Apples New iPhone Software: Redesigned, With A Lot Of Features Copied From Android

I've been using a pre-release version of iOS 7, Apple's upcoming update to the iPhone operating system, for a few days now. 

If you're unfamiliar, iOS 7 is a top-to-bottom redesign of the current version of the software. All the apps like Calendar, Mail, and Weather have new looks and new icons. The background wallpaper moves with you if you swivel your iPhone in your hand. Colors are brighter and shapes are smoother. 

It's beautiful to look at, yet completely jarring to people like me who have been using the classic-looking iOS for nearly six years now.

Still, it only took me a day to feel right at home.

Keep in mind iOS 7 isn't finished. The only people who have access to it right now are developers who make iPhone and iPad apps. Apple gives these developers early versions of the software so they can make sure their apps work when iOS 7 launches to the public later this year. Things will change. Bugs will be ironed out. Even the app icons could look different in the final version.

That being said, the software is complete enough that it's possible to get a general understanding of where Apple is going with iOS. This isn't a review of iOS 7, but a glimpse at the future of the iPhone.

Read More