Why You Should Upgrade to iOS 8

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On Sept. 17, Apple (AAPL) began rolling out iOS 8, the latest and greatest mobile operating system that powers its iPhones, iPads, iPod Touch and the Apple TV.

Why You Should Upgrade to iOS 8
Source: Apple

As happens every year, though, some devices don’t make the cut and won’t be able to install the new iOS version. If you have an iPhone 4, you’re cut off this round, so the easiest (though not the cheapest) way for you to check out iOS 8 will be to get a new iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus

Meanwhile, many dated Apple devices like the iPhone 4s and iPad 2 will officially run iOS 8, but they won’t support all the new features. They also might run more slowly on this version of iOS, as discovered during testing by Ars Technica’s Andrew Cunningham.

But for those with compatible devices, there are many reasons why you should upgrade your iOS device to Apple’s new operating system.

iOS 8 Upgrade – Smart Keyboard (and Third-Party Options)

iOS 8 smart keyboard
Source: Apple

A lot of people hate the virtual keyboard that has been a part of iOS since it launched. Sure, it proved you didn’t need a physical keyboard — much to the detriment of BlackBerry (BBRY) — but smartphones running Google’s (GOOG) Android have had customized keyboard options for years.

With iOS 8, Apple makes the typing experience on its mobile devices much better in two ways.

First, its own virtual keyboard has been improved, and predictive text has been added to speed things up even more. (I’ve been using it and it’s pretty cool.) Apple’s QuickType keyboard also includes a quick-access Emoji keyboard, if you’re into that kind of thing.

Second, iOS 8 catches up to Android by allowing third-party keyboards. Don’t like the Apple QuickType default? Download a custom keyboard app. Free and paid versions are already showing up in the Apple App Store.

iOS 8 Upgrade – Health

iOS 8 Health
Source: Apple

A disclaimer on this one. One of iOS 8’s star features, HealthKit apparently has a bug. As a result, Apple has pulled the Health App from the download. Third-party apps that rely on HealthKit also have been pulled from the App Store.

However, once it is restored (estimates put the time frame at two weeks or so), Health should be one of the more valuable features of iOS 8, especially for anyone interested in health and fitness.

Health is a single app dashboard for all the health and fitness data collected by authorized (and HealthKit compatible) apps and devices, along with an emergency card option for your iPhone or iPad lock screen.

iOS 8 Upgrade – Widgets

iOS 8 Widgets
Source: Apple

Apple has always kept iOS locked down compared to Android or Microsoft’s (MSFT) Windows Phone. However, with iOS 8, it gives third-party developers a little more freedom in the form of widgets.

The Today screen in iOS 8’s Notification Center is where apps can now display enhanced information — even adding simply functionality (like selecting an item) — via Widgets.

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Unlike Android, these Widgets don’t gain access to the home screen, but the iOS 8 implementation is a compromise that offers developers more options while minimizing the impact on battery life and reducing clutter.

Apple hates clutter, and the last thing it wants is for your new iPhone 6 home screen to look like a Samsung (SSNLF) Galaxy S5’s.

iOS 8 Upgrade – Find Those Battery-Hogging Apps

iOS 8 Battery use
Source: Screen capture by Brad Moon

Everyone complains about iPhone battery life, and while the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus do offer an improvement over the iPhone 5s, even Apple’s newest smartphones could do better in that department.

In iOS 8, Apple added the ability to see exactly what apps are draining your battery.

In the General Setting, Usage gains a Battery Usage indicator where you can see stats over various time periods. This might not actively extend your battery life, but if there’s an app that consistently kills your battery, you can avoid using it.

iOS 8 Upgrade – Everything Else

iOS 8 Additional Features
Source: Apple

Apple calls iOS 8 its biggest iOS release ever.

That means listing some of the best features of the new operating system is barely scratching the surface. If the new QuickType keyboard, Health or Widgets aren’t enough to convince you to upgrade, here are a few more of iOS 8’s new capabilities:

  • Better photo organization and editing
  • Messages supports adding voice and video
  • New Find My iPhone option to ping Apple at critical battery level so it knows the device’s last known location
  • Family Sharing lets up to six family members keep their own Apple ID while sharing purchases, photo albums and calendars
  • Continuity (once OSX Yosemite launches) offers iOS 8 and OSX integration for seamless transition between mobile device and Mac
  • Spotlight searches your entire device, including e-mail and documents
  • Extensions
  • HomeKit protocol to control compatible smart devices

As of this writing, Brad Moon did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.

Brad Moon has been writing for InvestorPlace.com since 2012. He also writes about stocks for Kiplinger and has been a senior contributor focusing on consumer technology for Forbes since 2015.


Article printed from InvestorPlace Media, https://investorplace.com/2014/09/ios-8-aapl/.

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