With the recent release of iOS 7.1.1 we can finally and inevitably admit the fact that the seventh iteration of Apple’s mobile platform is no longer in the spotlight. All the bug and glitch fixes, UX tweaks, and other improvements of iOS 7 are now overshadowed by the rumors surrounding the upcoming iOS 8, which is expected to launch this fall and possibly be unveiled earlier at WWDC 2014.

Not that iOS 8 gets as much buzz and debate as iOS 7 did. Most likely, it will be the same iOS 7 with a couple of added apps and tweaks, unless Apple has a few surprises up its sleeve. Meanwhile, potential changes, improvements and new features have been gathering in the rumor mill for some time, coming from Apple-related sources, the biggest being 9to5Mac. Here we would like to make a summary of rumors.

health book

A rumor in its most unofficial form, Healthbook even has a suggested icon (similar to Passbook), and more, it’s said to be a perfect link between the smartphone and the possible iWatch. Like almost everything with Apple, it’s supposed to be a near-perfect personal health assistant: weight, nutrition, calories, heart rate, hydration, blood work, blood sugar, fitness tracking, and much more.

Paired with the M7 motion coprocessor built into Apple’s latest devices, it makes sense as the next logical step. If we ever get to see the iWatch this year, we’ll see it paired with iOS 8 at the same time. The health and fitness app industry is flourishing, and its owners should keep an eye on Healthbook, whether it becomes a worthy default rival. On the other hand, it can bring valuable integration with a new generation of health applications.

maps

Apple’s native maps, despite the fact that some time has passed, are still perceived as a failure. Since then, Apple has been talking about making its Maps better and better. In 2013, Apple acquired several mapping related companies (e.g. BroadMap, Embark, HopStop), and iOS 8 could introduce us to public transportation directions/routing options, which was one of the reasons why people came back to Google Maps after Apple became Maps. the default value.

Another rumor is that the interior mapping feature will also be included. Let’s not forget about CarPlay, which will definitely require Apple Maps at its best (and which may also support WiFi instead of going wired). It is also quite possible that the updates refer to showing information about locations and places, such as restaurants, bars, etc. This may pave the way for more detailed Apple Maps-based guides, indoor navigation for shopping malls and large hospitals. Regarding the latter, it can be useful for internal staff. If you integrate with Healthbook, everyone can use the detailed navigation. There may be a group of several ideas actually.

Game Center

It is rumored that this will cease to exist as a standalone application, with all the necessary functions within the games. This may require some additional changes and adjustments to existing games.

itunes-radio

iTunes Radio has received huge adoption since its launch in September and its growth rate has outpaced even Spotify’s. It is now expected to become a separate default app, a rival to other streaming services. There is also a rumor about the cooperation between Apple and Shazam that may introduce the song recognition feature in iOS 8. This, in turn, may lead to the iTunes store where the song can be purchased.

touch id

The feature introduced in the iPhone 5S is expected to be used for mobile payments. Once you use Touch ID, you quickly get used to it and unlock your phone, as well as approving App Store downloads without realizing it. Incorporating it into mobile payments is an even more interesting idea, especially giving this opportunity to third-party apps. If so, and if purchases are also about non-digital goods, Apple simply has to provide its best tool for online shopping, the iPad, with a fingerprint scanner. This is what we really expect from the next generation of iPads.

other rumors

There is also a rather questionable ‘screenshot’ circulating the web with icons for apps like Healthbook, Preview, TextEdit and Tips. However, Preview and TextEdit don’t even have the iOS 7-like layout and are skeuomorphic. It has also been ‘reported’ that text preview and editing for iOS could only allow viewing of documents stored in iCloud (and integration into custom apps is also expected to be simplified). Siri is supposed to get an upgrade, though it’s unclear what nature it will be. It will possibly enable specific interactions between Siri and apps, increasing convenience and functionality.

Here we can see that expected hardware changes may be even more crucial to custom development than the operating system itself. For example, the iPhone’s rumored larger screen and the design/redesign issue that will arise as a result. As for the common ‘wants’ of iOS users, they are still unresolved: like changing and hiding default apps, extended customization, option of a guest account (for example, for children). If your iOS app addresses any of these issues, keep an eye out for rumors until things are ironed out. But we know you already do, right?