Apple's iOS 7 software finally has its launch date: Sept. 18.
The software has been in beta for months, but the new look and core redesign will finally make its ways into consumer hands soon. The company is calling the mobile operating system overhaul "the biggest change to iOS since the original iPhone."
SEE ALSO: Hands On With iOS 7: It's Just the Beginning
iOS 7 will be available for download for iPhone 4 devices and later. The same goes for iPad 2 and later, the iPad mini and the fifth-generation iPod Touch.
Those words are certainly true. From new fonts, icons and a neon color palate to more gesture controls, universal search and camera functionality (with filters), iOS 7 is remarkably different than its previous versions — not only from a style standpoint, but also deep within how it works.
It's smart, too. It can learn where and when you commute to keep you posted on traffic alerts.
"It has a new structure, applied across the whole system, that brings clarity to the entire experience," Apple wrote on its iOS 7 webpage. "The interface is purposely unobtrusive. Conspicuous ornamentation has been stripped away. Unnecessary bars and buttons have been removed. And in taking away design elements that don’t add value, suddenly there’s greater focus on what matters most: your content."
Among its new features is the Control Center, which provides one-swipe access to the things you access the most on your phone. The multi-task interface and Safari browser were also refreshed. It also comes with AirDrop for high-speed sharing, allowing users to share files with other iOS devices.
For a full look at the software, check out the gallery below.
From the moment iOS 7 loads, its clear this is different. The linen that infused iOS 5 and iOS 6 is gone, replaced with white and thin sans serif typography.
While white is a predominant theme in iOS 7, this is not a monochrome OS. Color accents are almost always visible.
For the first time since the original iPhone, the overall look and icon structure of iOS is now new and fresh.
The wallpaper can now be dynamic or static. Dynamic wallpaper is similar to the animated wallpaper in Android, except it doesn't interact with your finger. The default wallpaper is static.
Mail has received a full revamp to both its main view and the compose screen.
Flickr and Vimeo join Facebook and Twitter as built-in services.
Swiping up from the bottom brings up the Control Center. This is an easy way to access your most used settings, including WiFi, audio, brightness and quick access to alarm, a calculator, camera and flashlight.
Meanwhile, photos can now store more items and span pages.
The new camera interface has a number of options built-in. Swiping across the bottom brings up options for the standard camera or the video camera.
There is a new square mode on the camera, perfect for Instagram. The panorama mode is still here too.
Apple also has its own filters built-into iOS 7. Rather than simply applying a filter in post, these filters are actually real-time and you can look through the viewfinder in that filter before taking a shot.
The Stocks app looks totally fresh. Notes also has a new coat of paint. The texture is still there but the yellow lined paper and Marker Felt are a thing of the past.
iTunes and the App Store both have new designs. Additionally, Apple has introduced a new Wish List feature on mobile, making it easy for users to save an app to buy later.
The App Store structure is still the same but the look is more fresh. In addition to the general charts, users can also check to see what apps are popular in their area.
A new share button shows off what you can do with an app which includes AirDrop and adding it to a wishlist.
Both look fresh.
The Lock screen no longer has anything to slide to unlock, just swipe to the right.
You can choose to make Control Center available at the lock screen or not.
Pulling down from the top still brings up notifications, only now without linen and with a history.
The weather app is beautiful and animated.
Reminders is now more robust in its appearance. There are different groups of reminders, not just lists.
The new reminder screen also has a refined look. It still has texture, but the lines are less bold.
The compass looks totally new and totally great.
Double tapping home brings up full screen previews of various apps. Scroll back and forth and see previews of your apps in real-time.
Some might say this is copying Window Phone, but really, this look was pioneered by Palm with the late, great, webOS.
The dialer and the iMessage interface follow the new trends of being bright and with lots fo color.
Notifications pop-up in dark now, not white.
The calendar is de-leathered and has a very Google+ look.
The calendar gets a proper inbox for incoming invitations.
Apple Maps has toned down some of its textures but the basic app looks very similar.
The directions page in Maps has been rebuilt and it looks much more sleek.
The calculator still pays homage to the great HP calculators of the 70s, but with fewer bevels.
As for the clock, gone is that patent-infringing world clock look.
Check out the 3D effect when picking a time.
The timer is totally new too. This is what one of the standard settings pages looks like.
The bookmarks section for Safari is texture free but full of color.
The search and URL omnibox makes a glorious return (it was separated with iOS 3 back in 2009).
The whole look of this browser would look equally at home at Mountain View as it does in Cupertino.
Typing in a URL or string of text offers up real-time suggestions for an address or search query.
The thin bar at the top of the screen indicates page load progress.
It's like Cover Flow, but vertical!
FaceTime can now do audio calls!
Image: Mashable
People arrive for the product announcement.
Members of the press await Apple's product announcement outside the company's Cupertino, Calif., headquarters
Apple CEO Tim Cook opens the event.
Craig Federighi, senior vice president of software engineering, demonstrates iOS 7, Apple's forthcoming mobile operating system. Federighi announced it will be available for free Sept. 18.
The new device comes in five colors.