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Apple iOS 8 Features & Benefits: Complete Breakdown

Apple iOS 8 FeaturesApple does it again. CEO Tim Cook recently announced the latest and greatest coming from Apple, set to hit the public this fall.

The company is developing iOS 8, the newest software update that will be made available for iPads and iPhones.

The system will improve hugely on past capabilities, while adding some new, user-friendly features that will improve both your experience and ease with Apple products.

So for those of you with shared routers (like us here at The DSM Group) trying to download iOS 8 this fall, may the odds be ever in your favor. Let's find out what you'll be getting.

Health Tracking

Apple will now make your health easier to track. The app will allow you to track calorie intake and burning, clock hours of sleep, watch your heart rate and personalize the app to fit your needs and desires. The best part? You can select which data you want to share with your other health and fitness apps you already have on your phone, like NIKE Training Club and FitStar.

Family Sharing

Easily stream and share photos, videos and comments with the whole family via family sharing. Never miss a party or dinner again with family calendar sharing. Everyone on time to family dinner = happy mom, happy mom = happy everyone. More importantly, optimized device locating services for the whole house, now when your kid loses her iPod (again), find it without stress.

Easily link the whole family up to one credit card for purchases, and set limits and permission settings to prompt you before your kids buy something. Finally, share music, apps, books and anything else you purchase from the store easily.

iCloud Drive

Easily drag and drop files in and out of your iCloud drive to share with all of your devices. Start a document on your Mac, edit it on your iPhone on the train and finish it up on your iPad at work. Real-time edit updates occur across all devices as you work, swap them easily and without losing any data.

Interactive Notifications

Respond and RSVP without leaving the app you're in. New iMessage banners offer you the option to respond immediately, calendar invitations allow you to accept or decline with one tap, and check out, mark as read or trash new emails with just a swipe.

Message Optimization

Add instant voice, video and location sharing with one touch. Have a group of attachments you'd like to send at once? No problem. Want to easily reference them later on in the conversation? Done with another tap. Control group chats by naming, adding and deleting members with ease.

Ever thought your iPhone literally may be able to finish your sentences? Now it actually can. Receive a text asking if you would prefer dinner or a movie and iOS 8 will offer you the ability to quickly tap replies such as "Dinner" or "Movie" without having to blink. Choose to swipe around the keyboard to compose your messages, or just use the classic typing method with optimized autocorrect - it's up to you. Additionally, iOS8 lets users use third-party keyboards like Swype or Swiftkey.

Increased Device Connectivity

Thought it was great when you could access iMessage from any device? Now you can even SMS from any of them. If your iPhone isn't within reach but you're receiving a call, answer easily on any of your other devices. Just make sure the devices are all connected to the same Wifi. No Wifi? No problem, now you can connect your devices to your iPhone hotspot.

Overall Design & Functionality Improvements

As always, Apple changed up the details and design of many features with iOS 8. App developers everywhere will be updating and recreating applications to better serve you on the new software, look out for a ton more options and ways to personalize your Apple experience.

Hats off to Apple, as per usual. I'll be honest, I'm happy there was no new device announcement, like come on - I've had an iPhone 5 and iPad 2 for a year and they're already outdated. But with some new software, we'll all get a fresh new face for our cherished Apple products. Get excited.