7 top changes in Apple's new iOS 7 operating system

Apple is touting its latest mobile operating system, which was released today at 10 a.m. PT, as the "most significant" iOS update since the original iPhone.

"Downloading iOS 7 is like getting an all-new device," said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice-president of software engineering, as he walked users through the company’s newest operating system on Tuesday. "One that's so much more useful and elegant than ever before."

Apple's new iPhones spark class war

Apple CEO Tim Cook predicted that when the iOS 7 becomes publicly available for free on Sept. 18 it will "quickly become the world’s most popular operating system."
Here’s a look at some of new features Apple users can expect:

1. New look
The redesigned operating system has a cleaner look for everything from the icons to the lock screen. Users may not immediately recognize the brightly-coloured, simplified Apple application icons. The user interface design aims to de-clutter the screens.

2. Control centre
This is a brand new addition to the operating system. The control centre is a pull-up menu accessible from any app or screen when using iOS 7. The handy feature offers fast access to the most commonly used features and settings such as airplane mode, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, camera, calculator and more.

3. iCloud Keychain
For anyone who struggles to remember a myriad of passwords, the iCloud Keychain will be the standout feature of the new operating system. It can remember account names, passwords and credit card numbers, which Safari will automatically enter when the user logs into a site. It doesn't, however, store the credit card security code.
The feature is not restricted to iPhones. Passwords, which are stored in iCloud, can be synced to all trusted iOS 7 devices, including computers using OS X Mavericks. Apple says it's highly secure and uses 256-bit AES encryption. The feature also helps users generate strong passwords.

4. Improved Find My iPhone
With all those passwords stored in the new iOS, users may feel a bit worried about losing their valuable devices. Fortunately, to keep devices safe, the iOS 7 also includes a number of new and improved security options. The Find My iPhone activation lock is one of them.

iPhone 4, 4s and 5

iPod touch 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB (Fifth generation)

iPad 2, iPad with retina displays and iPad mini

If Find My iPhone is turned on and the device is stolen, the phone's data cannot be erased and the feature cannot be turned off without the owner's Apple ID and password. The owner can also remotely erase information from the device and then a custom message can be displayed on it. This all makes it a lot harder for the device to be used by others or sold off.

5. Siri becomes male or female
Siri, the in-phone personal assistant, has a new look, sound and capabilities. Users can now choose between a female and male voice, though novelty voices are still unavailable. Siri now checks more sources such as Bing, Twitter and Wikipedia and can also play voicemail, return calls and read and reply to text messages.

6. Filters and other camera options
The new camera app has slightly more options than before. Users can now swipe between four camera options: video, regular stills, panorama photos and square pictures. Filters can be applied before or after taking the photo. The redesigned app automatically organizes the pictures based on time and location for easy searching and sharing.

7. Location-based and kid-friendly apps
The new iOS also updates the App Store with a new feature called Apps Near Me. This enables users to see a collection of the most popular applications based on their location. A tourist in an unfamiliar city might find it handy to pull up these location-based recommendations. Parents also benefit from an App Store addition: a new Kids category that suggests apps based on the specified age of the child. And iPhone users can say goodbye to the red alerts badgering them to update their apps. The App Store can now be set to automatically update whenever the phone is in a Wi-Fi zone or battery-saving mode.

Five things to do before installing iOS 7

The iOS 7 is here. Be sure to do a bit of prep work to make the process easier on both yourself and your iOS device before installing the latest update.

Apple has released a highly anticipated update to iOS devices: iOS 7. The new version is a complete departure from prior versions of iOS.

The update is set to bring an entire new look and feel to iOS devices, which in turn will likely lead to late-night calls from your parents asking why their phone or iPad looks so different. That is, ifthey can find the redesigned Phone icon.

In addition to the new look, there's a long list of new features such as a new Control Center, photo filters, and AirDrop.

With the looming update in mind, it's important you prepare yourself and your device to make the transition as smooth as possible.

Check device compatibility

First, make sure your devices are capable of running iOS 7. Apple has posted a list of devices that will be able to run the latest OS:

Click to enlarge

Delete unused apps

Once you've determined your iDevice eligible for the upgrade, it's time to quickly go through the apps you currently have installed and delete any that are unused. Odds are, if you haven't opened an app in the last couple of months or so, you likely don't need it. Tap and hold an app icon until it starts moving, then tap on the X icon to delete. If you do end up needing the app in the future, simply redownload it from the App Store.

Update installed apps

After pruning up your installed apps, launch the App Store and ensure that the remaining apps are up-to-date. Some apps, such as Foursquare, are already releasing iOS 7 app updates so you'll be able to use them as intended on iOS 7 as soon as your OS update is complete. With iOS 7, app updates will automatically be downloaded for you; take a minute to cherish the last time you'll be forced to manually install app updates.

With your apps up-to-date, you'll minimize the wait for a lengthy list of apps to update as well.

Back that thing up

You'll want to be sure to back up your device(s). Not only is this something you should be doing on a regular basis, but it's something that's especially important to do right before upgrading an OS. Should anything go wrong, you'll be able to restore your device with the same settings and information currently stored on it. The more recent the backup, the more recent the information capable of being restored will be.

You can back up your device using iTunes or by letting iCloud take care of it for you. Unsure how to back your device up, or which method to use? Rick Broida walks you through each process, making sure your comfortable with either method.

Update iTunes

When a major version of iOS is released to the public, it's almost always accompanied by an update to iTunes. The update usually adds new features to iTunes, but it also brings with it compatibility for new devices and the new OS.

You can check for the updated version of iTunes on Apple's site shortly after the release of iOS 7, or check for software updates on your Mac by clicking on the Apple Menu icon followed by Software Update. Windows users can use the Help menu in iTunes and click "Check for Update."

Once you've gone through this checklist and prepared your device for the update, prepare yourself to hold off on updating until later in the day after you get home or have some time away from work. Apple typically releases the update midmorning or early in the afternoon, depending on your time zone. In the past, there have been occurrences of the activation servers going down, leaving users with a device they can't use.

If you try to update while at work or away from home only to find yourself in a similar situation, you won't be able to restore your device until later in the day when the servers are stabilized. Have some patience early in the day to prevent yourself from being frustrated the remainder of the day.

iOS 7, Apple’s latest mobile operating system, is now available for download

The time is finally here for Apple iPhone users: you can now upgrade to the new mobile operating system iOS 7. Anyone who has an iPhone 4, iPhone 4S or iPhone 5 can update now by going to the General tab under Settings, then clicking software update. If you have an iPod Touch (5th generation 16GB, 32GB or 64GB), iPad 2, iPad with Retina Display or iPad Mini, you can also update to iOS 7.

You’ll need to make sure you have 3.1 GB of space available on your phone in order to install the new operating system, so consider now the perfect time to clean out those selfies in your photo album that you don’t really need, or those apps you downloaded, tried once and have never touched again.

It’s also a good idea to make sure your apps are all updated before jumping in to iOS 7, in order to make sure they’re compatible. Many app publishers have been pushing out updates all week (with a huge flood of them today), so turn on your WiFi or plug into iTunes and get downloading.

In addition to a new, cleaner look that departs from the skeuomorphic look of Apple’s last few OS and iOS updates, it also has new features like Control Center, which puts your most commonly used settings and features in a more accessible place – think turning WiFi on and off, or using the calculator. iOS 7 also presents new ways to multitask, with the mobile operating system intelligently knowing the key times you use your apps and updating content ahead of when you typically launch it.

Stand up for fair competition in Canada

The Government of Canada is risking the future of the Canadian wireless industry. The policy loopholes, which give giant American corporations an advantage in the wireless spectrum bidding process, are unfair and will have massive consequences for Canadians.

This policy could undermine Canadians’ ability to connect to one another, threaten Canadian jobs, and raise significant concerns regarding privacy and security.

It's time to stand up

WHAT'S AT STAKE

The Canadian government is about to auction the most technologically advanced, productivity-enhancing wireless spectrum ever made available.

This development has the potential to shape Canadians’ access to wireless technologies for years to come.

So why is our government giving preferential treatment to giant American corporations at the expense of Canadian companies?

Canadian wireless providers are all for competition. Competition has driven Canadian carriers to build world-leading networks of high speed wireless coverage, nationwide. Competition benefits Canadians.

But competition requires a single set of rules – a level playing field.

It's time this government stands up for fair competition. It’s time we tell Ottawa to close the loopholes and subsidies for American wireless giants before it’s too late.

for more info visit: http://fairforcanada.ca/

Bell Mobility Canada today announced new Apple iPhone 5S and 5C

Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Bell Mobility Canada today announced it will offer iPhone 5s, the most forward-thinking smartphone in the world, and iPhone 5c, the most colorful iPhone yet, to customers beginning on Friday, September 20. iPhone 5c will be available for pre-order on Friday, September 13. For more information on iPhone, please visit: www.apple.com/iphone.