No one can deny that the transition to iOS 7 feels like a seismic shift. It’s taking some getting used to over here, though the general consensus is that iOS 7 is well worth the update. Perhaps it’s received well because, as tech lovers, we’re conditioned to appreciate change, but I’d challenge that it’s also in large part due to how functional iOS 7 actually is once you get used to it.
Today’s iOS Treat aims to ease the transition from iOS 6 and shed some light on the unfamiliar. So whether you’ve already updated and want to learn some new tips, feel a bit lost, or are waiting to update altogether since, let’s face it, ain’t nobody got time to completely relearn how to find your iPhone’s flashlight, read on.
Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes
- Multitasking – iOS 6 Double click the home button to see your open apps; press to make them ‘wiggle’ to quit > iOS 7: Double click the home button to preview the screens of what’s open and you can shut them down with a swipe
- Access Music from the Lock Screen – iOS 6: Double tap the Home button > iOS 7: Swipe upward (Music options are there and then some, as Don mentioned above).
- Calendar List View – iOS 6: Select the ‘List’ section > iOS 7: Click the Search option (magnifying glass); a list of your events will show.
- Spotlight Search – iOS 6: Swipe left for a dedicated screen > iOS 7: Swipe downward on any screen.
- Folders – iOS 6: All icons show on the same page > iOS 7: App icons are now in groups of 9, though you can have more than 16 total; access them with a swipe sideways.
- Remote wipe – iOS 6: You could remotely find, lock or wipe a phone if lost or stolen > iOS 7: A new Activation Lock feature syncs with the user’s iCloud account; it can’t be disabled without a user’s Apple ID and password.
There are obviously plenty of new features that we’ll cover in future articles about iOS 7; these are just some of the basic changes users will immediately notice upon upgrading. Additionally, these only span the native iOS; multiple apps have been updated as well to include new features and layout changes that take advantage of iOS 7. (Note: The ‘greater than’ symbol above is used to indicate the transition and not imply that iOS 6 is better than iOS 7 — we’ll leave that assessment to you!)