Apple’s iOS 7, which was released on September 18, 2013, offers users quite a few new features and changes. The screenshots below show you how some of these changes will look on your iPhone.

This article is also available as a TechRepublic Screenshot Gallery.   

Apple’s new iOS 7 release

Apple has introduced a
cleaner, fresher design (Figure A) within its new iOS 7 release. Menu transparency is
favored, while blocky or obstructive elements are largely eliminated, in an
effort to encourage simplicity and improve ease of operation.

Figure A

iOS 7 design

iOS 7 Passcode screen

iOS 7’s new Passcode screen (Figure B) is less bulky and provides access to larger keys to simplify device and
application access.

Figure B

iOS 7 Passcode screen

iOS 7 Control Center

The new Control Center (Figure C) provides quick access to commonly used settings, including iTunes music, a
flashlight utility, Airplane mode, and more. The Control Center also receives
its own settings applet within the updated Settings menu, which enables
customization.

Figure C

iOS 7 Control Center

Refreshed iOS 7 interface

The refreshed iOS 7 interface (Figure D) boasts redesigned app icons and a more seamless overlook appearance
compared to earlier iOS versions. While this is a still image, Apple has taken
pains to add visual appeal by including dynamic wallpapers in which elements
move, a design element that will surely prove to be a common future standard.

Figure D

iOS 7 interface

Refreshed iOS 7 Maps app

The refreshed Maps app (Figure E) includes a 3D view and critical features like turn-by-turn directions are
still included. The app estimates travel times for users too. 

Figure E

iOS 7 Maps app

iOS 7 Settings menu

The iOS 7 Settings menu (Figure F) benefits from the same new streamlined user interface. Here you can see the
redesigned Settings menu, which now includes options for the new Control Center
feature.

Figure F

Settings menu

Control Center Lock Screen options

Users can disable the Control Center from the Lock Screen using the Control Center’s Settings options (Figure G). Users can also
toggle Control Center’s accessibility from within apps.

Figure G

Lock Screen options

iOS 7 Notification Center options

Notification Center
settings (Figure H) allow you to enable and disable a wide variety of elements, including
Calendar Daily View, Stocks, and Reminders.

Figure H

Notification Center options

iOS 7 Settings on an iPad mini

iPads also benefit from iOS 7, which fuels the popular tablet devices. This iPad Mini screenshot (Figure I) displays the additional information the tablet’s larger display can present
users for the same Notification Center optional settings.

Figure I

iOS 7 Settings 

iOS 7 Privacy Settings

Following 2013’s
revelations of government monitoring, privacy and security issues have never
received more attention. iOS 7’s Privacy Settings (Figure J) won’t guarantee that proprietary
information or sensitive videos and photographs will remain private, but users can
at least configure numerous settings to help protect such information from
unauthorized access.

Figure J

iOS 7 Privacy Settings

Apple’s new Weather app

Apple’s new Weather app (Figure K) is
simple. It changes the wallpaper to match the time of day and weather conditions and
makes preparing for the commute, offsite meetings, and even business trips and
conferences easy. The beauty of the app is the amount of information it
delivers at a single glance. 

Figure K

Weather app

Apple’s iOS 7 Calendar interface

Apple’s iOS 7 Calendar interface (Figure L) is much cleaner and simplifies
navigation between days and months. 

Figure L

iOS 7 Calendar

Monthly Calendar view in iOS 7

Calendar displays are more
easily read and navigated, including this this monthly view in iOS 7 (Figure M).

Figure M

Monthly Calendar view

Do Not Disturb settings

Do Not Disturb settings (Figure N),
accessed from the Settings menu, enable users to customize whether incoming call
alerts are received, permit calls from Favorites even when the device is
set to silenced mode, and allow a call to come through when a second call is
received from the same party within three minutes, among other options.

Figure N

Do Not Disturb settings

Email configuration in iOS 7

Email account configuration and settings (Figure O) are largely
unchanged in iOS 7. From the Mail, Contacts, Calendars options within Settings,
users can add new accounts and change configuration settings for active
accounts, including how much of an email preview appears. 

Figure O

Email configuration

iOS Maps settings

Maps even possesses
customizable settings (Figure P). Users can adjust the volume for turn-by-turn directions
and adjust the distance measurement from miles.

Figure P

Maps settings

Safari options in iOS 7

iOS 7 users can change
their search engine preference within the Safari options (Figure Q). Users can also
specify if they want links to open in new pages and whether
pop-up blocking should be enabled.

Figure Q

Safari options

Pages settings

Pages, Apple’s word
processing alternative to Microsoft Word, possesses its own settings (Figure R).
Users can confirm their Pages version and enable iCloud access, among other
options, using Pages’ settings.

Figure R

Pages settings

Numbers settings

Numbers, Apple’s
spreadsheet alternative to Microsoft Excel, also has optional settings (Figure S).

Figure S

Numbers settings

iOS 7 wallpaper

Apple has included an array
of attractive dynamic and still wallpapers (Figure T). The dynamic wallpapers
provide subtle movement that increases the device’s appeal and helps add
personality to the handset or tablet. iOS 7 users will also enjoy the
new
still-motion wallpaper images, like the starry sky view that
appears to ever-so-slightly change position when the device is rotated.

Figure T

iOS 7 wallpaper

Pages in iOS 7

Here’s a look at the
documents view of Pages (Figure U) when run in iOS 7 on an iPad Mini. 

Figure U

Pages in iOS 7

Pages’ tutorial in iOS 7

Here’s a look at Pages’
tutorial (Figure V) run on iOS 7 on an iPad Mini.

Figure V

Pages’ tutorial

Numbers’ tutorial in iOS 7

Numbers includes an excellent tutorial (Figure W) that helps get users
up to speed quickly using the spreadsheet application on iOS 7-powered iPhones
and iPads.

Figure W

Numbers’ tutorial

Newsstand in iOS 7

Newsstand, an excellent
method of keeping up with news, industry information and personal interests,
receives the same iOS 7 makeover (Figure X). Individual titles are easily accessible and
appear positioned on shelves within an interface possessing the same minimal,
unobstructed design as the rest of iOS 7.

Figure X

Newsstand

Safari in iOS 7

Safari receives a much
cleaner look on iOS 7 (Figure Y). If no previous web page is available, Safari defaults to
presenting a graphical view of the application’s bookmarks.

Figure Y

Safari

Notification Center view in iOS 7

A simple swipe from the top of the screen down reveals this
Notification Center view (Figure Z). In addition to presenting calendar and email
alerts, the Notification Center can present weather, Amber Alerts, Twitter updates, sports
scores, news headlines, a confirmation that applications were updated, and more.

Figure Z

Notification Center view

Camera app in iOS 7

iOS updates the Camera app,
too (Figure AA). A new Square option is included for shooting photos. New filters are
available, meaning many users may no longer require third-party software to
tweak and otherwise add simple effects to photographs.

Figure AA

Camera app

iOS 7 widescreen photo orientation

The Camera app’s
traditional widescreen photo orientation remains available within iOS 7, as shown here (Figure BB).

Figure BB

Widescreen photo orientation

What is your favorite new feature or update in iOS 7? Share your opinion in the discussion thread below.