Apple has unveiled iOS 8 at its Worldwide Developer Conference in San Francisco.
The new version of the operating system incorporates features including the iCloud Photo Library, improved Messaging and a new Health app.
iOS 8's Photos app lets users automatically straighten horizons and, with smart editing tools, you can adjust light and colour or access individual tools for further adjustments. Meanwhile, iCloud Photo Library ensures every adjustment and effect is automatically updated across your devices.
Group messaging, meanwhile, lets users add and remove contacts, leave a conversation and choose not to be disturbed. You can also choose to share your current location from within Messages for an hour, a day or longer.
With the new Health app, you can gather information from various health apps and fitness devices and get an overview all in one place. iOS 8 also allows certain health and fitness apps to communicate with each other - for example, the Nike+ apps using NikeFuel will be able to pull in other key HealthKit metrics to build a custom user profile.
Elsewhere, there's new predictive typing for Apple's QuickType keyboard, designed to be smarter, more personalised, and better able to take context into account. It will suggest favourite phrases, meaning entire sentences can be written with just a few taps.
Family Sharing makes it easier to communicate and share purchases, photos and calendars within the same household. Family members can browse and download each other's iTunes, iBooks or App Store purchases, with up to six members able to participate. Parents can create Apple IDs for children and apply Ask to Buy, meaning parental permission is required for purchases.
iCloud Drive, meanwhile, allows documents of any type to be stored, accessed and edited across your devices. If you make edits on one device, the most up-to-date version of your documents will be available across all devices.
Additional iOS 8 features include Spotlight capabilities that give you results beyond what's on your device, including articles from Wikipedia and news; and Handoff allows you to start an activity on one device and finish on another.
Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering, said: "iOS 8 offers simpler, faster and more intuitive ways to use your device with incredible new features like iCloud Photo Library, a new Messages app, the QuickType keyboard and an entirely new Health app.
"We're also giving developers amazing new tools to make managing your health and your home from your devices an integrated, simple and secure experience."
iOS 8 will be available in the autumn for iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, iPod touch 5th generation, iPad 2, iPad with Retina display, iPad Air, iPad mini and iPad mini with Retina display.
The new version of the operating system incorporates features including the iCloud Photo Library, improved Messaging and a new Health app.
iOS 8's Photos app lets users automatically straighten horizons and, with smart editing tools, you can adjust light and colour or access individual tools for further adjustments. Meanwhile, iCloud Photo Library ensures every adjustment and effect is automatically updated across your devices.
Group messaging, meanwhile, lets users add and remove contacts, leave a conversation and choose not to be disturbed. You can also choose to share your current location from within Messages for an hour, a day or longer.
With the new Health app, you can gather information from various health apps and fitness devices and get an overview all in one place. iOS 8 also allows certain health and fitness apps to communicate with each other - for example, the Nike+ apps using NikeFuel will be able to pull in other key HealthKit metrics to build a custom user profile.
Elsewhere, there's new predictive typing for Apple's QuickType keyboard, designed to be smarter, more personalised, and better able to take context into account. It will suggest favourite phrases, meaning entire sentences can be written with just a few taps.
Family Sharing makes it easier to communicate and share purchases, photos and calendars within the same household. Family members can browse and download each other's iTunes, iBooks or App Store purchases, with up to six members able to participate. Parents can create Apple IDs for children and apply Ask to Buy, meaning parental permission is required for purchases.
iCloud Drive, meanwhile, allows documents of any type to be stored, accessed and edited across your devices. If you make edits on one device, the most up-to-date version of your documents will be available across all devices.
Additional iOS 8 features include Spotlight capabilities that give you results beyond what's on your device, including articles from Wikipedia and news; and Handoff allows you to start an activity on one device and finish on another.
Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering, said: "iOS 8 offers simpler, faster and more intuitive ways to use your device with incredible new features like iCloud Photo Library, a new Messages app, the QuickType keyboard and an entirely new Health app.
"We're also giving developers amazing new tools to make managing your health and your home from your devices an integrated, simple and secure experience."
iOS 8 will be available in the autumn for iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, iPod touch 5th generation, iPad 2, iPad with Retina display, iPad Air, iPad mini and iPad mini with Retina display.