At its ongoing Worldwide Developers' Conference, Apple CEO Tim Cook unveiled iOS 8, Apple's newest mobile operating system on June 2nd. Tech commentors have observed that iOS 8 borrows from Android's most user-friendly features, and opinions have so far been optimistic. iOS 8 is currently undergoing beta testing and is slated for release "in the fall" (Apple is notoriously secretive about its product release dates).

For the sake of continuity, here are 8 important features that Apple developers got right in this installment of iOS: 

1. The new Notification Center:

Respond to messages or Facebook notifications without having to leave whatever app you're currently navigating.  Flick a notification that you don't want to deal with right now up and off the screen, even when your device is locked. In addition to seeing all the applications currently running when you double-tap the home button, your favorite contacts are also displayed in a row at the top of the screen. 

2. QuickType, a better alternative to AutoCorrect

All iPhone users have experienced one too many embarrassing AutoCorrect mishaps. Instead of sticking a word it thinks is correct into your message unless you specifically reject the suggestion, the new keyboard will automatically suggest a list of keywords for you and alters its range of suggestions by learning from the words you've previously typed. Plus, your device will know who you're talking to and offer suggestions appropriate to the types of conversations you typically have with that person. 

3. An easier way to group text:

Name your threads, add/remove people, including yourself, from conversations, and even set Do Not Disturb (so that your phone doesn't buzz a bajillion times because your friends tend to break up one thought into bite-sized messages). Want to tell your friends where you are? Share your location for an hour, until the end of the day, or until you say otherwise. Multimedia messages will also auto-delete to save memory space unless you specifically save them. Taking a cue from other messaging apps, iMessage will also support recorded audio and video messages. 

4. A more integrated photo library:

Complete with more storage for all of your photos and videos in your iCloud drive, so that you can record just about every moment. Photo Stream, the soon-to-be predecesor to this new feature limited storage to 1,000 photos such that at some point, all media content needed to be backed up to a physical hard drive. All content can now be saved to iCloud and accessed by any of your Apple devices. The photo library will also support a multitude of filters as well as "smart" editing, where users can slide their finger to adjust multipe effects at the same time. 

5. An easier way to manage e-mail:

Like a text message, you can mark an email as unread or delete it from the bar at the top of the screen without leaving the app you're currently using. Swipe down in a message you're in the middle of composing to access your inbox, then tap at the bottom of the screen to go back to your draft. 

6. Continuity like never before:

Part of the entire body of revamped operating systems Apple will be rolling out, this feature enables all of your Apple devices to be aware of each other. You can switch between your iPhone, iPad, and Mac with a simple prompt in the middle of a task. OS X Yosemite, also unveiled at WWDC, so fully integrates with an iPhone that you can actually take calls and send text messages right from your desktop.

7. Family Sharing, to bring the feel of the integrated Apple family right into your home:

Sync up all the Apple devices in a single family (linked to 1 credit card) to automatically share media, calendars, reminders, and applications, so that you won't have to pay to install the same app on multiple devices (much like iTunes has done). Also, in response to complaints that children are racking up hefty credit card charges on the App Store unbeknownst to their parents, the update will send parents a notification to grant permission whenever kids try to make a purchase on iTunes or the App Store.

8. A better Siri:

Now, you can activate Siri simply by saying "Hey, Siri," without touching your device at all. She also comes in 22 new dictation languages, has streaming voice recognition, and for all you music lovers out there she's also equipped with Shazam recognition and the ability to purchase content direct from iTunes. Your iPhone is literally becoming more and more like a real person. 

Props to Apple for getting it right, and for proving to your loyal cult followers that once again, we're not just paying for aesthetic appeal. 

Read more technology coverage by Neon Tommy here. 

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