iOS 8 Beta 5 Tidbits: SMS Relay, New iCloud Icons, Health App Updates, and More

Apple today released the fifth beta of iOS 8, which brings a number of improvements, tweaks, and bug fixes to the beta software that was first introduced on June 2.

iOS 8 beta 5, like previous betas, includes several minor interface modifications designed to make iOS 8 feel faster and more polished. We've gathered up a comprehensive list of all the enhancements that have been bundled into the new beta release below, and to find out about all of the under-the-radar changes in iOS 8 so far, make sure to check out our iOS 8 Hidden Features Roundup.

Health: According to the beta's release notes, Apple's Health app now collects Spirometry data. Spirometry tests measure lung function, tracking the volume and flow of air when inhaling and exhaling. The app has gained several new icons, the ability to export Health data, and a "Show When Logged" option to display Medical ID on the lock screen. There are also privacy settings for Health in the Settings app.

SMS Relay: iOS 8 users are getting a popup that asks them to use their phone numbers for SMS Relay on their MacBooks, one of the new Continuity features between OS X Yosemite and iOS 8.

smsrelay
Photos: Photos now displays a "Last Updated" notification to let users know when images were last synced to iCloud. There's also an iCloud Photo Settings option to store full resolution photos solely in iCloud while keeping device-optimized versions available on the iPhone to save storage space.

photosoptimize
iCloud icons: iCloud Drive, Backup, and Keychain have new icons in the iCloud section of the Settings app. The overall iCloud icon has also been updated, featuring a white cloud on a field of blue.

newicloudsettingsicons
WiFi Calling: When WiFi calling is enabled, it's now labeled T-Mobile WiFi at the top of the iPhone screen.

tmobilewifi
Predictive text: There's now an option on the keyboard to toggle on predictive text.

predictive
Wallpaper Settings: The Brightness toggle has been removed from the Wallpaper section of the Settings app. Changing screen brightness can now be done via the Display & Brightness section of the Settings app that was added in a previous iOS 8 beta.

Additional features in iOS 8 beta 5 will be added here as they are discovered. Apple is likely to continue pushing regular updates to iOS 8 at two or three-week intervals to bring minor performance boosts and changes ahead of the operating system's launch. For more information on iOS 8's features, major and minor, make sure to check out our roundups.

Related Forum: iOS 8

Top Rated Comments

AngerDanger Avatar
128 months ago
It's interesting to think that an actual human designed the menu area here:



I hope Apple innovates a method of consolidating those dots into, say, thin vertical rectangles. They could even be called something like poles… or… bars. :rolleyes:
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iBlazed Avatar
128 months ago
I like the new icloud icons. Actually the whole OS is just great. Beta 5 is already a solid upgrade over iOS 7 and this really puts the final touches on the aesthetics.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dlewis23 Avatar
128 months ago
The T-Moible Wi-Fi is a little big for the status bar.

I'm trying to understand? Is this so messages can relay ALL types of messages not just iMessage or is this something different?
It means it will forward SMS messages (the green ones) to your iPad or mac.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
w00master Avatar
128 months ago
It's interesting to think that an actual human designed the menu area here:

Image (https://cdn.macrumors.com/article-new/2014/08/tmobilewifi.jpg)

I hope Apple innovates a method of consolidating those dots into, say, thin vertical rectangles. They could even be called something like poles… or… bars. :rolleyes:
Agreed with this. Btw... why does the carrier name need to even appear on the top? Makes no sense to me. As an example, my work Android phone does not have this at all, so I know it can't be a "carrier mandated" thing.

Apple, please get rid of the carrier name in the menu bar. It's totally unnecessary and redundant. The user *already knows* what carrier he/she belongs to!

w00master
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dav465 Avatar
128 months ago
I really like the idea of icloud drive but 5GB is stingy. With all of the other major companies offering around 15gb for free, do you think Apple may change their minds and offer 15gb as well? Let alone flickr give 1TB for free storage and auto upload!
Granted their prices for extra storage aren't extortionate but 5GB really is a bit mean IMO.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Dan70 Avatar
128 months ago
I've just seen another update, the AirDrop icon when selecting pictures has been re-done to fit in with the buttons at the button. Not a big change but looks nicer I think.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iphone se 4 modified flag edges

When to Expect the Next iPhone SE to Launch

Friday May 17, 2024 2:03 pm PDT by
It has been over two years since Apple released the third-generation iPhone SE, and rumors continue to surface about a new model. The latest word comes from The Information, which today reported that Apple plans to release a new iPhone SE with a design similar to the standard iPhone 14 in the spring of 2025. If this rumor is accurate, the iPhone SE would finally gain Face ID and a notch...
iOS 17

iOS 17.5 Bug May Also Resurface Deleted Photos on Wiped, Sold Devices [Updated]

Friday May 17, 2024 12:24 pm PDT by
A bug in iOS 17.5 is apparently causing photos that have been deleted to reappear, and the issue seems to impact even iPhones and iPads that have been erased and sold off to other people. A Reddit user wiped an iPad following Apple's guidelines in September of 2023 before selling it off to a friend. That friend updated the iPad to iPadOS 17.5 this week, and began seeing the Reddit user's old ...
iphone se 4 modified flag edges

iPhone SE 4 With Face ID Said to Be Priced Below $500

Monday May 20, 2024 3:43 am PDT by
Apple is targeting a sub-$500 starting price for its upcoming fourth-generation iPhone SE model despite a raft of rumored upgrades coming to the more affordable device. According to leaker Revegnus on X, the U.S. launch price of the fourth-generation iPhone SE will either remain at the same $429 starting price as the current model, or will see an increase of around 10%. Either way, Apple's...
iOS 17

Apple Releases iOS 17.5.1 With Fix for Reappearing Photos Bug

Monday May 20, 2024 10:11 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 17.5.1 and iPadOS 17.5.1, minor updates to the iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 operating system updates that came out last September. The 17.5.1 updates come a week after the launch of iOS 17.5 and iPadOS 17.5. iOS 17.5.1 and iPadOS 17.5.1 can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. According to Apple's...
iPhone 16 Camera Lozenge 2 Perspective

iPhone 16 Lineup Rumored to Come in These Two New Colors

Sunday May 19, 2024 11:08 am PDT by
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today outlined his expectations for the iPhone 16 lineup's color options, revealing that two new colors should replace two of the existing shades. Kuo outlined his expectations in a post on X (formerly Twitter) earlier today. He believes that the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will be available in black, white or silver, gray or "Natural Titanium," and rose....
oled m4 ipad pro grainy display reports

OLED iPad Pro Users Report 'Grainy' Displays, But It May Not Be a Defect

Friday May 17, 2024 5:57 am PDT by
Some new M4 iPad Pro models are exhibiting a visible static grain pattern across the OLED display, according to several user reports on Reddit (1, 2, 3) and the MacRumors Forums. Image credit: MacRumors user bk215 Users who see the grain generally report that it is most noticeable in dark environments with the display set at a low to medium brightness while viewing content with gray or muted...