iOS 7 Release Date, News and Features: Review of Beta 5 Finds Pros and Cons
Apple continues to roll out the beta versions of its new iOS 7 operating system for the iPhone, and fans of the smartphone continue to live and die by every last update. Let's take a look at what people have to say about it.
"After two full days with the software, I have to say I think it's excellent. It looks good, and more importantly, it works very well. It's changing how I use the iPhone for the better," observes Business Insider's Jay Yarow.
Unfortunately for Apple, Yarow may very well be in the minority of people who are actually impressed with the beta version of iOS 7 so far. Many iPhone-philes (iPhiles?) are upset at the display in the latest version of the operating system. For that disgruntled population, the colors involved appear to be hideously basic and ill-conceived.
"Am I alone in thinking the iOS 7 home screen icons look ugly, poorly balanced, and of an unattractive color palate?" wrote Circa CEO Matt Gilligan.
Another controversial point of conversation with iOS 7 is the "Frequent Locations" feature. With a public already on edge from the recent NSA scandal, Apple has now decided it would be a good idea to track where its users are going at all times and package that data up into a nice little bundle of information.
The Frequent Locations feature will come standard with the new iOS 7 and will have to be manually turned off. While those who are extra-sensitive about their whereabouts will have no problem disabling the feature, it is still a scary reminder that our phones may one day keep us in an Orwellian state of surveillance -- if they don't already.
In other news, Apple also recently reacted to the hacking of its developer program services. That functionality was shut down for roughly a week, but Apple appears to have fixed the problem and is poised to reintroduce those services this week.
"We plan to reinstate most of the remaining services this week: Xcode automatic configuration as well as access to license agreements, TSIs, program enrollments, and renewals in Member Center...if your membership was set to expire during this downtime. it has been extended and your apps will remain on the App Store and Mac App Store," notes a statement from Apple.
iOS 7 is now in its fifth version of beta testing. It is still expected to be formally introduced on the iPhone sometime this fall, though when exactly that will be remains a mystery.