Apple's iOS 7 Includes New Design, Improved UsabilityWhile Apple's CEO calls it the 'biggest change to iOS since the introduction of the iPhone,' many features can already be found on other devices.

ByAmy Gahran

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

imore.com

AppleiPhone, iPad and iPod Touch users should prepare for some major changes. At itsWorldwide Developer Conference今天在旧金山开幕,苹果一个nnounced iOS 7, the latest iteration of the tech giant's popular mobile operating system. It will finally bring the user experience of these devices more on par with the latest versions of the Android, Windows and even BlackBerry mobile operating systems.

During the conference, Apple CEO Tim Cook called iOS 7 "the biggest change to iOS since the introduction of the iPhone." In terms of design and usability, iOS 7 will feature:

  • Notifications that will appear on the lock screen.
  • Multitasking for any app.
  • Cleaner typography and palettes.
  • More animations and layering cues to imply depth.
  • More apps -- such as Apple Mail and Reading List -- that scroll continuously between items.
  • More pinch and zoom control to shift views, such as changing the time frame of a displayed calendar.
  • Cleaner, smoother and more attractive tab management in the mobile Safari web browser.
  • Better power management to extend battery life.

But for all these new features, the ability to customize -- as users can with the latest "Jellybean" version of Android as well as for other mobile operating systems -- remains absent. For instance, today Apple touted the new "Control Center" in iOS 7. A user can swipe up from the bottom of the screen in any app to access common controls for the device to access common settings such as sound, do not disturb, display brightness, Wi-Fi, bluetooth and even a flashlight app.

"Is this more of Apple thinking for its users, rather than giving us smart defaults with options to customize," asksDave Taylor, a longtime computer industry expert and iOS user. "As if [the flashlight is] something every iPhone user will use a lot. Is that really going to take up one of my precious buttons in my Control Center?"

When it's released this fall, iOS 7 should improve the user experience of newer iOS devices -- something that will please committed Apple users. But with many of these new features, Apple is simply playing catch up to competitors like Android's Jellybean and Windows Mobile.

Related:Apple's Next 'Wild Card' May Not Be What You Think

Amy Gahran is an independent writer and mobile technology enthusiast based in Boulder, Colo. Her work has appeared at CNN.com. Gahran blogs atContentious.com.

Related Topics

Science & Technology

This $80 Quadcopter Can Help Your Social Media Content Take Off

Businesses could see new engagement on social media with content made by this $80 drone.

Business News

Man Shocked After Receiving $1.4 Million Speeding Ticket: 'This Might Be a Typo'

Connor Cato was caught going 90 mph in a 55 mph zone over the weekend in Savannah, Georgia.

Franchise

He Got Bored With Retirement. Now He's Selling $18 Million Annually.

Don Lanier was ready for a change, and that pushed him to succeed. Here's how he did it.

Making a Change

The Art of the Pivot — 6 Steps to Reengineer Yourself for a Career Change

Before switching careers or starting a business, learn why reengineering is your secret weapon for turning dreams into strategies, leveraging your unique skill set, and charting a course to undeniable success. This is the game-changer you've been waiting for.