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WWDC 2014 didn't bring any hardware announcements, but Apple really did make up for this with the sheer volume and quality of the software it showed off. It has been a big day for iOS and OS X and in this post we bring you a rundown of what has been announced and what you can expect to see in the next couple of days.
Apple announced iOS 8 during the opening keynote and this new version comes with much the same interface as last year's iOS 7 but with a lot more to offer. First off there is Interactive Notifications, which means that users can now interact with notifications without having to open any app. Next up we have 3rd party keyboads. The new APIs let third party app developers build new system-wide keyboards for iOS. The popular Swype was shown during the keynote. Another feature is QuickType predictive typing which will now try and predict what you are trying to type and you can tap words to avoid having to type everything.
The HealthKit/HomeKit is another feature and Apple has now given makers of health-related hardware as well as those behind home automation a way to tie into iOS via third party apps. This could see us being able to dim lights, lock doors and so much more with the touch of a button. Health-wise, Apple is already working with Nike and others to try and make iOS a hub for health tracking.
Siri has also gotten an upgrade and now has Shazam integration. The big news here though is the hands-free invocation of Siri. A simple �Hey Siri� will kick it into gear so there is no need to press any buttons. Messages and Spotlight also got a facelift and the former now has in-line audio and video messages, location sharing and destructible messages. Spotlight can now search online as well as for stuff that is local to your device.
OS X 10.10 � Yosemite
Also announced was OS X 10.10 � Yosemite and the features are pretty cool. You will need iOS 8 to take advantage of them but you will definitely be rewarded if you do. Continuity is where the magic really happens with Yosemite and iOS 8. When you have both installed, you'll have AirDrop that works across mobile and Mac, Instant Hotspot and Handoff. This means you will now be able to start an email on one device and then finish it on another. OS X 10.10 Yosemite has also been given a new flatter design that looks truly amazing.
The messages app now has SMS messages relayed to it from an iPhone and that goes for calls too, so if someone rings you on your iPhone you will be able to answer it on your Mac. Like iOS 8, Yosemite will have third party widgets in Notification Center and the whole notification panel which has also had a redesign. The Mac now also has iOS's Today view which is home to appointments, reminders and the like. Mail and Safari have also been updated and we are sure you will find plenty more things to enjoy too.
iCloud Drive
This is Apple's way of taking on Dropbox and you can think of it as a cross between the iCloud we are all used to and the iDisk that was around when MobileMe was. You'll be able to browser iCloud Drive as if it was a normal folder which his a real game changer. You also get 5GB of storage free, with more available for a price.
There were some more announcements that were made and these were aimed at developers. It is safe to say that this has been a really busy WWDC event and there is a lot to digest. Beta's of the software are available now so if you want to test them out why not have a go and let us know what you think.
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