Exactly six years after Apple launched the first version of iOS, it has opted to give it a total makeover. Does the new-looking iOS make a good impression? More importantly, does iOS7 incorporate changes that make it significantly better than previous versions?

The response to both questions is YES.

With the arrival of Android Jelly Bean’s ultra-smooth user interface and Windows Phone 8’s refreshing design, iOS had started to look dated. To counter challenge, Apple has released iOS7. One look at it and you instantly know that it is radically different to previous versions.

Devices that can be upgraded to iOS7

Like is the case with software updates, not every Apple device is compatible. The new iOS is only available for iPhone4 and later, iPad2 and newer (iPad Mini is supported), and the 5^th generation iPod Touch.

Some features only work on the latest Apple models. One such feature is AirDrop, a file-sharing service, which is available only to the iPhone 5, iPad Mini, 4^th generation iPad, and the 5^th generation iPod Touch users.

The update process

Updating to iOS7 is very straightforward. To do so, go to Settings > General > Software Update > and select Install.

What’s new in iOS7?

The Control Center is the most significant addition in iOS7. In the previous version, options like brightness control, WiFi, or 3G could be only accessed via Settings>General. However, in iOS7, users can access these options by swiping upwards from the bottom of their screen. Handy and practical as this functionality is, Apple doesn’t let users customize Control Center or turn cellular data on or off. This can be done only via Settings.

A simple swipe in the opposite direction—downwards from the top of the screen, that is—gives you access to the notification center, which has 3 tabs: Today, All, and Missed. Tapping the first tab shows your calendar events, while the other two tabs display notifications from different applications.

The icons are new, but not all of them are pleasing to the eye. Nevertheless, the user experience is great.

iOS7 supports Background App Refresh, which ensures that your social network feeds are updated even when the application is not open. The App Store is also easy to use, and the value of this improvement becomes clear when one sets up a new Apple device like iPhone. While in previous versions you needed to feed in a password every time you installed an application, iOS7 allows you to download all applications that are linked to your Apple ID.

All in all, iOS7 is refreshingly user-friendly and is Apple’s first attempt at making big changes in iOS. It does give your apple device a new look and feel. And if you want your old Mac laptop to work like new, consider running a reliable Mac optimization software tool on it. An effective Mac optimization tool will enable your mac computer to run faster and better.