iOS 7.1 Released

Last month we reported that Apple was rumored to release the final version of the major iOS 7.1 update this month. iOS 7.1 was released today with user interface tweakes, bug fixes and CarPlay to everyone and it is available for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices . As we reported back then, the final release does not include any new features; instead it includes the changes introduced by the five betas (mostly user interface tweaks and bug fixes) plus previously announced features such as CarPlay.

Some of the changes introduced by the five beta version are many. The first iOS 7.1 beta introduced performance improvements and redesigned some aspects of the Operating System?s user interface. It also included some new accessibility features and of course bug fixes. iOS 7.1 beta 2 made further interface redesigns (button shapes were changed to be more accessible than in the first beta version), updated the calendar?s design and it included a new setting that related to the iOS in the Car feature. The third iOS 7.1 beta included more performance improvements, bug fixes and several minor tweaks such as new layouts for the Camera app, a redesigned user interface for the power off screen and a new option ?Reduce White Point?, which as its name implies, reduces the brightness of the display.

iOS beta 4 added a few bug fixes, an option to allow a female voice for Siri in Australia and in the United Kingdom. It also improved animations for the Messages app and included a few tweaks for the shut down slider. The fourth iOS 7.1 beta also fixed the vulnerabilities exploited by Team Evad3rs? Evasi0n7 jailbreak tool. And while the code sign bug that was used by the Evasi0n7 jailbreak tool was still included in the fourth iOS 7.1 beta, the kernel exploit was patched. The fifth and final ioS 7.1 beta, added natural Siri voices for a few regions (Australia, United Kingdom, Japan and China), Apple TV updated software and Xcode 5.1 Developer Preview 5. It also features new designs for the shift and caps lock keys on the keyboard (making them stand out from the rest of the keys), new options for the wallpaper setting and the parallax button?s name was changed from ?Motion? to ?Perspective Zoom?.

Other improvements include faster animations and transitions, a revamped music app, a new visual cue in the camera app for the auto flash option, an auto HDR mode as well as a visual cue for when HDR is enabled. The update also includes push to talk support for Siri and a new wallpaper for all the supported iPad tablets (you may remember it from Apple’s marketing campaign for the iPad Air). Probably more important than all of the visual tweaks mentioned above, is the fact that the update to iOS 7.1 fixes a bug that remained unfixed since September 18th 2013, when iOS 7 was officially released. The bug randomly reboots iDevices (it affects all iOS devices: iPhones, iPads and iPod touches) which made users name it the ?home screen crash?? (it is also known as BSOD, but instead of blue it is the Black Screen of Death).

The bug remained unfixed for a very long period of time and it became pretty annoying for iPhone 5S, iPad mini with Retina display, and iPad Air users to have their devices randomly reboot for no apparent reason. At the end of January when we posted the article, Apple spokesperson Trudy Muller said: ?We have a fix in an upcoming software update for a bug that can occasionally cause a home screen crash?. Now the bug is fixed. iOS 7.1 also fixes an issue with Touch ID, improving the security’s system accuracy when reading the user’s fingerprint. iPhone 4 users were not left out; in fact, iOS 7.1 improves performance on the oldest iPhone to support the latest iteration of iOS, but also on the second and third generation iPad models so if you own one of these older iOS devices you have all reasons to update to iOS 7.1.

We have also recently told you that the ‘iOS in the Car’ feature was rebranded as CarPlay at the beginning of March. iOS in the Car (now CarPlay) was unveiled on June 10 2013, during the opening keynote of the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) and it allows users to use Siri, listen to music, access their messages, make and decline calls and use the Maps app, all this while in the comfort of their car.

This month, Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari and Volvo demoed the CarPlay feature using cars that these manufacturers will release by the end of 2014. Besides Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari and Volvo, there are many other car manufacturers that have already said they will integrate CarPlay in their cars; these manufacturers are: Acura, Audi, BMW (which initially claimed it has no interest in the feature, but later changed its position), Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford, Honda, Holden, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jaguar, Kia, Land Rover, Nissan, Opel (Vauxhall) and Toyota.

This update also brings changes to the iTunes radio as you are now able to make new stations from previous searches. The iOS 7.1 update also lets you subscribe to iTunes Match from your iOS device. There are many other small improvements to the iTunes radio in the iOS 7.1 update. While this is a major update, we reiterate that it does not come with any new features (well, maybe CarPlay could be considered a new feature though it is not actually new as it was announced last year). Even so, all the user interface tweaks, all the bug fixes and improvements that iOS 7.1 brings are more than welcomed and they transform a very good Operating System into an even better one. You can update to iOS 7.1 right now.

Please note that if you have a jailbroken iOS device, updating to iOS 7.1 will revert your jailbreak and this latest iOS update does not support jailbreaking at the moment as it patched the vulnerabilities exploited by the Evasi0n7 jailbreak tool. So if you don’t want to lose your jailbreak, it is best no to update for now. To download the new iOS 7.1 update, you can simply go to Settings, from there choose General and the choose the Software update section; the update will be there ready for you. If you are a registered iOS developer and have one of the previous iOS 7.1 betas installed, you should update to the full iOS 7.1 version as it is feature complete while the beats lack certain features (even the fifth and last beta misses some features from the final version of iOS 7.1, namely the SSL fix and the final version of CarPlay). You may also want to check the new web page set up by Apple for the new iOS 7.1 update. The web page gives a short description of iOS 7.1’s features and additions:

iOS 7.1 is packed with interface refinements, bug fixes, improvements, and new features. Apple CarPlay introduces a better way to use iPhone while driving. And you can now control exactly how long Siri listens and more. Getting the update is easy. Go to Settings. Select General. And tap Software Update.

Available on select new cars in 2014, CarPlay takes the things you want to do with your iPhone while driving and puts them on your car?s built-in display. Now you have a smarter, safer way to make calls, get directions, or play music from your iPhone while in the car. Just plug in your iPhone and go.

Simplicity is often equated with minimalism. Yet true simplicity is so much more than just the absence of clutter or the removal of decoration. It?s about offering up the right things, in the right place, right when you need them. It?s about bringing order to complexity. And it?s about making something that always seems to ?just work.? When you pick something up for the first time and already know how to do the things you want to do, that?s simplicity.

It has a new structure, applied across the whole?system, that brings clarity to the entire experience. The interface is purposely unobtrusive. Conspicuous ornamentation has been stripped away. Unnecessary bars and buttons have been removed. And in taking away design elements that don?t add value, suddenly there?s greater focus on what matters most: your?content.

Even though we described above most of the changes introduced by iOS 7.1,for those of you that want the full release notes, you can read them below:

CarPlay
– iOS experience designed for the car
– Simply connect your iPhone to a CarPlay enabled vehicle
– Supports Phone, Music, Maps, Messages, and 3rd-party audio apps
– Control with Siri and the car’s touchscreen, knobs, and buttons

Siri
– Manually control when Siri listens by holding down the home button while you speak and releasing it when you’re done as an alternative to letting Siri automatically notice when you stop talking
– New, more natural sounding male and female voices for Mandarin Chinese, UK English, Australian English, and Japanese

iTunes Radio
– Search field above Featured Stations to easily create stations based on your favorite artist or song
– Buy albums with the tap of a button from Now Playing
– Subscribe to iTunes Match on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to enjoy iTunes Radio ad-free

Calendar
– Option to display events in month view
– Country specific holidays automatically added for many countries

Accessibility
– Bold font option now includes the keyboard, calculator, and many icon glyphs
– Reduce Motion option now includes Weather, Messages, and multitasking UI animations
– New options to display button shapes, darken app colors, and reduce white point

Other
– New Camera setting to automatically enable HDR for iPhone 5s
– iCloud Keychain support in additional countries
– FaceTime call notifications are automatically cleared when you answer a call on another device
– Fixes a bug that could occasionally cause a home screen crash
– Improves Touch ID fingerprint recognition
– Improved performance for iPhone 4
– Fixes display of Mail unread badge for numbers greater than 10,000
– Continued user interface refinements