Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has finally released iOS 7.1, with many new features and updates. iOS 7.1, which is the first major update for the most recent operating system, has been in the news and the subject of rumors since the launch of iOS 7 last September.
New Features in iOS 7.1
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) iOS 7.1 has a feature called CarPlay, which was announced earlier this month. It is a car infotainment system allowing a driver to use their iPhone safely in a car along with having a lot more fun. Through CarPlay, a user can access maps, GPS routing, iTunes, Siri, and make calls and send messages via the iPhone and iMessage.
iTunes Radio has been updated to allow users buy albums, based on the song that is currently playing, with one button press. An addition to iOS 7.1 is the search field above featured stations, which enables users to subscribe to iTunes Match through iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.
In the updated iOS 7.1 cameras will automatically allow HDR when the lighting requires it. The user speed has been enhanced on all devices including the iPhone 4, which was slow in iOS 7.
Much improved Siri
Siri has also been upgraded, and the user now can manually control it. The app can be controlled by pressing the home button and releasing it ones the command has been given. Siri does not always listen for the commands, therefore the update is an alternative method of telling Siri when the user has stopped giving commands. Previously, Siri had to ‘notice’ by itself, but now by releasing the home button the user informs that the command has been given.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has included some new voices in Siri, including more natural sounding ones for Mandarin, UK and Australian English, and Japanese. These sounds are available in both male and female versions.
Fixes from Apple
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has upgraded the new operating system to make it more efficient. The problem of random rebooting in iPhone 5S, iPad Air and iPad Mini Retina has been resolved. If the problem has actually been fixed by Apple, then customers will not have to deal with randomly resetting devices. Apple has also fixed the Touch ID update, which will be more responsive and less fussy for users with the iPhone 5S. The problem with displaying the unread mail badge for numbers over 10,000, has also been resolved.
Compared to the number of new features added, the number of fixes has been few, which is primarily due to the minor updates from Apple to date (iOS 7.01 to iOS 7.06).
The update can be downloaded over the air on all devices. Beta users will have to download a bigger file, which would be around 1.3-1.4 gb, and users upgrading from iOS 7.06 require just a few minutes as the file is only 214 MB. One thing to note is, if a user has jailbroken a device using evasi0n hack, iOS 7.1 will put the phone back in the metaphorical jail.
