Apple® has released its iOS 8 SDK, the biggest developer release ever with more than 4,000 new APIs, giving developers the ability to create amazing new apps like never before. iOS 8 allows developers to further customize the user experience with major extensibility features like Notification Center widgets and third-party keyboards; and introduces robust frameworks such as HealthKit and HomeKit.
"With more than 800 million iOS devices sold worldwide, the opportunity for developers is huge," said Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering. "This is the biggest iOS release since the launch of the App Store. The iOS 8 SDK delivers more than 4,000 new APIs including amazing new frameworks, greater extensibility and a revolutionary new programming language."
iOS 8 offers developers robust frameworks including HealthKit APIs that provide the ability for health and fitness apps to communicate with each other. With your permission, each app can use specific information from other apps to provide a more comprehensive way to manage your health and fitness. For example, your blood pressure app could share its data with a physician app, such as the Mayo Clinic app, so your doctor can provide high-quality guidance and care.
"We believe Apple's HealthKit will revolutionize how the health industry interacts with people," said John Noseworthy, M.D., Mayo Clinic president and CEO. "We are proud to be at the forefront of this innovative technology with the Mayo Clinic app."
As HealthKit combines health data to help you take better care of your health, HomeKit lets your home accessories connect seamlessly to better manage your home. HomeKit delivers a common protocol, secure pairing and the ability to easily control individual or groups of devices throughout the house including integration with Siri®. For example, you can tell Siri you are “going to bed” and it could dim the lights, lock your doors, close the garage door and set the thermostat.
Developers can further customize the user experience with iOS extensions, including new sharing options, custom photo filters, custom actions and document APIs. Developers can now add their own widgets into Notification Center, and third-party keyboards offer additional layouts and input methods.
The iOS 8 beta software and SDK are available immediately for iOS Developer Program members at developer.apple.com. This fall iOS 8 will be available as a free software update for iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, iPod touch 5th generation, iPad 2, iPad with Retina® display, iPad Air™, iPad mini™ and iPad mini with Retina display. iCloud® Photo Library and iCloud Drive™ use your iCloud storage with the first 5GB free. Features are subject to change. Some features may not be available in all regions or all languages.
Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, Mac OS, Macintosh, Siri, OS X, Cocoa, Cocoa Touch, Objective-C, Xcode, Touch ID, App Store, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Retina, iPad Air, iPad mini, iCloud and iCloud Drive are trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
#HealthIT Space: Apple Introduces Robust Framework #HealthKit - http://t.co/2UZkgQSg2i @ehealthnews pic.twitter.com/FVoIKmcws6
— Health IT Space (@healthitspace) August 25, 2014