throughout the operating system: "iOS 7 is much, much lighter - in the colour sense, and consequently also in visual weight. Breathable whitespace is everywhere, and is used to unify...The overall impression is of brightness and openness."[31] As follow-up, he commented: " I love iOS 7's new look. It's bold, opinionated and readable. Takes guts to rethink a massively successful platform's UI."[32]

The adoption rate of iOS 7 was reported to be as high as 35% after one day.[33] By September 22, iOS 7 was installed on more than 200 million devices, which Apple claimed was "the fastest software update in history."[34] Shortly after release, some users reported the ability to bypass their device's passcode requirement and access certain information, which Apple fixed with the 7.0.2 update.[35]

A thread on the Apple online forum received attention from the media in late September 2013 after a number of users reported feeling nauseated after experiencing the animations of the new operating system. George Kikano of Case Medical Center stated that the new "parallax" function of iOS 7 is causing the symptoms in some users, and not the animations as previously thought.[36][37]

However, many critics noted the influence of competing mobile platforms on the design and functionality of iOS 7. Of note were the use of concepts from Android and Windows Phone, such as a similarly minimal and typographic design, Control Center being an equivalent to similar settings toggles on the notification shade of Android, a similar multitasking menu to WebOS, and even the design of the Weather app being almost identical to those on Windows 8 and HTC Sense. Sascha Segan of PC Magazine stated that "Apple's brilliance is in putting the pieces together and marketing them. Apple's developer APIs and its history of making money for developers still reigns supreme—there's less piracy than on Android, and a bigger audience and more design flexibility than on Windows Phone."[38][39]

Summing up the design changes, writer and web designer Dan Frommer commented that iOS 7 "traded Lufthansa for Virgin Atlantic": "Until now, iOS felt very continental European, including Swiss railway clocks, back buttons that resemble European highway signs, and beaucoup de Helvetica Bold. Like the classic Lufthansa look. Now it feels more modern and skinny, slightly ironic, and trendy."[40]

Version history: portable iOS devices

Apple announced iOS 7 on June 10, 2013 at its annual Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) event, with release announced for sometime in the Fall (Northern Hemisphere) or Spring (Southern Hemisphere) 2013. At their iPhone event on September 10, 2013, Apple announced the full release of iOS 7 for September 18, 2013, while also unveiling two new iPhone models: the iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S.[3] With this release, support was once again dropped for older devices, specifically the iPhone 3GS and the iPod Touch (4th generation). Supported devices on this release include the iPhone 4 onwards, iPod Touch (5th generation), the iPad 2 onwards, and the iPad Mini (1st generation) onwards.[10]

Version history: Apple TV (2nd generation) onwards

Supported devices

iPhone
iPod Touch
iPad
iPad Mini
Apple TV

References

  1. ↑ http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1750
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Cue, Eddy; Cook, Tim; Federighi, Craig; Ive, Jony et al. (June 10, 2013). WWDC 2013 Keynote. Moscone West, San Francisco, California: Apple Inc. Event occurs at c.1h 25min, to end. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 "iOS 7 arrives September 18th". Engadget. September 10, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  4. ↑ Heater, Brian (June 10, 2013). "Apple shows off completely redesigned iOS 7 at WWDC, coming this fall". Engadget. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
  5. ↑ "While 91% of Apple users run iOS 7, five different versions of Android hold 10%+ share". Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  6. ↑ "App Store Distribution - Support - Apple Developer". Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  7. ↑ Gurman, Mark (June 24, 2013). "Apple seeds iOS 7 beta 2 to developers: Voice Memos, new Siri voices, Reminders, UI tweaks, more". 9to5Mac. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
  8. ↑ Ali, Reshadat (June 24, 2013). "Download iOS 7 beta for iPhone, iPad and iPad mini". Retrieved June 15, 2013.
  9. ↑ "iOS 7: Is the new Apple iOS 7 look an improvement?". Quora. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "iOS 7 – What's new". Apple. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Here Are All The Design Tweaks Apple Made With iOS 7.1 [Gallery] | Cult of Mac". Cult of Mac. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
  12. ↑ Calderon, Justin (June 11, 2013). "Apple’s next innovation to intimidate Asia". Inside Investor. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Control Center. Some things should be only a swipe away. And now they are.". iOS 7. Apple Inc. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Apple WWDC 2013: everything you need to know". The Verge. Vox Media. June 10, 2013. Archived from the original on June 10, 2013. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Baldwin, Roberto (June 10, 2013). "Apple Dials in iTunes Radio, a New Streaming Music Service". Wired. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
  16. ↑ Pepitone, Julianne (June 10, 2013). "Apple unveils iOS 7 in biggest update ever". CNNMoney.com. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  17. ↑ "Apple - iTunes Radio - Hear where your music takes you.". Apple Inc. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
  18. ↑ Etherington, Darrell; Dillet, Romain (June 10, 2013). "Apple Unveils iTunes Radio, A Streaming Music Service With The Full Power Of The iTunes Library". TechCrunch. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  19. ↑ Mayo, Benjamin (March 3, 2014). "Apple rebrands iOS in the Car as CarPlay, compatible vehicles launching later this year". 9to5Mac. Retrieved March 3, 2014.
  20. ↑ "Apple Rolls Out CarPlay Giving Drivers a Smarter, Safer & More Fun Way to Use iPhone in the Car". Apple. March 3, 2014. Retrieved March 3, 2014.
  21. ↑ Zack Whittaker (March 14, 2014). "iPhone, iPad battery draining faster on iOS 7.1? You're not alone".
  22. ↑ Andrew Cunningham (March 11, 2014). "Refinements, additions, and un-breaking stuff: iOS 7.1 reviewed". Ars Technica.
  23. ↑ "iOS 7 Waterproof hoax expands with "AirDrop protection"". SlashGear. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  24. ↑ "'iOS 7 makes your iPhone waterproof' ad a scam dunk". CNET. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  25. ↑ http://www.theverge.com/2013/10/9/4817146/taskmasters-how-israeli-intelligence-officers-helped-inspire-the-look-of-ios-7
  26. ↑ "7 Misses In iOS 7". Forbes. September 18, 2013. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  27. ↑ Robertson, Adi (June 10, 2013). "The design of iOS 7: simply confusing". The Verge. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  28. ↑ Budiu, Raluca (October 12, 2013). "iOS 7 User-Experience Appraisal". Nngroup.com. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  29. ↑ Pogue, David (September 17, 2013). "Yes, There’s a New iPhone. But That’s Not the Big News.". The New York Times. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
  30. ↑ Etherington, Darrell (September 17, 2013). "Apple iOS 7 Review: A Major Makeover That Delivers, But Takes Some Getting Used To". TechCrunch. AOL. Retrieved September 27, 2013.
  31. ↑ Gemmell, Matt. "iOS 7". Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  32. ↑ Gemmell, Matt. "Twitter post".
  33. ↑ Etherington, Darrell (September 19, 2013). "iOS 7 Adoption Already As High As 35% In One Day, Apple And Developers Reap The Rewards". TechCrunch. AOL. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
  34. ↑ "First Weekend iPhone Sales Top Nine Million, Sets New Record". Apple. September 23, 2013. Retrieved September 23, 2013.
  35. ↑ Riley-Smith, Ben (September 20, 2013). "iOS 7: security glitches emerge". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
  36. ↑ PRANAV DIXIT (September 27, 2013). "IOS 7 IS REPORTEDLY MAKING PEOPLE SICK". Fast Company. Mansueto Ventures, LLC. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
  37. ↑ Jeremy A. Kaplan (September 27, 2013). "Apple iOS 7 is sickening users, doctor confirms". Fox News Channel. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
  38. ↑ "Yes, iOS 7 copies Windows Phone and Android -- get used to it". InfoWorld. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
  39. ↑ "iOS 7 Steals From, Stomps On Competitors". PC Magazine. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
  40. ↑ Frommer, Dan (June 11, 2013). "iOS 7: Beyond The Flatness". Retrieved September 6, 2015.

External links

Preceded by
iOS 6		 iOS 7
September 2013 		Succeeded by
iOS 8
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