iOS is a mobile operating system developed by Apple Inc. iOS is an Apple operating system that runs on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Historically Apple launched its new version once in a year. Apple launched it’s the first version in 2007. Now it going to release its new version iOS 11.
Before ten years apple turn the world and made it smart. Apple launched its first pocket computer with a combination of touchscreen hardware and dynamically adjustable interface. To develop an iOS / iPhone application we use Objective C and iOS Swift languages.
Let’s see how Apple change the iOS version –
1.iOS version 1 :
iOS launched its first version on 9 January 2007 with some limited features multi-touch gesture, MMS, music app, visual voicemail etc. It has some new app like map, calendar, photo.
Key Features :
- Visual voicemail
- Multitouch interface
- Music App
2. iOS version 2 :
After successfully launching ios 1 apple officially released ios 2 on 6 March 2008 with some updated features as Appstore, a map with GPS and email.
The most important change introduced in this version was app store and its support native, a third-party app which gave users access to apps created by developers. Ios 2 allows full support for Microsoft Exchange for push email, calendars, and contacts.
Key Features :
- Appstore
- Improve Map Apps
- Microsoft Exchange Support
3. iOS version 3 :
iPhone OS 3 came with many little changes and released on 19 June 2009 with some improvements as cut, copy, paste. Also, Apple improves the ability of its GPS and focus in the camera not only on clarity but also could record the video. In this version, its easy to buy movie, books, shows direct from the iTunes to your iPhone mobile.
The most important features it supports hardware like Bluetooth also allowing other brand hardware support such as blood pressure monitor and other health-related accessories.
Also in this version safari web browser support HTML5 features.
Key Features :
- Copy and Paste
- Spotlight Search
- Recording Videos
4. iOS version 4 :
On 21st June 2010, Apple released its new version iPhone 4 with 100 new features. The most significant features introduced in ios 4 was multitasking, spell check, app folder, Wi-Fi tethering, facetime, it also supports multiple exchange account.
iOS 4 introduced video chatting capabilities of facetime. In this version, mail becomes more powerful with unified inboxes, organized mail threads, quick look attachment support. For the first time with ios 4, iPod touch users didn’t have to pay to upgrade.
Key Features :
- Multitasking
- FaceTime
- Retina Display
- Airplay
- Airprint
- Personal Hotspot
5. iOS version 5 :
Like ios 3, ios 5 came with name “s” with iPhone 4S. iOS 5 came with many new features Siri replace voice control with virtual assistance. It allows you to ask questions and give comment in your natural language. In iOS 5 notifications were great background apps alert you to new information, but they sat center of the screen and occupy space until dismissed. In iOS 5 there was one section in a setting in which you can manage which app can notify and how.
iOS 5 also supports iMessage which is integrated with a built-in messaging app on the iPhone.
Most important factor in ios 5, ios devices were made computer independent by giving wireless function.
Finally, ios 5 came with new cloud service, Among those was iCloud, the ability to activate an iPhone wirelessly.
Key Features :
- iCloud
- iMessage
- Notification center
- iTunes Wi-Fi Sync
6. iOS version 6 :
Ios 6 was released on 19 sept 2012. In this version apple created his own map, he was not dependent on google map. Apple developed a map which provides turn-by-turn navigation and fly-over 3D modeling of certain cities. In ios 6 Apple take a big step towards mobile payments with the new Passbook app. Facebook integration was a highlight, since iOS 6. Privacy controls become more granular, specifically requiring apps to get permission to access Photos, Calendars, Contacts, and Reminders.
Key Features :
- Apple maps
- Passbook (Now Wallet)
- Facebook integration
- Shared photo streams
7. iOS version 7 :
iOS 7 launched in 2013 with a complete change in visual design. Jony Ive became the Apple’s new “Lead Industrial Designer” There was a new design icon, colorful gradients, eye-catching graphics. Every element was redesigned to give a simple look and feel. Control center offers one-click access to Airplane mode, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Do Not Disturb, Rotation lock, and sliders for volume and brightness. It also made changes in setting shortcuts, It provides buttons for flashlight, camera, calculator and gives full music control.
Apple also added Airdrop in which you can quickly share photos, videos, and the file with the people around you. iTunes radio was another best features included in ios 7. Ios 7 also supports automatic updates. It provides update all function in play store to update all apps at one time.
Key Features :
- Activation Lock
- AirDrop
- Control center
- iTunes Radio
- Multitasking
8. iOS version 8 :
Ios 8 was released in 2014. In ios 8 Apple focused on expanding features and improving workflows. Ios 8 support family share features in which apple user share all the content which was download from iTunes. Apple also added a number of features in iMessages, It improved video message interface, group messaging management, also it allowed to send multiple images, videos at a one time. Ios 8 support iCloud drive which offers cloud storage like Dropbox. Ios 8 introduced new features QuickType, which include a text-prediction system that guesses what the next word you’re going to type will be.
Key Features :
- Apple Music
- Apple Play
- Family Sharing
- Upgrading Messages
- QuickType
9. iOS version 9 :
iOS 9 is the ninth major release of the iOS mobile operating system developed by Apple Inc. and was released in September 2016.In this version, a new app was introduced by Apple which displays news from different sources.The new features were introduced for Safari which includes content blocking extensions which gave end users control over what content is being loaded and how they are being tracked. Apple introduces more intelligence and integrated Spotlight, offering up proactive suggestions for users due to which Siri got more smarter. 3D touch was also a cool new feature introduced for iPhone 6S and 6S Plus.The iPad family gained new features like Slide Over and Split View. In further version like 9.3 Night Shift Mode was introduced due to which your eyes do not get stressed. Also, this version offered low power mode, and the battery time was improved up to one hour.
Key Features :
- Low power Mode
- Updated Apps Maps, News, Wallet etc.
- Designed to work with new 3D touch in iphone 6S and 6S plus
10. iOS version 10 :
The initial version of ios 10 was released on 13th Sept 2016 with a new lock screen. Maps got a new fresh look which offers easy to access recent searches and places visited most often. The Keyboard became more intelligent, Siri gives multi-language support. A photo can be filtered by location, facial recognition, and many more other details, the photos are automatically clustered into albums along with creating a video of highlights.
Some of the apps like Apple music and News app were redesigned also they introduce a new Home app for home automation.Messages became more expressive than ever, letting you send animated texts and full-screen animations along with handwritten notes, Digital Touch-based events like taps and heartbeat, and the option to replace specific words with emojis.Bigger emoji are new in Messages, and there’s even a predictive emoji feature that suggests words that can be replaced with emoji.
The major themes of iOS 10 were interoperability and customization. Apps could now communicate directly with each other on a device, allowing one app to use some features from another without opening the second app. Siri became available to third-party apps in new ways. There were even apps built into iMessage now
Key Features :
- iMessage App
- Redesigned lockScreen
- Redesigned Music App
11. iOS version 11:
Ios version 11 offers a big improvement over its all versions. iOs 11 is the latest version of ios and it became available to download on 19 sept 2017. In iOS 11 made changes in its design interface elements throughout the system. It made the changes such as text is bolder, apps like Calculator and Phone have a new look, and the Lock screen and Control Center have been entirely redesigned. For the lock screen, it’s been merged with notification center. iOS 11 introduced a great feature as Drag and Drop, in that you drag content i.e. images, link from one app and drop it to another app. In that all files stored locally, in iCloud Drive, in apps, and in third-party cloud services like Dropbox and Google Drive.
Ios 11 gives new keyboard features, like a one-handed keyboard on the iPhone and a “Flick” option for typing numbers and symbols more quickly on the iPad.
In ios 11 the App Store has been completely changed, and there are now two distinct sections for apps and games.
Key Features :
- Drag and Drop
- New App Store
- Apple Pay Cash
- Updated Control center
Above you see a history of each version history of the iOS when it was released, and what it added to the platform.
iOS vs Android which is better comparison chart:
| Android | iOS | |
| Developer | Apple Inc. | |
| Initial release | September 23, 2008 | July 29, 2007 |
| Source model | Open source | Closed, with open source components. |
| OS family | Linux | OS X, UNIX |
| Widgets | Yes | No, except in Notification Center |
| File transfer | Easier than iOS. Using USB port and Android File Transfer desktop app. Photos can be transferred via USB without apps. | More difficult. Media files can be transferred using iTunes desktop app. Photos can be transferred out via USB without apps. |
| Available on | Many phones and tablets. Major manufacturers are Samsung, Motorola, LG, HTC and Sony.. Nexus and Pixel line of devices is pure Android, others bundle manufacturer software. | iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV (2nd and 3rd generation) |
| Internet browsing | Google Chrome (or Android Browser on older versions; other browsers are available) | Mobile Safari (Other browsers are available) |
| App store , Affordability and interface | Google Play – 1,000,000+ apps. Other app stores like Amazon and Getjar also distribute Android apps. (unconfirmed “.APKs”) | Apple app store – 1,000,000+ apps |
| Available language(s) | 100+ Languages | 34 Languages |
| Voice commands | Google Now, Google Assistant | Siri |
| Maps | Google Maps | Apple Maps (Google Maps also available via a separate app download) |
| Latest stable release and Updates | Android 8.0.0, Oreo (Aug 21, 2017) | iOS 11 (Sep 19, 2017) |
| Alternative app stores and side loading | Several alternative app stores other than the official Google Play Store. (e.g. Aptoide, Galaxy Apps) | Apple blocks 3rd party app stores. The phone needs to be jailbroken if you want to download apps from other stores. |
| File manager | Yes. (Stock Android File Manager included on devices running Android 7.1.1) | Not available |
| Cloud services | Native integration with Google cloud storage. 15GB free, $2/mo for 100GB, 1TB for $10. Apps available for Amazon Photos, OneDrive and Dropbox. | Native integration with iCloud. 5GB free, 50GB for $1/mo, 200GB for $3/mo, 1TB for $10/mo. Apps available for Google Drive and Google Photos, Amazon Photos, OneDrive and Dropbox. |
| Working state | Current | Current |
| Interface | Touch Screen | Touch Screen |
| Supported versions | Android 5.0 & later (Android 4.4 is also supported but with patches) | iOS 8 & later |
| First version | Android 1.0, Alpha | iOS 1.0 |
6 things to plan for before developing your mobile app:
Many companies developing a mobile app there is a huge competition in the market. But you should make a plan to develop a successful mobile application development for your organization. Your app should be different from others.
Let’s discuss some points –
- Set Goals:
While developing a mobile application, first of all, analyze the goal for developing the mobile application. What did you want to achieve? Check whether your app is for making money or other? Should your app help build customer loyalty and enable greater customer self-service? Once you analyze or find your goal, it’s easy to know where to start and how to develop an app?.
- Know your Audience:
After analysing goal next step is to find your target audience. Research on what customer wants? What are their requirements and what technology they use? For you your audience is everything hence understanding their expectations are more important.
If you understand your audience, then you can create an app that audience lovable.
- Early User Feedback:
Upto now you set your goal and also find your targeted audience. User are the best tester for building a successful app. By discussing inquiries for feedback with user you can identify which modification required in your app. User use your app in a way that you never thought at the time of testing your app. Your user feedback is very valuable to build a better app for your users.
- Minimum Viable Product:
Before finding a whole problem it’s better to identify minimum viable solution and start. Before investing time and cash into a full product, it’s better to developed a small but functional app this will enable you to faster builds and enter the market more quickly. Building full app is more costly whereas to build least functional app beneficial to hit the market also it save your money. If you hit your goals and manage to achieve a critical user base, then you’ll be able to perpetually continue functioning on your app and scale as needed.
- Research:
Research always help to build a successful and unique app. Download, install different app and find what others are doing in their app. Every mobile app has different features and they use different platform. If possible discuss with professional that what you are trying to achieve is technically possible or not. This research will definitely help you to find recent technology and use.
- Multiple Release and App Update
Releasing the initial version of mob app is the starting. Statistics will shows you data of your engage user. You have to recognize is your user re-engage once the new features updated in your app? Updating key features in an app is the excellent strategy to keep your user active and engage. But always keep in mind not to released often keep 3-4 month gap between them so you can keep your user engage lifetime.
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