Perhaps one of the most exciting things about the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference 2013 (WWDC 2013) is the upcoming update to Apple’s mobile OS – iOS 7. It has been brewing in the rumor mill for quite a long while now, on top of a whole load of new features purportedly taking design cues from Mac OS X, here is a list of what else to expect.
Flat
Just days ago, Apple released its official WWDC 2013 application for developers. The app contains the schedule for the event, allowing attendees to prepare their trip, but it revealed something a little more than that, it hinted at a “flat” design. Compared with the WWDC app for the previous 2 years, the one this year has a new shadow, a flat black & white design with no shadows.
Story continues after the jump.
(Source: 9to5Mac)
So how will a “flat” iOS look like? Think Windows Phone and Google Now. The flat design, to be headed by Apple’s Jonathan Ive, will be applied throughout the entire iOS 7 from the lock screen to, well, everything else. Here’s a compilation of several flat iOS 7 video concept designs made by various designers on the internet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=keiIEqNN9Jw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=SYcKDUZHc7s
(Videos compiled by Pocket-lint)
More social apps integration
Like the existing Twitter and Facebook integration on iOS 6, it has been rumored that Facebook will be adding more social apps integration into iOS 7 namely Flickr (1TB of space!) and Vimeo. Not too long ago, it was reported that Apple was testing on a functionality for easy uploading of photos to Flickr and videos to Vimeo via a share button like Twitter and Facebook. If it’s true, the Cupertino company could very well unveil this new functionality in WWDC.
AirDrop
As rumored before, iOS 7 will take design cues from Mac OS X and it looks like it might borrow a feature or two as well. 9to5Mac also reported that Apple is testing AirDrop functionality on iOS. AirDrop is currently available via Wi-Fi on OS X, which allows one Mac user to quickly transfer files to another nearby Mac user. Apple is reported to be testing on ways to support AirDrop on iOS without a Wi-Fi connection.
Maps/Siri
It looks like Apple is still working hard on reviving its Apple Maps. According to reports, the company is working to expand the Siri Eyes-Free technology and will introduce some form of in-car integration for Siri and Maps. Not such a big deal for us, considering how crappy mapping services in Malaysia are – the lack of Google Maps support (no navigation or Street View) and the non-existent Apple Siri location based services, but it would be nice to see Apple working hard to upgrade its mapping services. BMW recently unveiled its M Power app for iOS that is beyond cool.
(Source: Engadget)
Camera Filters
As though all the filters you have on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and such are not enough, expect more from Apple. Apple has recently been reported on testing on a few variants of a redesigned camera app which includes image filters.
That’s it, for now at least. WWDC 2013 will start on 10 June 2013, are you excited yet?
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