With Apple's Worldwide Developer's Conference and the possible reveal of the iPhone 6 / 5S fast approaching, minds are slowly turning to iOS 7. How radical of a change could it possibly be?
Apple CEO Tim Cook confirmed on Wednesday that Jony Ive has taken the helms of the redesign, leaving his fingerprints on every aspect of the operating system. But what does that mean, exactly? And outside of aesthetics, what kind of new features can we expect Apple to incorporate in it?
New rumors suggest that the iPhone 6 / 5S won't actually make an appearance, but here are five things to expect when Apple unveils iOS 7.
Total Redesign
This is pretty much guaranteed. Many have commented that while iOS remains the easiest mobile OS to use, it could certainly use a facelift. Enter Ive, who's taken command and is reportedly ditching the rounded, glossy and colorful look in favor of a flat, black and white design. The notebook app may not look like a notebook anymore; GameCenter won't look like a casino game anymore, and everything in iOS 7 will fit together in a much more cohesive manner. At least, that's what all these anonymous sources are saying.
Swype Keyboard
This is something that Android owners already have and love, and it's about time Apple gives something similar to its own users. We've mentioned this before, but the Swype-style keyboard is not only fast and intuitive, it's actually pretty fun to use. More than a crazy redesign or outlandish motion control features, this would do a lot to make iOS easier to use. The good news? Apple has already met with the Swype developers.
Third Party Customization
It's actually kind of surprising that this is even making the list, but Tim Cook recently declared that Apple will likely soften its stance on third-party customization going forward. That means developers will have more freedom to add features, widgets and whatnot to iOS 7. Don't expect anything like Facebook Home to hit Apple's devices anytime in the near future, but overall Apple opening up its platform to developers is a positive sign.
Mobile Wallet And NFC Functionality
One thing some analysts have claimed is that iOS 7 and the next iPhone need a killer feature to get a leg up on Samsung, and some think it'll be a new mobile wallet. The new OS and hardware would have near-field communication capabilities and allow users to pay for things directly with their phone, which would be a big step up from iOS' current Passbook feature.
New Interface Gestures
Along with the Jony Ive redesign, Apple is also reportedly experimenting with new interface gestures. These would allow users to swipe panels on the left or right side of the screen in order to access settings quickly, or potentially other programs and apps.
Of course, Apple hasn't confirmed any of these features, so expect to hear a lot more at WWDC in June.
