A complete design overhaul brings iOS up-to-date (pictures)
iOS finally got a comprehensive redesign of an interface that hadn't changed much since the iPhone launch in 2007.
Jason Parker
Jason Parker has been at CNET for nearly 15 years. He is the senior editor in charge of iOS software and has become an expert reviewer of the software that runs on each new Apple device. He now spends most of his time covering Apple iOS releases and third-party apps.
iOS 7.1 was released on March 10, with some new features such as upgrades to Siri, a new auto HDR mode for iPhone 5S, and several smaller interface tweaks. This gallery is mostly focused on the changes since iOS 7, but I've added several new slides at the beginning to show some of the bigger changes in 7.1, along with side-by-side comparisons of minor interface tweaks.
To start off, a feature that was hidden in iOS 7 has been moved front and center in iOS 7.1. Now, when you open the Calendar app in month view, you can touch a button at the top to see your daily list of appointments, meetings, and birthdays without having to navigate to a different screen. It was one of the features people were most up in arms about after iOS 7 came out, so it's nice to see it's back in iOS 7.1.
Minor interface changes abound with the 7.1 update. For example, when you get an incoming call in iOS 7.1, you're presented with a cleaner look for accepting or declining the call, along with the Remind Me and Message options. Even with four buttons (as opposed to three in iOS 7), they don't take up nearly as much screen real estate.
Siri also received a few feature enhancements that are not apparent on this screenshot, but worthy of note. You can now hold down the Home button then let go when you are done talking. Before, Siri would automatically recognize when you stopped talking, but in loud environments would sometimes pick up words you didn't want it to. This change makes your questions more precise.
You can now set your iPhone 5S for HDR auto, making sure you get the best shot possible for the circumstances. You can easily switch it off for regular shots as well.
On the left is iOS 7.0 and on the right is iOS 7.1. It's not a huge difference but a helpful one. You'll notice that the caps key is different and more readable in iOS 7.1, along with the backspace key on the right. Also, though it's hard to tell, the letters themselves are a bit bolder in iOS 7.1.
On the left is iOS 7.0, and on the right is iOS 7.1. In iOS 7.1 the buttons are smaller and take up less space, and it also gives you the option to decline a call straight away.
On the left is iOS 7.0 and on the right is iOS 7.1. Though it's not a big difference, I like that Apple tells you there are "No Missed Notifications" in iOS 7.1.
On the left is iOS 7.0 and on the right is iOS 7.1. Here you can see the addition of today's priorities (with the new button at the top) in the month view in iOS 7.1. You'll also notice that 7.1 uses a bit more grey (in the background) to contrast with all the white.
On the left is iOS 7.0 and on the right is iOS 7.1. The dial pad in iOS 7.1 even received some small tweaks with a slightly darker background and the smaller call icon instead of the big green "Call" button.
When you double-tap the home screen, you'll bring up the new multitasking menu from which you can swipe left and right to see open apps, or swipe upward (on the preview) to quit an app.
Touch the colorful icon in the lower right of the previous slide to bring up nine filters you can apply to your photo. There are some decent selections here, but nothing as drastic as you find in third-party photo editors.
The weather app now looks a lot like the standalone Yahoo Weather, which makes sense because Yahoo powers the weather app in iOS 7. It looks great, but you don't get as much information as you do with the standalone app.
