New iOS 8 Features: Extensions, Credit Card Scanning, Camera Time-Lapse and Wi-Fi Privacy

The iOS 8 has been touted as both the health and gaming OS for Apple, with the expected debut of the HealthBook and the Metal framework that was recently announced at the WWDC 2014.

But apart from these, there are a number of new features and inclusions in the iOS 8 that have been rumoured and reported to debut with the new OS.

Extensions

One of the biggest changes coming with the iOS 8 are called "Extensions," which are basically the capability of apps extending their functions to other apps. According to BGR, there are six kinds of extensions, each of which have their own restrictions to allow for security and battery saving capabilities:

- Today extensions: located in the notification center that show limited information

- Share extensions: used to share information from one app to an online service and will expand the capability to most online services

- Storage Provider extensions: for apps that have document pickers to use several online services

- Action extensions: basically allows you to use the function of another while in a different app.

- Photo Editing extensions: editing the photos without having to exit an app you're using

- Custom Keyboard extensions: allows using other third-party keyboards

Wi-fi Privacy Requires Sign In

When it comes to the iOS 8, privacy is given more priority. Engadget reports that the iOS 8, though using random network identifiers when it comes to scanning for wi-fi, will not reveal your device's ID unless you sign in, thus protecting your iPhone when going through wi-fi hotspots.

This will have good effects on privacy for your device, since you won't have problems with retailers making use of trackers for your device.

The Guardian elaborates how this occurs, stating that the iOS 8 will not share the MAC address to retail trackers. The MAC address, also known as the Media Access Control address, is the address that is communicated to wireless networks even though the device does not intend to connect with it.

With the old system, this means that the retail trackers get information from your device even though you don't connect with it, and the iOS 8 will be able to stop this system by giving fake MAC addresses unless the device owner actually signs in to the wireless network.

Credit Card Scanning

Still on the topic of security, the iOS 8 is also giving credit card users more options with their purchases.

According to Mashable, Safari is sporting a credit card scanning option where you will be prompted with a "Scan Credit Card" extension of the iOS 7. The previous OS already has the passwords and an Autofill option, but this new feature will have character recognition that will supposedly transform your credit card image into distinct numbers as seen in your iOS device.

The Camera Time-Lapse Feature

Beyond protection and security, the iOS 8 will also be putting some new features for its camera and photo apps, which is the time-lapse video feature.

Cult of Mac reports that the time-lapse camera will give you a sequence of photos with ease. The new feature allows you to easily create a video of however long you want or even a snippet video that could fit in Vine.

According to the report, the app even adjusts the settings on its own so that it could produce the videos with the quality similar to that of a DSLR. Editing and trimming for the video is also part of the feature.

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