The release of Apple’s iOS 8 was a significant milestone in the iPhone and iPad operating system evolution, mainly due to its user-focused approach.
This edition spotlighted an array of groundbreaking apps intended to fill the void and incorporate previously missing features from Apple’s suite. With the launch of iOS 8, Apple included critical elements from these advanced apps, reducing reliance on specific third-party applications.
Let’s delve into some of these game-changing apps:
Messaging apps like Snapchat and WhatsApp: iOS 8’s enhanced iMessage gave users the ability to send concise multimedia content and choose to share their location – a feature typically associated with WhatsApp and Snapchat. WhatsApp’s CEO Jan Koum publicly recognized this statement, acknowledging Apple’s adoption of their key features.
Skype: Before iOS 8, apps such as Skype, which provide premium, subscription-based options, mostly facilitated WiFi calling. However, iOS 8 marked the beginning of free WiFi calling to any device for Apple users, a significant advantage for those with poor cellular connections.
Skitch: The Mail feature in iOS 8 mirrored Skitch, a popular app for image annotation. This made switching between apps unnecessary. Moreover, Apple’s rendition was equipped with custom tools to refine the precision of basic geometric sketches.
1Password: Acknowledging user’s requests, Apple opened the usage of its innovative fingerprint sensor, Touch ID, to third-party applications with the advent of iOS 8. Before this, password managers like 1Password or LastPass were standard. As a result, your fingerprint evolved into a universal access key for your iPhone.
Minor enhancements were applied in 2025 for readability.
Paul Balo is the founder of TechBooky and a highly skilled wireless communications professional with a strong background in cloud computing, offering extensive experience in designing, implementing, and managing wireless communication systems.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.
