Feature
Apple (news, site) unveiled the headline features of the new iOS 5 today with developers getting their hands on it now, users can enjoy it in the Fall.
Device-Friendly Updates
There was no new hardware on show today from Apple at the WWDC event, nor a major overhaul of the iOS interface. But, the major relief for all existing iPhone users, is that you will be able to activate and update your phone or iPad directly from the device, no Mac/PC required.
New updates also mean only downloading the new code, not the whole OS, shortening the process somewhat. iOS 5 will be compatible with iPhone 3GS mobiles and above, iPads and iPod touch (neatly killing a rumor that was scaring old iPhone users last week, oops!)
There are over 200 new features in the update and Apple demonstrated 10 of them. Developers get access to them today, the update will launch in the Fall. Among the headline acts was the much mooted integration of Twitter into the OS, so now you can take a photo and send it directly to your army of followers, along with links and other content.
Get the Message
iMessage is Apple's shot at a unified communications app, offering a way to communicate regardless of where friends are, what app they're on etc. Your text, photo and video messages are synched to all your account-linked devices so you can carry on a conversation started on your phone back on your computer or iPad at home and are similarly sent to your friend whatever they're on.
Learning Opportunities
Webinar
Jun
6
The Future of Social Media: Emerging Trends and How to Stay Ahead of the Curve
The impact of emerging technologies like AI on social media
Webinar
Jun
7
The Building Blocks of Personalization
This webinar will explore how personalization can create powerful ecommerce shopping experience.
Webinar
Jun
8
Attracting—and Keeping—Your High-Net-Worth Investors
Join PwC to dissect their recent survey findings on a specific customer subset — high-net-worth investors.
Webinar
Jun
13
The Future of Contact Centers with AI at the Helm
Learn how to balance human intuition and interaction with the potential uses of AI to create delightful and lasting CX
Webinar
Jun
20
3 Steps to Unlock Your Customer Data and Drive Revenue
Discover how Twilio Segment’s #1 Customer Data Platform helps implement data-driven strategies.
Webinar
On demand
AI for Marketers: Optimize Personalization Across the Funnel
Understand the benefits of utilizing AI across your entire marketing stack
iMessage makes staying in touch less hassle
On the fun side, Game Center can now handle turn-based games, allowing for live remote games of Chess, Scrabble and other diversions. While the social side of the games app just got a lot more active with a wider way to make and play against friends from with the app, and buy new games.
Other improvements include better notifications, more secure email and, of course, there is all the added cloud integration with iCloud (see our sister article for more on that).
Ultimately though, the iOS interface is starting to look rather jaded in the face of the Windows 8 threat, and all these additions around the edges aren't helping its rigid, corseted look. Will Apple keep all its icons in fixed little rows in the next iteration? We're not sure it can afford to given the pace of development in the tablet/smartphone world.
