As expected, Apple has just released iOS 8.1 for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. iOS 8.1 was in testing since late September, and Apple had seeded two beta versions for the update to developers.
It includes a number of improvements and enables new iOS 8 features that were announced by Apple at WWDC Keynote in June such as SMS Relay, enables Apple’s NFC based Apply Pay mobile payment service, iCloud Photo Library in beta, and restores the Camera roll. Here’s the complete list of new features, improvements and fixes in iOS 8.1 as per the release notes:
What's New in iOS 8.1:
● This release includes new features, improvements and bug fixes, including:
● Apple Pay support for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus (U.S. only)
○ Photos includes new features, improvements and fixes
○ Adds iCloud Photo Library as a beta service
○ Adds Camera Roll album in Photos app and My Photo Stream album when iCloud Photo Library is not enabled
○ Provides alerts when running low on space before capturing Time Lapse videos
● Messages includes new features, improvements and fixes
○ Adds the ability for iPhone users to send and receive SMS and MMS text messages from their iPad and Mac
○ Resolves an issue where search would sometimes not display results
○ Fixes a bug that caused read messages to not be marked as read
○ Fixes issues with group messaging
● Resolves issues with Wi-Fi performance that could occur when connected to some base stations
● Fixes an issue that could prevent connections to Bluetooth hands-free devices
● Fixes bugs that could cause screen rotation to stop working
● Adds an option to select between 2G, 3G or LTE networks for cellular data
● Fixes an issue in Safari where videos would sometimes not play
● Adds AirDrop support for Passbook passes
● Adds an option to enable Dictation in Settings for Keyboards, separate from Siri
● Enables HealthKit apps to access data in the background
● Accessibility improvements and fixes
○ Fixes an issue that prevented Guided Access from working properly
○ Fixes a bug where VoiceOver would not work with 3rd party keyboards
○ Improves stability and audio quality when using MFi Hearing Aids with iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus
○ Fixes an issue with VoiceOver where tone dialing would get stuck on a tone until dialing another number
○ Improves reliability when using handwriting, Bluetooth keyboards and Braille displays with VoiceOver
● Fixes an issue that was preventing the use of OS X Caching Server for iOS updates
Apple Pay :
Apple’s long-rumored payment platform finally arrives on iOS 8-running devices with the 8.1 update.You add a card to Apple Pay by taking a picture of it. After verification from your bank, the card is added to Passbook, where you can access it for future purchases using an iPhone 6 or 6 Plus. Owners can quickly open their card Passbook to use in retail stores and pay by tapping their phone at NFC payment terminals. A finger confirmation to your Touch ID sensor completes the purchase.
There are hundreds of apps and retailers already ready for Apple Pay, including Nike, Petco, Whole Foods, and Bloomingdale’s. But Apple expects most Apple Pay usage to come on the digital front at first, through in-app purchases from titles like Instacart, AirBnB, and StubHub. Since they have Touch ID on their devices, iPhone 5s and new iPad owners will also be able to take advantage of the in-app purchases of Apple Pay.
Instant Hotspot
No Wi-Fi connection? Not a problem with Instant Hotspot. Instant Hotspot lets your Mac remotely access your iPhone’s personal hotspot automatically if they’re located near one another. Your iPhone appears as a network in your Mac’s Wi-Fi dropdown menu, so you can connect to it with a tap. Once connected, your Mac displays your phone’s battery life and signal strength at the top of the Wi-Fi menu. Hotspot also automatically disconnects when you quit browsing.
Unfortunately, this feature doesn’t work for iOS users on some carriers. If your plan doesn’t allow tethering, you will get a message saying you should visit your carrier to turn on this hotspot feature.
Beta iCloud Photo Library Access
Apple’s iCloud Photo Library will be available starting as a beta in iOS 8.1. It looks and functions similarly to the Photo app on iOS, except it’s available for the browser through iCloud.com. If you didn’t already switch it on when you downloaded iOS 8, you can enable access by going into your device settings and navigating to iCloud > Photos. As it’s still a beta, you’ll want to back up your photos before enabling the feature.
Previously, Photo Stream, Apple’s free cloud-based photo storage, only stored your last 1,000 photos for 30 days. iCloud Photo Library is different. It stores as much as you want, granted you’ve got that much space in iCloud. Thus, all photos uploaded to iCloud Photo Library will count towards your iCloud storage. Upgrade pricing islisted here, with options ranging from $0.99 for 20 GB of storage to $20 for 1 TB of iCloud storage. You can upgrade your storage level right on your iOS device.
If you’re not interested in online storage and also not happy with the Photo Stream version in iOS 8, Apple is bringing back the option of Camera Roll in 8.1.
SMS Relay
With iOS 8.1, another Continuity feature, SMS Relay, gets the green light. SMS Relay lets you send and receive SMS messages on either your iOS device or your Mac (given your Mac is running OS X Yosemite). This means you can chat with your friends and family regardless of the Apple device you and your family and friends are using.
Click Here to Download and install iOS 8.1 on your iDevices.
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