Apple has unveiled iOS 7 after months of speculation.
"iOS 7 is the biggest change to iOS since the introduction of the iPhone," said CEO Tim Cook, introducing iOS 7. "It's packed with amazing new features, and a stunning new user interface."
The latest version of Apple's mobile operating system represented the biggest change to the look and feel of iOS since the first iPhone launched in 2007.
As anticipated, iOS7 sports a flat-design, with the skudeomorpism of the previous design done away with.
"We wanted to take an experience that people know very well and add to it," Ive explains in a video shown during the keynote event. "We see iOS 7 as defining an important new direction ... and in many ways, a beginning."
The redesign of iOS has reportedly been underway for the last six months since Craig Federighi took over software development for the mobile platform.
Very little of the new operating system resembles the old version of the software. Almost every part of the software has been redesigned.
Among the new features are multiple pages within folders and the introduction of a today view for notification centre.
Apple also showed off its new Control Centre, which offers a quicker and simpler way to control many of the most used settings.
Another major change includes the introduction of a revamped multitasking interface, which is part of the Control Centre. Instead of icons, iOS 7 displays a preview of the screen. It is also smart enough to recognise when you use an app a lot during the day – such as Facebook – and devote more power and processing time to it to keep you updated.
iOS also introduces a raft of small, but all the same useful features, such as a Flashlight built into the device, and AirDrop, allowing you to share files and photos without needing to send them via email or text.
Other small features introduced in the latest version include FaceTime audio, per app VPN and perhaps long overdue, the ability to block people from calling you on the phone and via FaceTime, and sending texts via Message.
Siri sounds more human like in iOS 7. It's also smarter and faster – very much needed with the superior processing available via Google Now. Siri also now has Twitter, Wikipedia, and most interestingly, Bing support.
Apple has also beefed up security on the device, enabling enterprise single sign on support for those of you who used your iPhone in the workplace, and a revamp of find my iPhone that locks the device until you sign in with your Apple ID and password.
Apple has said that the software is still under development at the moment and will be released later on in the year.
Take a look at our full iOS 7 rundown features in our video below:
