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You’ve waiting patiently since June, but today is finally the day when iOS 7 is released for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. iOS 7 is a significant update from iOS 6 that may give you the satisfaction of new tech without making a financial investment. If you’re itching to get a new phone but don’t want to buy one, updating to iOS 7 may give you the new features you want without having to spend any money.
iOS 7 became available beginning today at 10 am PDT, but before you update, make sure you’re taking the proper steps to make the process go as smoothly as possible. iOS 7 is available free for:
- iPhone 4 and later
- iPad 2 and later
- iPod Touch 5th generation
New iPhones, the 5c and 5s, will come with iOS 7 installed.
Why Upgrade to iOS 7
Design
iOS 7 is packed with features, but the most obvious change is the brand new look that iOS 7 will give your device. The new color pallet is bright and the font has been updated for a more modern look. Gone are the skeumorphic icons that try to trick the eye into believing that you’re seeing a physical object instead of a digital one. No more faux felt, stitched leather or shadowed images. iOS 7 icons rest on a home page that seems to float as you move the phone, giving a parallax view of the screen.
Information is displayed in translucent layers to reduce the need to switch back and forth between apps. Choosing your wallpaper becomes more important with iOS 7 as the colors of the image show through in places like the phone keypad and Settings.
iOS 7 adds animation and movement so a prediction of rainfall in the Apple weather app displays raindrops falling.
Control Center
iOS 7 adds Control Center that helps you access settings easily with a swipe up from the bottom of your screen. You can use Control Center to access:
- Sound Volume
- Music Controls
- Flashlight
- Camera
- Timer
- Airplane Mode
- Brightness
- Bluetooth
- Do Not Disturb
- Calculator
- and other controls
No more need to leave an app and open Settings to make these adjustments. Control Center opens in a layer above the app you were using so you can get back to the task at hand directly.
Notification Center
Swipe down from the top of the screen to reveal Notification Center and see the important alerts on your device. You can sort these notifications by Today, All and Missed. In Today you can see weather and calendar information.
You can access Notification Center from the lock screen of your phone so you don’t have to enter a passcode (or use fingerprint ID) to see your alerts.
Multitasking
Imagine waking up every morning, turning on your device and seeing your email, Facebook, Twitter and other apps already updated. If you like that idea, you’ll like the powerful Multitasking of iOS 7.
The new multitasking is designed to maximize the efficiency of running and updating apps. Your device will learn your habits and perform updates ahead of time. Apps will update automatically when you’re connected to Wi-Fi.
If you have multiple apps open, you can swipe through screens and the icons.
Closing your apps will be easier too. Just swipe up on a page or on an icon from the bottom dock to close an app.
Safari
Safari will be easier to navigate. Websites open in layered tabs displaying full screens. You can have an unlimited number of web pages open, scroll through them, then swipe to close. Drag and drop to reorder the pages on your screen.
Camera and Photos
iOS 7 brings new editing features to photos, including filters and cropping. You also will be able to organize your photos into Collections, according to places and dates.
Siri
Siri will come with a choice of voices and will connect to Twitter and Wikipedia. You’ll also be able to use Siri to adjust the Settings on your device.
AirDrop
You will be able to transfer files, photos, contacts and other information directly between devices using iOS 7 using AirDrop. This feature works over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth so you don’t need to use up your monthly data to transfer data.
iTunes Radio
iOS 7 introduces iTunes Radio, a free music streaming service where you can create personalized stations based on song, artist, genre or a song you already own in iTunes. The service also comes with over 200 pre-programmed featured stations to help you discover new music.
You can teach it which music you like to hear and purchase any songs you like directly from iTunes. You can use Siri to control iTunes Radio.
If you want ad-free listening, you can purchase a subscription for $24.95/year which also gives you iTunes Match.
For more information on Features in iOS 7, including Apps Near Me, Siri updates, and more, see WWDC 2013 – What’s New at Apple. You can also watch the video from Apple introducing iOS 7:
How to Update to iOS 7
Before you update your device to iOS 7, you should follow some important steps to make sure the process goes as smoothly as possible.
1. Make sure that iOS 7 is available for your device (see above).
2. Close all of your open apps. See, Close Your Apps! for instructions on how to make sure all of your open apps are closed.
3. Check how much space you have free on your device. Go into Settings => General => About => Available. This update uses 3 GB of space. You may need to delete photos, videos, music and apps to clear out space. You cannot add space to your iDevice so make sure to splurge and get more than you think you’ll need the next time you buy a new one.
4. Back up your device. Whether you back up your device to your computer or to iCloud, you want to take this important step. If your update goes haywire, you want to be able to restore your device to its previous state. For instructions on how to back up your device, see Apple, iOS: How to back up and restore your content
5. Perform the update. Whether you do an over the air update or connect to iTunes on your computer, follow the steps set forth by Apple’s website.
When to Update to iOS 7
When you update to iOS 7 will depend upon how excited you are to get ahold of the new features. Waiting can have advantages. The update becomes available today so Apple’s servers will probably be taxed by early adopters, making downloads slower today.
Although iOS 7 has been tested for months by developers, today’s release will likely reveal undiscovered bugs in the system. Apple will probably release 7.0.1 within a few days to fix those bugs. Last year, iOS 6 took away Google Maps and gave us Apple Maps, causing many people to wait until December when Google Maps became available again to upgrade to iOS 6.
This update is a radical change so some apps may not work well or at all with iOS 7. If you have an app you can’t (or don’t want to) live without, wait and read app reviews on iTunes to see if your favorite apps play nicely with iOS 7. Also check to see if your apps have been updated for iOS 7.
Make sure you have planned plenty of time to perform this update. Major updates such as this one can take a long time (think hours) to complete. Learning the new features may take some concentration so update only when you have a few moments to familiarize yourself with the new look, feel, and operation of your device.
If you have an older device, such as an iPhone 4 or an iPad 2, waiting can also help you determine whether your device will perform with iOS 7. If iOS 7 challenges the hardware of those devices, you may want to stick with iOS 6, at least for a while. iOS 7 may compromise the stability and performance of your older device, so waiting to update will allow others to be the early adopters and reveal issues.
Once you update to iOS 7, you can’t go back to iOS 6. If you decide you miss the faux leather stitching on the Find My Friends app or the felt of Game Center, you won’t be able to get it back after you update. Similarly, if your older device crashes or runs slowly with iOS 7, you won’t be able to revert to iOS 6.
But if you just can’t wait to update, I understand. Me too.
Update: Many trying to update to iOS 7 today have had long waits and have been unsuccessful.
Sweet only about 14 hours left #ios7 pic.twitter.com/wQu45n23R7
— Alex Colasante (@AlexColasante97) September 18, 2013
Your Thoughts
Are you upgrading to iOS 7? Will you be an early adopter? Which features excite you the most? Do you like the new look of iOS 7? Will you use iTunes Radio? Will you change Siri’s voice? Let us know in the Comments section below!
Hi Carolyn,
I am looking forward to iOS 7. I’m always looking for new and updated features from Apple. One of my friends have been testing it, and he told me that it looks too much like an Android phone with iOS 7. So, it’s going to be interesting to see what I think of it.
Hi Jens, You’re right, not everyone likes the look of iOS 7. Reactions have been very mixed to the colors and the flat appearance of it.
I thought of Windows 8 Phone when I saw the bright, flat icons. But I do like the translucent look of iOS 7 and I’m a fan of color.
The new features should be great. I’m excited about a lot of the new features, including iTunes Radio, Control Center and the page navigation in Safari.
Hi Carolyn,
I’m still not sold, but I’m not altogether sold on smart phones. I am considering the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom 8GB SM-C101 because I like the camera and I could check the stock market and Twitter easier. I can get a Nikon D3200 DSLR for the same price now though, so it’s a little expensive. I might buy myself one for Christmas! I have to pay more money out on my car and buy new glasses first. I have to to have graduated lenses and reaclite, so they will be expensive too! I hate parting with money! 🙂
Hi Mike, Wow, yes, getting new glasses should definitely come before getting new tech. Yes, if you can get a camera that’s also a smartphone that may serve you well.
The editing features of iOS 7 probably wouldn’t mean too much to you as you like to edit pictures on your computer. But I hope you get yourself a nice Christmas present! :-bd
I am not totally sold on it. I don’t like the color of the folder backgrounds, and wish we could choose the color. I do, however, like the new ringtones, the super fast FB app, and the control panel. The flatness is something I will have to get used to. I don’t hate it, but I’m not exactly loving it either.
Oh, and BTW, iPhone 4 also can get iOS 7, not just iPhone 4S.
Hi Valerie, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! Yes, change can be difficult and iOS 7 is a bucketload of change. Basic tasks, such as using Spotlight search, have been dramatically altered.
The folder background colors are based on your wallpaper colors so you can change the folder color by changing your wallpaper. Go to photos, find the photo you want to use as your wallpaper, press the icon in the lower left corner, press Next in the upper right corner. A panel will pop up from the bottom. Swipe the bottom row to the left, then press Use as Wallpaper. You will then be given the opportunity to move and scale the photo. Press Set and you will have new wallpaper.
I was expecting more from Apple this time as its been enough time since Apple have not come up with something exceptionally innovative. After the death of Steve Jobs Apple is lacking some innovative ideas & that is why losing a significant market share.
Hi Alan, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! Yes, many people have been upset with Apple for not releasing a more innovative iPhone this month. Yet many others are excited about the release of the new iPhones tomorrow. What would you liked to have seen from Apple in the new phones?
Hi Carolyn,
I am one of those people who just couldn’t wait to get this update! I downloaded IOS7 first thing this morning and I’m just delighted with it!
The look is obviously very different and much more colourful than IOS6 but I personally don’t mind having a bit more colour. I absolutely adore the Control Center, this is going to make my life so much easier! Also, closing down apps is easier than before and Safari navigation is much smoother. I also like the possibility of changing the colour scheme on my phone by using different wallpapers.
Unfortunately the iTunes radio is only available in the US for now so I can’t comment on that. I wish it would come to Europe soon though, that would be a very welcome addition for me.
Thanks for a great article!
Laura
Hi Laura, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! That’s great that you have downloaded the update successfully. I can certainly understand why you couldn’t wait. The fervor over iOS 7 has grown extremely strong over the past two days. While reaction has been mixed, for the most part people seem to love it.
It sounds as if you have embraced the changes and have already started using some of the key features of the operating system. Well done.
I couldn’t connect to iTunes Radio initially so I haven’t had time to play with it, but I do hope it comes to other countries very soon.
Wow…these are great, Carolyn. We have iOS 6 so far. And might eventually switch to iOS 7 later. I love the parallax movement, iTunes radio, and the weather thingy is now animated and bigger on the screen than it was before.
With these changes I suppose comes with a new iPhone hardware as well? If so, we will have to wait for a little while coz we just bought three iPhone 5 last Christmas and even if we wanna upgrade now, we just can’t afford for the time being.
But I cannot wait to upgrade our phone to iOS 7. Great product review.
Angela
Hi Angela, Thanks so very much for your kind words. Yes, the iPhone 5c and 5s come out tomorrow. You will find a link to my preview of them at the bottom of this post. Many people may feel that they have a new phone already because of the many new features in iOS 7.
The changes between the iPhone 5 and the new phones isn’t dramatic, so you may find yourself perfectly content with the changes to your phone with iOS 7.
Thanks For Information You are totally cool now i’m looking forward to update my IPhone as soon as possible Ios 7 is looking great and friendly
Hi Muneeb, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! I hope you have a smooth update process and that you like the new look and feel of iOS 7. It’s quite a change but I’m really enjoying the new operating system.
Hi Carolyn,
IOS seven is tested for months by professional so i don’t think there would have and harmful bug. so going to adopt new IOS 7 as soon as possible
Thanks for sharing..
Hi Mr. Kashyap, I haven’t heard any reports of serious bugs to iOS 7 though I have encountered a couple of snags with certain apps. I can certainly understand why you’re eager to update, I was too and am glad I did, though patience was key.
It is unfortunate that Apple has run out of ideas and copied the Android. I used IOS 7 today. It was confusing, because I was holding an iPhone case, but everything worked like an Android, which confused the owner who wanted me to help her downgrade.
As for the new features, Fingerprint ID was in a phone by HP in 2003 and in 2011 it was in the Android Motorola 4 atrix. Phandroid has a really good article about that http://phandroid.com/motorola-atrix-4g/. The multitasking is an exact copy of Android and as for the colors, that was copied from a very popular Android theme pallette.
I’ve been waiting and hoping that Apple would use some of the innovative ideas that Jobs patented before his passing, but sadly they aren’t using his ideas or whomever gave him the ideas. Some of the ideas were a true 3d phone, true 3d avatars, basically a holophone. When Apple releases that, then I’ll be impressed.
Hi Ryan, Yes, I would be impressed with those innovations too!
Many people have been confused with iOS 7, but as with any new tech, there will be an adjustment period.
Thanks for sharing that article with us, Ryan. Yes, it is interesting the similarities between the two operating systems now. I also was reminded of Windows Phone with LIve Tiles having flat bright colors.
It will be interesting to see where both Android and iOS are headed next.
Hi Carolyn !
Thanks for sharing this update with us . Like many of Ios fans , i liked these new updates on IOS . These updates have just made IOS better than Android Jelly Bean . I really like the newly added air drop feature and the notification centre very much and would love to see some more new features in the next IOS update.
Pramod
Hi Pramod, Yes, Android and Apple fans will be debating for quite a while which phone’s operating system is best. When I’m using iOS 7, I don’t miss any of the features of iOS 6. When I use iOS 6 on my iPad it does seem old fashioned. How quickly the times change!
Hi Caroline,
I love the Flat UI and parallax icon set of iOS 7. It also has several hidden features such as configuration of vibration patterns, SIRI improved results, e.t.c.
Hi Gautham, Sounds as if you’re really enjoying iOS 7! The parallax effect is very cool and you’re right, there are some amazing hidden features. With over 200 new features it will take us a while to discover them all!
Hi Carolyn,
Well I haven’t rushed off to do this and I still have plenty of room although I still might not jump into it since I’m not a big user anyway and I’m really comfortable with the way things are working now. We’ll see though. Everything is definitely backed up though and I was going to mess with those audios this weekend by the way!
Thank you for this important update and have a great weekend.
~Adrienne
Hi Adrienne, You’re smart not to rush into updating. I’ve updated my iPhone so I could experience iOS 7 but I’m waiting on my iPad. Not everything is working perfectly and there is a learning curve. I do like the new look and features of iOS 7 though!
Carolyn,
I am so glad I found your website. I have had an iPad for a while but just got an iPhone within the last year (I guess I work so much with computers and play with my iPad that I was the last hold out on getting a smart phone).
I, like you, really like this personal tech stuff ! I think I am going to wait maybe a month and see … since you commented there were a couple things that didn’t work. This was a great article, thank you!
Hi Barb, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! I’m glad you found this site too, thank you for your kind words. 🙂 You’re certainly not the last holdout to get a smartphone. Some people never will get them because they don’t need one.
Some apps may not be compatible yet with iOS 7 so by waiting you have a better chance to avoid missing out on issues with the update. If you want to enjoy the features of iOS 7, you may want to update one of your devices, either your iPhone or your iPad and leave the other on iOS 6. My husband has iOS 7 on his iPad but not his iPhone and I have the reverse. I’m enjoying learning the features of iOS 7 but I do appreciate the familiarity of iOS 6 when I use my iPad.
Hi Carolyn! When my daughter told me how cool iOS 7 is she had me! I’ve updated my iPhone but not my iPad like you. And hell: my CP Pro camera app does not work any longer … for the time being I use the installed camera app and played with it today.
I am rather a faithful and maybe lazy user, it does not have to be the last, best and fastest.
As always I find your posts highly informative and only wished I had read it before installing iOS 7. And there is no way back!
Thanks for sharing and have a fine Sunday!
Hi Barbara, You bring up a very important point. Just because an app isn’t compatible with iOS 7 now doesn’t mean it never will be. I checked and it appears that the app was updated in July, if this is the app you’re talking about: Camera Plus Pro. I imagine the developer, Global Delight, will be coming out with an update to make its app work with iOS 7. Here is the site where you can contact the developer to find out how close they are to releasing an iOS 7 version of their app: Global Delight Contact Us.
Thanks, Carolyn, for the contact details. You are so right: there is more to it than meets the eye, all the more reason to wait a little bit instead of diving right into cold water.
I will get in touch with Global Delight. Strange though: this afternoon I checked it with my daughter: I had previously de- and reinstalled it to no avail. The app works on her iPhone, there might be another reason why it does not work on mine.
I’m sorry to hear that, Barbara. I still suggest you contact the developer to let them know about the issue so they can try to resolve it in their next update of their app.
Great post and i am getting to know many things about iOS 7 and i just want to get to the point that it is good or not.So thanks for your great article.
Hi Gautam, Yes, you may want to wait a bit to learn whether your most important apps work well with iOS 7. If they do, and you like the look, then you may find that iOS 7 is filled with useful features for you.
I’m honestly on the fence about iOS7. A lot of my friends hate it, and some of them have even go so far as to reverse the update. I don’t think I’m going to do anything like that, but I do wish I was more impressed with the changes that they made.
Hi Jason, Yes, I can understand how you feel. Most people I have talked to like iOS 7 but others are frustrated by either the look or functionality of it.
I will say there are plenty of great new features for iOS 7. You may eventually want to update when you learn more about the features.
Going back to iOS 6 is possible, but only for the brave and tech-savvy users.
So far I have been happy with iOS 7 – love the new control center and how easy it is to access, this in itself made it worthwhile to update my iPhone4. I miss the yellow legal pad in my notes though! Bring back my yellow paper Apple!
Hi Kyle, I’m so glad you’re happy with iOS 7. I just heard from another Wonder of Tech reader who hates it, especially the calendar. Chances are it wasn’t going to please everyone though.
Yes, some of the skeumorphic touches were nice, like the yellow note pad. Hey, who knows what iOS 8 will give us?