It's hard to express how I feel about iOS 8. On one hand, it's a massive release for developers and those new tools and APIs will eventually translate into better and more functional applications for users. From this point of view, iOS 8 could be considered even more exciting than iOS 7, but from the perspective of a user there's no real wow factor with iOS 8 right now.

There are some great new features like SMS Relay and Handoff, but they require being a user with multiple Apple devices, and the former isn't here yet. That isn't to say that users with only an iPad or an iPhone are left out. The improvements across iOS in apps like Messages and Photos are solid improvements, and features like Actionable Notifications finally address complaints that have existed for years. But a great deal of the additions are currently just a promise that great things are coming from the developer community, and many of the most exciting features that can be used right now are part of continuity.

As someone who does use multiple Apple products, I'm happy with what Apple has brought in iOS 8. I think many of the continuity related features are things that are very hard for another company to replicate without the control over hardware and software that Apple maintains. When I imagine myself as a user who can't take advantage of the new features given to users of multiple devices I believe I would still be pleased with what iOS 8 brings to the table, but not to the degree I was when iOS 7 was released.

Many of the improvements are in areas of the OS that have long needed to be improved or changed. There are also number of additions that take a great amount of inspiration from other mobile operating systems. While this may be seen as copying by some, for users the end result is that their experience is improved and they have features they did not have before, which is what really matters. Apple looking to other operating systems to see what deficiencies they need to fix in their own ultimately benefits users.

iOS 8 runs on all the devices shown above. It's great to see Apple supporting devices like the iPad 2 that launched in 2011, but I'm not without my concerns, primarily regarding Apple's A5 devices and all iPads in general. Even under iOS 7.1, the UI smoothness on devices like the iPhone 4s and the iPad 2 is far from exceptional. That performance doesn't get any better with iOS 8, and I believe that users of those devices may want to try out the iOS 8 experience on someone else's device before upgrading their own.

The iPad concerns in particular are ones I've had since iOS 7 initially launched. For about a year now I've felt that the iPad build of iOS has been neglected by Apple. The Springboard crash bug that took until iOS 7.1 to patch crippled my iPad Mini with Retina Display. If a similar bug had widely affected iPhones I believe it would have been patched much sooner. Other various bugs and performance issues that existed on the iPad but not my iPhone resulted in me eventually selling it. Many of these still remain today, and iOS 8 even introduces some issues of its own.

Given that the iPad 3 I have for testing falls into both the Apple A5(X) camp and the iPad camp, I won't be updating it to iOS 8. While the new features like SMS Relay will be nice, the missing features and issues like keyboard lag outweigh the benefits of updating.

Despite my concerns, iOS 8 makes me feel excited for the future more than anything else. Apple's steps to open up more options for customization by developers and users on iOS marks a significant departure from their previous releases. It's not Android but it isn't meant to be. It brings new features and capabilities that are implemented in a very Apple-like manner, for better or for worse. I don't think it's going to do much to sway Android fans toward iOS, but it gives a lot of reason for current iOS users to stay with Apple. This is especially true for users who can take advantage of continuity. iOS 8 feels like another step in the maturation that began with iOS 7. Most exciting of all is that it's still only the beginning.

Other Changes
Comments Locked

164 Comments

View All Comments

  • NetMage - Monday, September 22, 2014 - link

    Any text action.
  • peterApinto - Tuesday, September 23, 2014 - link

    The Photo app actually has more in-built functionality than meets the eye at first glance. It's still not nearly as good as the previous iPhoto app, but there are some nice features.

    I do have grudges, though:
    - I paid for the iPhoto app. Now it's not only unsupported, but actually discontinued on iOS8. Apple owes me, in my opinion.
    - Where can I stitch together a photo book and order it at Apple? I could do that i iPhoto, but I can't do that anymore.
  • dyc4ha - Thursday, September 25, 2014 - link

    Disappointed to see no mention of the ridiculous amount of instability on this AT article.. Can't blame some readers for calling out the Apple bias..I really can't say I am happy with iOS8 at all in any aspect.
  • Apple_iPhone_Service - Thursday, April 30, 2015 - link

    http://www.iphoneservicecenterchennai.co

    Find the best Iphone Service center in your area in Chennai & Bangalore

    iphone service center in Anna Nagar | iphone service center in Mogappair | iphone service center in Thirumangalam | iphone service center in Perambur | iphone service center in Egmore | iphone service center in Kilpauk | iphone service center in Aminjikarai | iphone service center in Koyambedu | iphone service center in Kodambakkam | iphone service center in Nungambakkam | iphone service center in TNagar | iphone service center in Royepettah | iphone service center in Mylapore | iphone service center in Teynampet | iphone service center in Saidapet | iphone service center in Guindy | iphone service center in Ashok Nagar | iphone service center in KK Nagar | iphone service center in Saligramam | iphone service center in Virugambakkam | iphone service center in Chrompet | iphone service center in Pallavaram | iphone service center in Tambaram | iphone service center in Velachery | iphone service center in Thiruvanmiyur | iphone service center in Adyar | iphone service center in OMR | iphone service center in ECR | iphone service center in Medavakkam | iphone service center in Madipakkam | iphone service center in Perumbakkam | iphone service center in Pallikaranai | iphone service center in Sholinganallur | iphone service center in Gopalapuram | iphone service center in Besant Nagar | iphone service center in Washermenpet | iphone service center in Broadway | iphone service center in Purusawalkam
    iphone service center in koramangala | iphone service center in jayanagar | iphone service center in jp nagar|iphone service center in btm | iphone service center in ulsoor | iphone service center in kammanahali | iphone service center in cox town \ iphone service center in frazer town | iphone service center in mathikere | iPhone Service Center in kempapura | iphone service center in marathalli | iphone service center in hsr | iphone service center in electronic city | iphone service center in sg playa | iphone service center in Bellandur | iphone service center in Domlur | iphone service center in Malleswaram | iphone service center in Rajajinagar | iphone service center in majestic | iphone service center in forum mall | iphone service center in Sony world signal | iphone service center in echo space | iphone service center in forum mall | iphone service center in Whitefield

    We provide wide-range of Hardware & Software services for all branded smartphones and tablets including brands like APPLE, SAMSUNG, HTC, SONY, LG, MOTOROLA, MICROMAX, LENOVO etc. can recover the smartphone devices from any sort of problems like physical damage, Water lock and replacing the core components like Display , IC's, Front and Rear Camera components and other hardware/software issues.
    Training
    Topics Discus under Training Program:
    Soldering, De-soldering of components, Check of voltages in a battery of a mobile phone, Use of SMD reworks station, Triggering of batteries, Assembling & disassembling of mobile phones, Chip level servicing of components: Power amplifiers (pf), audio IC (Cobba), CPU (Mad), Power supply IC (Cont), Charging Control IC (Chaps). Rf Signal Processor IC (Hagar). Also well versed with SMD components replacement (Capacitors, Diodes Resistors, and LED’s). Rebelling & repair of ball grade array ICs (BGA).
    Hardware Complaint Service Training:
    Mobile Complaints: Dead, network, display problem, keypad problem, display light problem, keypad light problem, touchpad problem, sensor problem, head phone jack problem, speaker problem, mic problem, ringer problem, charging problem, Bluetooth problem, wifi problem, camera problem, volume button problem, camera button problem, on off switch problem, strip problem, fm problem, network problem, dead, water lock, hanging problem, handset off problem, restart issue
    Software Complaint Service Training:
    Phone unlock, pattern lock, vibrator problem, navigation key problem, Contact service, hanging, partial dead, network, unlocking, Flashing various software like USR, twister, tornado, griffin, UFS, Uni Box for color, camera, blue tooth, infrared enabled mobile phones of Nokia, Samsung, Panasonic, Ericson, Sony, Siemens, LG, Motorola and many more
    Motherboard Complaint Service Training:
    Ic (integrated circuit), Smd ic (leg type), bga ic (ball type)capacitor, Resister ,transistor, filter, fuse, diode, power crystal, clock crystal connector, battery connector ,usb jack, charging jack, head phone chack, inner key pad, vibrator ,speaker, mic, ringer

    Koramangala 5th block
    no 75/8,kristal prestige 4th floor, idea show room upstairs,opp to bhima jewellers,
    koramangala industrial layout, 5th block, 7026604420/ 7026604423

    Koramangala 7th block
    no 340, maruthi plaza,1st b cross,koramangala 7th block
    opp to forum road,behind A2B, 08041521112

    Koramangala 1st Block
    no 16,vijith plaza,80ft road,koramangala 1st block
    opp to reliance fresh, 08041521115

    jayanagar 4th block
    Diamond Arcade,no 21,east 11th main,32nd d cross,jayanagar 4th block
    opp to kalamandir & mom and me,near cool joint signal
    08041521113

    jayanagar 9th block
    no 1339,41st cross,25th main,jayanagar 9th block
    opp to central mall road,behind jain college,next to himalaya store
    08041521110/

    Banashankari 1st stage
    no 5,Sln complex,80 ft road,srinivasa nagar circle,banashankari 1st stage
    near bata showroom
    08041521119

    Banashankari 2nd stage
    no31, 21st main road, near bda complex,banashankari 2nd stage
    near goli vada pav
    08049570768 / 9980090798

    Rajajinagar 6th block
    no 246,Dr.Rajkumar Road,Rajajinagar 6th block
    next to nea albek hotel & sangeetha mobile showroom
    08041521116

    Malleswaram
    no 10,2nd main,sampige main road.near mantri mall,
    opp to albek hotel,below to samsung show room
    malleswaram, 08041474313

    Mathikere
    28/3, Sai Shekar complex,H.M.T Main Road, Beside Subbaiah Hospital
    08041573366 / 9611269682

    Kempapura
    Door no-3, 21st main road, sri Rajeshwari New Colony, Hebbal,
    Kempapura Main Road, Bangalore
    08042103355 / 9611269682

    ulsoor
    no 49&50, guru gowtham complex,SV road,next to metro station,
    below to manak jewellers , ulsoor, 08041520642

    Domlur
    no 11,service road,old airport road,next to hyundai showroom,befor sony show room
    domlur in towards mg road, 08041103602

    Frazer town
    no 64/1, concord plaza, coles road, frazer town, near shanthi sagar hotel
    08041105150

    Kammanahalli
    no 17,mathu mansion,kammanahalli circle near,opp to ganesha temple
    below to liberty showroom, 08041103592

    BTM
    no 746,Tayapa towers,13th main,7th cross,near udupi garden,opp to dominas,icici,peter england
    below to mumbai kitchen , 08041500208

    HSR
    no 2580, 27th main, 13th cross,next to PHD
    08049530063

    Bellandur
    No 71/1a,opp to swarnamukhi hospital,univercell upster,sarjapura main road
    next to bellandur total mall, 08042060460

    Jp Nagar 7th Phase
    no 243, Brigate Apartment signal opposite, jp nagar 7th phase
    08040958575

    Marathahalli
    No: 35/1B, CRM SOWBHAGYA ANNEXE, Shop No.2,Varthur Main Road,
    marathahalli bridge next,Munnekolala,
    08065304422,09043888404

    VV puram

    Anna nagar
    no 18, TNSCB shopping complex,near jsp honda showroom,
    thirumangalam junction water tank,anna nagar west,
    04430069841

    Velachery
    no 25,sambantham garden,100ft road tharamani link road,opp to karaikudi hotel near TCS
    velachery, 04442139797

    OMR(thoraipakkam)
    no 64/4, sri vidhya avenue,omr ptc main road,opp to kfc restaurant
    04465668880

    Anna nagar-2
    Muva’s arcade,C52/4,anna nagar east,near chinthamani roundana circle, opp to girias
    chennai-600102
    04449539191

    T-Nagar

    No 2 ,North usman Road,Kodambakkam Road Junction ,Near Motherhood T-nagar,
    below Mallika mansion Chennai-17
    04443527474

    apple iphone service center in abu dhabi
    apple iphone service center in abu dhabi
    iphone service center in abu dhabi
    apple iphone service center in dubai
    apple iphone authorized service center in dubai
    apple iphone authorised service centre in dubai
    apple iphone service center in dubai
    apple iphone authorized service center in dubai
    apple iphone authorised service centre in dubai
    apple iphone authorized service center in dubai
    apple iphone authorised service centre in dubai
    iphone service center in bur dubai
    iphone service center in deira dubai
    iphone service dubai
    iphone service dubai
    iphone service center dubai
    iphone service in dubai
    apple iphone service center uae
    apple iphone service centre uae
    apple iphone service center uae
    apple iphone service centre uae
    apple iphone service center dubai
    apple iphone service center in uae
    apple iphone service centre in uae

Log in

Don't have an account? Sign up now