We spoke too soon. We thought iOS 8’s improved keyboard with predictive typing was a consolation prize for another release that ignored third-party keyboards. Boy, were we wrong. As part of the latest iOS SDK, Apple has finally enabled support for third-party keyboard apps.
Ever wanted to try SwiftKey out on iOS? How about Swype? It’s going to be possible (provided the developers of these keyboards publish iOS-ready versions). The lack of such support has been a key complaint of users that have had some experience with Android. Google has long allowed for the deployment of custom default keyboards in their operating system.
Speaking of Android, as part of the new extensions platform that makes third-party keyboards possible, Apple has also finally introduced their version of widgets. These widgets still won’t find a place on your homescreen, but they fit right into an updated Notifications Center. Two widgets demoed included sports scores by ESPN and item tracking via eBay, but the possibilities are only limited by what a developer can think of.
Beyond third-party keyboards and widgets, iOS 8 will include extensions that will allow apps to interface in ways they never could before. This includes new third-party sharing options as well as new actions to tie together apps and services. One neat function allows for the application of VSCOCam filters directly from iOS’ Photos app.
While iOS 7 overhauled the look of Apple’s mobile OS, iOS 8 has revamped the under-the-hood aspects of the system in a way that no one expected. With this release, iOS will drop its guard a little bit and become a more open ecosystem, playing nice with developers and providing an end result that is ultimately more usable than ever before.
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