It’s been almost six years since Apple first released the revolutionary iOS 7, introducing a completely new look, feel, and level of functionality to the iconic mobile operating system. But since that time, Apple has released successive updates to the platform, adding an incredible array of new features and capabilities to iOS 7. As a result, some of the truly useful and unique capabilities of iOS 7 can sometimes get overlooked amidst all the hype of Apple’s latest and greatest.
In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the lesser-known key new features introduced in iOS 7 that you may have missed in the hype. From a unified photo stream to robust multitasking support, iOS 7 has more to offer than many users realize. So join us as we explore Beyond the Hype: Key New Features in iOS 7!
A Unified Photo Stream
One of the key new features that was actually present in the original release of iOS 7 is the unified photo stream, which allows users to share photos and videos with friends and family across multiple devices. Users simply log into their iCloud photo stream using a unique Apple ID, and then all the photos and videos in their iCloud will be instantly streamed and synchronized across their Mac, iPhone, Apple TV, and other devices.
This offers a degree of convenience, as users can quickly and easily access all their photos and videos on any device that supports iCloud. And it also helps bring the whole family closer together, as sharing photos with each other becomes much simpler.
Furthermore, users can set their iCloud photo stream settings to either maintain their full image resolution or to automatically compress them to save on storage space. So depending on each users’ preferences, they can either keep their photographic quality top-notch or save on storage costs.
Multiple Photos in Text Messages
In iOS 7, not only did Apple introduce a new unified photo stream feature, but they also added the ability to send multiple photos in a single message, as well as share video messages. This feature makes it incredibly easy to share several photos at once with friends and family, without needing to send multiple separate messages.
And for added convenience, iOS 7 also makes it quite easy to delete multiple photos at once from a single text message. All users need to do is tap and hold on the empty space in their Messages list, select the group they want to delete, then click the trash can icon at the bottom of the page. The entire group of photos or videos in the text message thread will then be removed.
Improved Search Function
iOS 7 also brought an improved search function to the mobile operating system, allowing users to quickly and easily search through content on their device. By swiping right from the home screen, the search bar will appear, and users can simply type a word or phrase to bring up results from their contacts, apps, music, calendar, and more.
The improved search function of iOS 7 is also capable of utilizing data from Apple’s online services, such as iTunes, the App Store, and even Wikipedia. This allows users to quickly access additional information from web results without leaving the app.
Multitasking and Background App Refresh
Multitasking on smartphones has long been a challenge for developers, as it can be difficult to keep apps in memory while providing a good user experience. However, iOS 7 introduced some new features to help ameliorate this problem.
First and foremost is the improved background app refresh feature, which allows apps to automatically update their content while in the background. This means that users can continue to access up-to-date content from their favorite apps without having to manually refresh them each time.
In addition, iOS 7 also introduced some new multitasking features, such as the ability to launch multiple apps in split-screen mode, as well as the enhanced ability to view and close running apps. Combined with the improved background app refresh feature, these new multitasking features help make iOS 7 a more capable and efficient mobile operating system.
Smart Keyboard Shortcuts
One of the most overlooked improvements of iOS 7 is the addition of smart keyboard shortcuts. This feature allows users to quickly and easily type out commands by simply typing in a few keystrokes. For example, users can type “call” followed by a contact’s name to quickly initiate a call, or they can type “open” followed by the name of an app to quickly launch a particular program.
These shortcuts allow users to quickly type out tasks that would otherwise involve multiple keystrokes or even tapping through menus. And of course, they also save a lot of time by allowing users to quickly get things done without needing to tirelessly search through menus and options.
Blocking callers and notifications
Another a great new feature introduced in iOS 7 is the ability to block callers and notifications. This feature makes it incredibly easy to block unwanted calls, text messages, and other notifications from specific contacts. This is an incredibly useful feature for those who receive large amounts of unsolicited calls or messages from spammers, telemarketers, or unwanted numbers.
Furthermore, users can also use the Block Caller feature to merely silence certain contacts rather than completely blocking them. In this scenario, users will still be able to receive notifications from the contact in question, but they will not hear any alert sounds or vibration when the contact attempts to call or message them.
AirDrop
The AirDrop feature of iOS 7 also offers users a quick and easy way to share files and images with their contacts, and it requires no setup whatsoever. All users need to do is open the AirDrop program and select a contact they want to share with. Then they simply drag the desired file over to their contact’s device, and that’s it.
Furthermore, AirDrop allows users to quickly and easily share files and images between any iOS and Mac devices. So no matter what type of device the user and their contact have, they can easily and securely transfer files between them.
iOS 7 brings a wealth of new features and capabilities to the iconic mobile operating system. From a unified photo stream with robust sharing capabilities, to multifaceted multitasking support, to improved search and keyboard shortcuts, iOS 7 has much more to offer than the hype may lead one to believe.
We hope this article has helped shed light on some of the less-discussed but totally awesome capabilities offered by iOS 7. So go ahead and take advantage of all the great new features in iOS 7 and make the most of your device!
