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iOS 8 is packed with feature upgrades (pictures)

Apple's latest mobile operating system has loads of changes across all the core apps with more changes to come.

Jason Parker
Jason Parker has been at CNET for nearly 15 years. He is the senior editor in charge of iOS software and has become an expert reviewer of the software that runs on each new Apple device. He now spends most of his time covering Apple iOS releases and third-party apps.
Jason Parker
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1 of 18 Photo by Josh Miller/CNET

Apple iOS 8

The latest upgrade to Apple's mobile operating system comes with a wealth of new features that will be appreciated across the board, but the best features may still be yet to come.

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2 of 18 Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET

The new keyboard

As you type, the new keyboard will predict your next words just above the keys. This has been on Android for a long time, but it's great to see it come to iOS 8.

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3 of 18 Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET

Messages Details

Touching the details button in the upper-right corner while chatting brings up a Details page where you can share your location.

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4 of 18 Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET

Map shows up in chat

When you share your location, a map shows up in the chat window. People will remember this feature from Whatsapp Messenger.

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5 of 18 Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET

All the photos from texts

You used to have to search through your text history for photos you didn't save at the time. Now, the Details page shows all the attachments from your chat history with that contact or group.

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6 of 18 Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET

Camera color correction

Now when you edit a photo, you have the option to use sliders to control Light, Color, and Black and White. These "smart" sliders are actually making lots of different changes behind the scenes for the perfect look.

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7 of 18 Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET

Fine-tuning your images

If you touch the Light slider selection, you'll see all the different things that are being adjusted automatically. Touch any of these to fine-tune them yourself.

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8 of 18 Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET

Time-lapse video

The new Time-Lapse video option in the camera lets you point at a busy intersection and start recording. The resulting high-speed video is a great time-lapse experience without a lot of work.

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9 of 18 Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET

Photo search

The new search field in the Photos app gives you suggestions based on time and location, or you can look at recent searches.

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10 of 18 Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET

Search by time

If you know the photo you're looking for was taken in November, you can search for just shots from that month. If you know the exact data (a birthday, for example) you can zero in even further.

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11 of 18 Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET

Spotlight search for restaurants

Spotlight search now gives you results from the Web when you perform a search. A search for "Chinese" brought up several Chinese restaurants nearby.

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12 of 18 Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET

Movie show times

When you search for a movie, Spotlight automatically finds theaters where it's playing nearby and will give you the showtimes.

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13 of 18 Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET

Notifications and widgets

The Notifications area will now show widgets. You can see the calendar, reminders, and stocks here, but as more third-party apps upgrade, you'll have more widgets to choose from.

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14 of 18 Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET

Answer texts quickly

When a new text comes in, you will no longer have to leave the app you're using. Just drag downward to open up a field and start typing your reply.

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15 of 18 Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET

Quickly call favorite people

A double tap on the Home button brings up the currently open apps as it did before. But at the top, you'll now have your favorites and recent people you have called for easy access.

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16 of 18 Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET

App Store search trends

The App Store has gotten several interface tweaks that make it easier to use. Tap the search field to see the latest trends for app searches.

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17 of 18 Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET

App Store by category

When you explore the App Store in iOS 8, you'll notice it's not so scattered. New categories let you drill down to the things you want quickly.

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18 of 18 Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET

Vertical browsing

The App Store has switched the way you browse in iOS 8 to let you browse through search results vertically.

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