Well, we don’t get too chatty about smartphone OS updates, especially since most of today’s phones can do “almost” anything we need. However, this (Apple iOS 7) is an exception. We just installed the beta version on an iPhone 5 with relative ease. And, for a first-day-of-issue beta, it is nearly bug-free. I’m happy to report; all of the new features we’ve tested so far are performing well.
Visually, users will notice the look-and-feel is quite different with the removal of the skeuomorphism that was prominent in previous releases of iOS. Gone are the brushed aluminum, green felt game tables, and stitching along the seams of some frames. A cleaner, flatter perspective with an elegant use of well-placed translucent layering gives iOS 7 the look of a completely new generation of smartphones.
Functionality is vastly improved with the new Control Center, cleaner multitasking with previews, a lift on the folder size restrictions, and a variety of new features throughout existing “stock” apps like Safari, Photos, Camera, Calendar, and others.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. There was a series of announcements from Apple earlier today – with the new OSX (Mavericks), a new Mac Pro (finally), and significant enhancements to iCloud, iWork, and the MacBook Air.
So, what does this have to do with strategic planning, marketing strategy, or expense control? Actually, many of Apple’s announcements may have a significant impact on the tools available for your marketing, design, and other creative departments. The enhanced horsepower behind the new Mac Pro should greatly improve production time and efficiencies in video production, graphics, illustration, and high-end photo editing.
For those businesses with OSX and iOS shops, by the end of the year, you will have some new tools to work more efficiently and seamlessly in the office, at home, and on the road.
That’s all for now. I’m going to sit back and relax to the sound of my new “free” iTunes Radio streaming broadcasts.