Apple have now released iOS7, the latest version of their mobile operating system, for all users of compatible devices to download. If you’ve seen any screenshots, or already installed it, then you’ll know about the complete visual overhaul, but there are loads of other features you may not have noticed yet too. Here’s a selection of some of the best.
FaceTime Audio
FaceTime video calling has been around for a while now but iOS 7 now allows you to make audio-only FaceTime calls. While initially this may not sound particularly useful, it means that you can make normal calls to other iOS users completely free on Wi-Fi.
This is great if you have friends and family in other countries that you want to speak to, no overseas call charges! It will even work using a 3G connection - but bear in mind that this will count towards your data usage on your contract.
To make a FaceTime Audio call, just click the new FaceTime icon and then tap the audio or video call option.
Managing open applications
Whether you wanted to switch between open apps, or close those running in the background, the old iOS6 method was somewhat clanky. Double-tapping the home button was easy enough, and it's still how you start the process in iOS7, but the process of stopping apps was quite fiddly, especially to those of us with larger-than-average hands!
In iOS7, when you double-tap the home button, you will see thumbnails of all the apps that are open. Scroll through them, and tap on it to bring it to the front and make it active. Multitasking just got a whole lot easier!
To stop an app from running, double-tap the Home button to bring up the app overview screen, and scroll to the app you want to close. Touch and swipe it upwards and watch it vanish.
Control Centre
The control Centre in iOS 7 is a great feature to give you fast access to the settings you need most often.
With the phone unlocked simply swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen, and the Control Centre opens.
You will see several rows of controls:
- Toggle Flight mode, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Do not disturb, and lock the screen orientation
- Change the screen brightness
- Control audio playback via progress and volume bars, and control buttons
- Control AirDrop functions
- Fast access Torch, Clock, Calculator and Camera apps.
Swipe back down, or tap the Home button, to close it again.
Airdrop
Airdrop has been around on Mac computers for a while now and it allows you to quickly transfer files from one computer to another - without having to mess about configuring loads of complicated networking settings.
iOS 7 brings Airdrop to the iPhone and iPad, which finally allows you to share pictures, web links, contacts, etc., from one iOS device to another.
To do this, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to bring up the Control Centre and then click on Airdrop to choose if you want to be discoverable by everyone or just your contacts. You can then send something by clicking the Share icon in any application and then tapping on the person you want to send it to.
If someone sends you a file, a message will pop up on your screen and you can choose whether to accept or decline the file.
Block Calls & Texts
Another great new calling feature is the ability to block unwanted calls and texts. This is really useful for blocking annoying cold callers or even avoiding a disgruntled ex. If a blocked contact tries to call you, it will go straight to your answerphone without any indication on your phone. Even if the caller leaves a voicemail, this will be blocked as well along with any texts or iMessages. You don't even have to have the number saved as a contact!
To block a number that has called you, go to Phone > Recents > locate number and tap the blue ,scroll to the bottom and tap Block this caller.
To block a number that has messaged you, go to Messages > open the message > Contact > > Block this caller.
To manually add an existing contact to your block list, go to Settings> Phone> Blocked> Add New… > Select the contact you want to block.
Automatic App Updates
This is small feature but it makes updating your apps a lot simpler. Instead of having to manually open up the App Store, go to updates and click install. Apps will now update automatically in the background without you even noticing.
You can see which apps have updated by checking the 'all' section in Notification Centre.
To turn on automatic updates, go to:
- Settings.
- iTunes & App Stores.
- Turn on Updates in the Automatic Downloads section.
Once you've done all this, you can guarantee that you won't have any more missed updates. Happy days!
turn-by-turn Walking Directions
There were a lot of complaints when Apple removed Google Maps in iOS6 and replaced it with their own application, not just because of inaccuracies in the maps, but also because it removed the ability to use walking directions.
Over the last 12 months, the map data has been vastly improved and is now a lot more usable. iOS 7 has also brought back the turn-by-turn walking navigation as well.
To use this, simply tap the picture of the walking man along the top of the screen when typing in your start and end points.
There is also the option to choose public transport directions, but currently this just links to other applications available on your device, or in the App Store.
So, that's our rundown of some of the best new features in iOS 7. If you haven't yet updated your iPhone or iPad to iOS7, then here at Geek Squad we have produced a guide to help you do just that!