Mobile OS from a whole new perspective

With the release of Apple update iOS 7 this week, hundreds of thousands of people found themselves with a practically new phone at the click of a button.

The software update is a complete overhaul of the iOS system, and appears to be Apple’s most controversial update yet. Everything looks different in iOS 7 –  from the fonts, to the icons, to the transition effects. Upgrade your existing iPhone, iPad or iPod touch software and it really will seem like a new device.

The overhaul has in my opinion made the iPhone seem fresher, sleeker and more stylish, from the zooming transitions as you switch apps and the gaussian blur applied to menus, to the effect applied to wallpapers that makes it appear as though they are tilting ‘inside’ your phone as it moves in your hand (although this did confuse me initially, as I simply thought I was dizzy).

For those tired of hearing the same old iPhone sounds whilst out and about, you’ll be pleased to know that the update includes a whole new set of sounds. For those of you who are not tired of the old sounds, there is still a classic collection for you.

Swiping up from the bottom of the screen accesses the Control Centre. The Control Centre can be accessed from the lock screen (without unlocking the device) and from within apps, although this can be changed in the Settings. There are now toggle switches for Airplane Mode, WiFi, Bluetooth, Do Not Disturb mode and Rotation Lock. There is also a slider for brightness, audio and access to the new AirPlay and AirDrop functions.

There is quick access to functions you probably use regularly – a flashlight, a stopwatch, a Calculator and the Camera.

Camera in iOS 7 puts all your shooting formats — still, video, panorama and now square — front and centre. With a swipe, you can capture what you want the way you want.

Airdrop lets you quickly and easily share photos, videos, contacts and anything else from any app by tapping Share, then selecting the person you want to share with. AirDrop does the rest using Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and no setup is required. The transfers are encrypted, so what you share is highly secure.

iOS also offers more for business, providing enhanced security, powerful new ways to configure and deploy devices at scale and features to help businesses purchase, distribute and manage apps with ease.

Features including per app VPN, enterprise single sign on App Store license management and new mobile device management (MDM) configuration options are just some of the new capabilities in iOS 7 that provide more for organisations of all sizes.

iOS specification information used from www.apple.com