How to Prepare for iOS 8 This Fall

At the WWDC 2014, Apple announced “the biggest release since the launch of the App Store” in the form of iOS 8. iOS 8 packs incredible features and developer tools that offer simple and more intuitive ways to use your device. If you are an Apple fan, then you will love what you will be able to accomplish once you update your device to iOS 8. To get the most benefit out of it, you can do a few things to prepare for iOS 8 and ensure you get a smooth transition from iOS 7 to iOS 8.

1. Set Up an iCloud Account

If you haven’t already, you better get started. iOS 8 will use iCloud extensively to ensure your photo library is easily viewable and consistent across all your devices. Included in the release is a new Photos app that automatically stores your photos into iCloud. You will need to enable the iCloud Photo Library to use this feature. Your photos are stored in your preferred formats including RAW files, HD original formats and others. You can then download and edit them later.

2. Organize Your Family Digital Life

Family Sharing is a new way allowing up to six people in your family to share the same credit card. Family purchases from the App Store, iBooks, and iTunes can be aggregated into one account. This is great if you want to monitor purchases and keep expenses under control. Family members also get immediate access to each others’ music, books, and apps purchases. Collecting family memories is also much easier as each family member can contribute to the family photo album and have everything stored in one place for all to see.

Each family can set up their digital calendar, either on Gmail or another tool. This will make it possible to have one family calendar and share your location with your family members on a map. It will also keep everyone in the know and help contribute to a happy, organized family.

3. Organize Your Work Data

With new stronger security features, increased productivity, and new device management features, iOS 8 makes for a more powerful business partner. If you’ve avoided email as a business communication method, it’s time to re-evaluate. You now have enterprise-grade security technologies built into iOS 8 providing expanded protection for your mail and app data. All your mail and third-party apps, including the Calendar, Contacts, Notes, and Messages apps will require a passcode. Individual messages are now encrypted as well. You can also start scheduling meetings via the Calendar app as it packs such features as the ability to see your colleague’s availability, mark events as private, and even set repeat events, say every Monday, and keep everyone in the know.

The AirDrop feature also enables you to transfer files between your iOS device and your Mac even without an Internet connection. If you’ve avoided leaving your office because you can’t have access your files, now you have the tools that gives you more autonomy over your work.

Conclusion

iOS 8 is expected to change how your iOS device works and the new possibilities it brings to the table will make it a valuable companion to have, both at work and at home.