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iOS 8 vs. iOS 7: Here’s how the features you know and love will change

Published Jun 6th, 2014 1:22PM EDT
iOS 8 vs iOS 7: Features and Design Comparison

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Apple on Monday unveiled iOS 8, introducing many new features that users will appreciate. Some have been available on Android for a while now, or via jailbreak apps on iOS, but they will all be  appreciated by users when they roll out this fall. To give people a better idea of how things will change, one blog decided to compare the new features in iOS 8 with what’s currently available in iOS 7.

The side-by-side comparison from PhoneArena takes a look at the new improved Spotlight search in iOS 8 and in Safari, and also at the Messages tweaks, including actionable notifications, voice and video messages support, group chats or location sharing.

Apple’s new QuickType keyboard, and support for third-party keyboards is also shown in comparative screenshots. Furthermore, the publication highlights the differences between the multitasking screens in iOS 8 and iOS 7, with the former showing favorite contacts in addition to the apps that are currently in use.

The changes in Notification Center are also more than obvious, with iOS 8 dropping a tab, and including support for app-based widgets.

Safari, email, and camera screenshots are also featured, showing the tweaks Apple made to these default iOS apps, and PhoneArena also offers a quick look at the new Health app that will gather health and fitness data in iOS 8.

Neat new tricks, such as the improved sharing options, Siri’s Shazam powers, the new Family Sharing mode and the per-app battery statistics are also demoed.

iOS 8 beta 1 is already available for download to users that have access to developers accounts, and not only. To further explore iOS 8, check out BGR’s visual iOS 8walkthrough.

A few screenshots showing some of these comparisons follow below, with more available at PhoneArena via the source link at the end of this post.

Chris Smith Senior Writer

Chris Smith has been covering consumer electronics ever since the iPhone revolutionized the industry in 2008. When he’s not writing about the most recent tech news for BGR, he brings his entertainment expertise to Marvel’s Cinematic Universe and other blockbuster franchises.

Outside of work, you’ll catch him streaming almost every new movie and TV show release as soon as it's available.