iOS 8 Hidden Features Video: Battery Usage By App, Hidden Photos, Siri Hands-Free, and More

Apple released iOS 8 to the public today, giving millions of users their first look at the new operating system. Along with all of the major features, like Continuity, Notification improvements, Messages upgrades, and the introduction of third-party keyboard/Touch ID access, there are also dozens of other minor tweaks and changes that have been introduced in iOS 8, both ahead of the OS's initial launch to developers and across the beta testing period.

Outlined in the video below are some of the most interesting and handy tweaks in iOS 8, including automatic credit card scanning, expanded weather options, quick access to contacts, a hands-free mode for Siri, hidden photos, and more.


We've been collecting and cataloguing minor feature changes to iOS 8 since the first beta was released, documenting the development of new features and providing a one-stop location for all the changes that have largely gone under the radar.

A complete list of all of the hidden features in iOS 8 can be found in our dedicated Hidden Features Roundup, which also serves as a way to see the progress iOS 8 made over the course of the beta testing period.

For example, in beta 4, Apple introduced a Tips app that offers iOS 8 users information about all of the new features in the operating system. Beta 5, meanwhile, added location information to photo collections in the Photos app, and beta 4 saw a Control Center redesign.

We've also compiled a walkthrough of all of the major features introduced with iOS 8, which can be found in our iOS 8 Roundup.


iOS 8 can be downloaded immediately for free. It can be installed on the iPhone 4s and later, 5th-generation iPod touch, iPad 2 and later, and the iPad mini.

Related Forum: iOS 8

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Top Rated Comments

dave420 Avatar
139 months ago
I know the file isn;t. But the OS needs 4.6GB of my 16(13.6) GB to do an update. I have to delete 30% of everything on my phone just to update...sigh More than slightly annoying.

I've seen at least a dozen of these posts today, but when people ask that Apple increase the base storage from 16 GB everyone is in here swearing up and down they don't need the increased storage.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bpeeps Avatar
139 months ago
Battery usage by app? Oh man, I can't wait for the iPhone 6 threads breaking down battery usage to all of their 400 apps. Is my battery life still good? Angry Birds takes up like 47%!
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mappyman Avatar
139 months ago
Looks like Android now.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ugahairydawgs Avatar
139 months ago
I know the file isn;t. But the OS needs 4.6GB of my 16(13.6) GB to do an update. I have to delete 30% of everything on my phone just to update...sigh More than slightly annoying.

You could update through iTunes if you don't want to delete anything.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AlecZ Avatar
139 months ago
Battery usage by app is something I've always wanted but have forgotten about until now. It's one of the things Android had that iOS should have had before.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
doelcm82 Avatar
139 months ago
Looks like Android now.
It actually looks a lot like iOS 7. But there are many enhancements.

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great update.

overall my phone feels a little more "premium" and durable in hand-- also seems to be a little more water-resistant. anyone else notice this?

I missed that. But I'm finding you strangely attractive, all of the sudden. Have you done something with your OS?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)