All "soft karaoke" Apple news for 2014

The addition to "iron" is famous, Apple? Of course, the software, which is under the most iron and ground. It is a symbiosis of these two components and displays the products of the company from Cupertino to a better level compared to peers and competitors. Over the past year it held a lot of interesting software updates, so let's see how 2014 went software development.

iOS 8

The most important update for Apple this year - a new version of the mobile operating system iOS at number 8. This is one of the most ambitious update in the history of the development of OSes for smartphones and tablets kupertinovtsy.

Of the main innovations is the support of third-party keyboards and the long-awaited appearance of the widget. Change undergone a very large part of the whole system: the new settings, shooting modes of the camera, the advanced features in iMessage, Family Access, and more. On the main and the most interesting things you can see in a special video dedicated to iOS 8 and its new featuresOr view the list of 25, the main differences the new operating system from the previous version.

OS Yosemite

The logical continuation of the previous version of the license OS X Mavericks. The updated version of the desktop operating system received a completely flat interface, widgets, support AirDrop between devices, as well as many interesting features, some of which are even more pull together desktop and mobile operating system from Apple, overview which you can find on our site.

Of the main innovations is worth noting two wonderful opportunities: Handoff and Continuity. The first is designed for making and receiving calls not only cellular (communication is done via your iPhone), but SMS. Now that you have a need to make a call or write a text message, there is no need to go into another room for a smartphone, all you can do right at your Mac. The second possibility - continue to use the application on the second device, switching from the first. For example, starting to write e-mail on the iPad, you will be able to continue it on a Mac, and complete and send to the iPhone.

However, these new features are available, unfortunately, not all owners of "apple" devices, but you can try to rectify the situation and to get to work and AirDrop Handoff even not officially supported devices.

iWork

The popular office suite, which includes Pages, Numbers and Sports Keynote and, also received significant updates. Of course, they are not as global as compared to the previous update, however the work was done good. Basically, the application package got rid of some of the pitfalls, seize opportunities, improved performance and some convenience for the user when working with documents. The full list of them can be found in our a separate articleDedicated to this update.

It should be noted and updated iWork for iCloudThat also was not only more opportunities but also support for new languages.

iCloud

Web service from Apple this year, too, did not go unnoticed Corporation. It has been enhanced safety and security services, as well as added to the Photos app, iCloud Drive and Settings. Now the service can be used more effectively, it remains only to wait for all the new features of the beta status. Although, in truth, they are now working quite well.

Above all, the service and updated prices for their services, which are now cheaper. "Has now the meaning of the purchase of additional space?" - a new issue that stood in front of many users, the answer to which we have tried to find one of our articles.

Apple TV

The small black box from Apple, with the release of iOS 8, also got its update. Of the main innovations are the small "cosmetic" changes to the design, new opportunities like Family Sharing and iCloud Photo Library, as well as some new channels such as Beats Music and the WWE Network.

Unfortunately, no miracle occurred, and the new version of Apple TV does not appear app store, which counted as part of the user. Maybe next time. Or in the next generation.

iCloud Drive

Own cloud storage from Apple, which has been (will be?) To work easier. iCloud Drive is now placed in a separate menu in OS X Yosemite, and work with him as well as you can with any other "cloud", like Dropbox or Yandex. Disk. But the problem is that so far (?) Service works more unilaterally, as a separate application for iOS does not. Therefore, users are only two options: use of external developments such as Documents 5 or waiting for a full-fledged iOS-release solution. In the meantime, if you do not yet fully understand how to work with the new solution kupertinovtsy, read more about this offer in details.

iCloud Photo Library

Mediatheque or iCloud, which is now available in iOS Settings. Excellent solution designed to help keep your photos and videos when iCloud and sync them with the rest of your devices. Simply put, it is an advanced, more logical and user friendly Photo Stream, which was in the younger versions of iOS. For more information about what it is and why you need to, you can read the corresponding article.

Swift

A new programming language, was presented at the 2014 WWDC conference in June this year. Projects that will create the developers will now be able to write directly on the C, C ++, and Swift. First of all Apple has created Swift to strengthen its own ecosystem, as well as attract new developers to iOS platform. And now, a little more than six months, we can say with certainty that the company has chosen the right direction. At least about the amenities in the development have said many programmers. We only need to wait a bit when they start to appear stunning new designs.

Metal

It is no secret that Apple's mobile platform many times more productive than other counterparts with equal characteristics. iOS - it's a kind of console gaming world, where everything is fast, smoothly and exactly as intended by the developer. Metal, presented at the same conference, WWDC 14, a new step in the development of mobile gaming. The framework provides developers with high-level access to the hardware devicesUnlike the OpenGL, which in practice allows to achieve higher performance in mobile games. And of course, raise the quality bar charts in projects.

Even now in the App Store has several mobile games of different genres in which you can evaluate the quality of projects. And it is, it should be noted, is pleasantly surprising. Over time, the quality and quantity of such projects will continue to grow, which will undoubtedly please the fans to play on your iOS-device.

HomeKit

Another point of interest to product developers. The system for managing smart home - HomeKit - was presented at the same exhibition WWDC this year. Products that will be produced with the support of this technology, will allow you to manage all of your devices using a single smartphone (or tablet) with an iOS. already announced various devices with HomeKit support. It is very long to full "smart homes" and Internet of things, Which gradually prepares us Apple.

HealthKit

With the release of iOS 8.0.2 developers got an excellent opportunity to integrate their applications with gadgets and new development Apple. Data from the various fitness trackers, or applications to monitor activity coming from the user's permission, in Health application, in which he will be able to monitor various parameters such as sleep patterns, weight, diet and others.

The app store have already upgraded some trackers activity that received support HealthKit platform. And if you have not used yet, none of them - we recommend ViewIt might have liked.

And some of the updates you liked the most? Maybe there is something that does not belong to the list? Share your opinion in the comments!