So after about an hour of updating your iTunes and receiving error messages, a white apple has emerged on your beloved iPhone screen, signaling its long-awaited arrival: the iOS7 update. Its diva-like download has filled you with anticipation, and you are ready to explore this sh*t like Columbus. Was it worth it? Let’s break down the good, the bad, and the just plain ugly.
The Appearance
Good: The backgrounds your iPhone offers under “Settings” have a sort of 3D effect, where it looks like the image follows you no matter which way you turn the screen. The zoom in/zoom out feature when you click or exit an app builds on the 3D theme. Each drop down bar has a translucent screen, giving a layered, sleek look.
Bad: OK, so maybe we are intimidated by change. Still, the vibrancy of the icons may be a little much. We chose iPhones over Droids for a reason. We know and trust Apple, and this new color palette is bordering on an eyesore.
Control Center
Good: ALL OF IT. The control center appears when you swipe up from the bottom of any screen, even if it is locked. It includes shortcuts to (drumroll): airplane and sleep mode, bluetooth, wi-fi, portrait orientation lock (if you don’t like the screen switching to landscape mode every time you turn it), brightness, music control, a flashlight, as well as icons that take you to the clock, calculator and camera apps.
Bad: Nothing. Customization of app shortcuts could add a personal touch. But we are not complaining – the control center makes it well worth getting the update.
iTunes Radio
Good: This mock-Pandora/Spotify is more convenient because it is under your Music app. If you find a song you like, you can buy it on the spot right from iTunes. Also, the ads are only 5 seconds as opposed to Pandora’s horrible 15 to 30 second ads.
Bad: It kind of sucks. If you are a regular Pandora or Spotify radio listener, you are used to hearing new songs that actually fit the genre or artist you chose. From my experience, iTunes radio picks generic songs I’ve heard before and aren’t truly particular to my category. You can, however, choose options like “Play More Like this” or “Never Play This Song.” At least they are trying.
Switching Apps
Good: Before iOS7, to close out or visit another app, you would double click the home button and the app’s icon would appear. Now when you double click the home button, the app’s icon and a whole screen appears from whatever you were last doing in the app. With this feature, Apple reaches towards a faster, and more efficient Windows system that other smart phones have.
Bad: The phone does warn under “Background App Refresh” under “General Settings” that “turning off apps may help preserve battery life.” If you weren’t OCD about shutting your apps off before, you will be now.
Photo App
Good: When taking a photo in landscape mode, hold down the volume-up button for the picture to sharpen before the shot. We have all had enough blurry pictures to know this is a good feature. The Photo App now separates your videos into an album, which is helpful. It now also has filters for your photos, if you are into that.
Bad: The filters are not very good, but that is what Instagram is for. Duh.
AirDrop
Good: AirDrop allows you to send pictures or other media to one another instantly (if you are in close proximity) through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. These messages are encrypted, so the government won’t be thumbing through it. The person receiving the media can choose whether or not to accept your message.
Bad: Unless you’re trying to share twenty photos at a time or something obnoxious, this is not a whole lot different than physically texting a picture or video to someone. Make sure you set limits on AirDrop, or you may be receiving pictures from strangers near you in cyberspace.
Siri
Good: This b*tch does it all. With a new interface and voice, Siri is coming back strong. This personal assistant now uses Bing instead of Google for a search engine. If you have an obsession with Google, you can still say “Search Google for” whatever you need searched. You can also teach Siri how to pronounce your friend’s name correctly. Next time Siri attempts to say your friend’s name, say: “That’s not how you pronounce it” and boss her around. Careful to not go on a power trip – it’s still your phone.
Bad: We may lose all researching skills we have ever acquired and rely solely on Siri.
Other Cool Stuff…
- You can swipe to the right to see the exact time texts were sent.
- New ringtone! (Slightly nostalgic for those of us who have had an iPhone for way too long)
- The weather app has a cool new design and shows you the weather for more hours throughout the day.
- Search engine is no longer a swipe to the left of your home screen, but a swipe down from the center.
The iOS7 update has a lot of awesome new features. While the appearance will take some getting used to, we can deal with it. The engineers at Apple have been changing our iPhone-babies for years, and I trust they know what they are doing. Enjoy the update, collegiettes™!