Apple Unveils IOS 8, OSX Yosemite

(RTTNews) - Apple Inc. (AAPL) Monday unveiled iOS 8, the updated version of its mobile platform, which the tech giant claims to be the biggest release since the launch of the App Store. The iOS 8 comes with array of new features including interactive notifications, improved on-screen keyboard and new messaging features.

"iOS 8 offers simpler, faster and more intuitive ways to use your device with incredible new features like iCloud Photo Library, a new Messages app, the QuickType keyboard and an entirely new Health app," said Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering.

Apple unveiled the iOS 8 at its Worldwide Developer Conference, which kicked off today in San Francisco.

The Cupertino, California-based tech giant has added many new features to the upgraded iOS, including iCloud Photo Library, a new Messages app, the QuickType keyboard and a new Health app. Apple customers will be able upgrade to iOS 8 for free this fall, and it will be compatible with iPhone 4s and later models, iPad 2 and newer models and iPod touch 5th generation.

Apple has improved its notifications window, which now lets users to reply to messages, accept calendar invites, or like or comment on Facebook without leaving the current app. Apple has also revamped its on-screen keyboard, with the new improved keyboard called QuickType predicts that gives appropriate options as a users starts typing.

With the updated Messages app, users can now share voice as well as share videos and photos within the app. Group messaging now enable the addition and removal of contacts, leave a conversation and the option to not be disturbed.

The new Health app gathers all the health-based data from various health and fitness apps in a device and provides user with a clear and current overview in one place.

iOS 8 introduces Family Sharing, which lets a family (up to six people) to share app purchases, photos and calendars. Family members can browse and download each other's iTunes, iBooks or App Store purchases also. Parents can create Apple IDs for children, which includes Ask to Buy, requiring parental permission for purchases.

Another noted feature in iOS 8 is iCloud Drive, which lets users to store documents and easily access and edit them from other compatible devices.

Apple also revealed the next version of the Mac OS X, called Yosemite, with a new redesigned and refined look.

"Yosemite is the future of OS X with its incredible new design and amazing new apps, all engineered to work beautifully with iOS," said Federighi.

The new Today view in Notification Center provides users a quick look at everything one needs to know about widgets for Calendar, Weather, Stocks, Reminders, World Clock and social networks.

Safari also has been improved, with a new Favorites view that gives users quick access to favorite websites, and new Tabs view displays thumbnails of all open web pages in one window. Safari also gives more control over privacy, with separate Private Browsing windows and built-in support for DuckDuckGo, a search engine that does not track users.

The developer preview of Yosemite is available to Mac Developer Program members starting today. Apple is also introducing a OS X Beta Program, which gives customers early access to Yosemite.

AAPL is currently trading at $627.95, down $5.05 or 0.80%, on the Nasdaq.