iOS 8 Public Release Set for September 17

Apple announced iOS 8 back in June at the annual WWDC. Since then, we’ve seen the company shape the next-generation mobile operating system through five betas released to developers, as we approached the awaited iPhone event. Today Apple announced that it will officially release iOS 8 on September 17, one day ahead of the iPhone 6’s in-store availability.

ios 8 rollout

During the past two years, Apple has released the public version of iOS 100 days after it initially presented it to developers. In 2012, Apple introduced iOS 6 on June 11 and released the public version on Wednesday September 19.

Last year, Apple presented iOS 7 on June 10, and launched it on September 18, again 100 days after the unveiling.

“We’re excited for hundreds of millions of users to begin experiencing iOS 8, with incredible features that offer new ways to use your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering. “iOS 8 also creates an extraordinary environment for developers, providing them the ability to create amazing new apps like never before.”

This year, however, Apple is breaking the pattern, as it will be releasing the public version on September 17, 105 days after it unveiled it on June 2.

iOS 8 will be available starting Wednesday, September 17  and it is compatible with the 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.

Apple also announced new  iCloud pricing: 

–  5GB free,

– 20GB $0.99/month,

– 200GB $3.99/month,

– 500GB $9.99/month

– and 1TB $19.99/month.

Continuity features and iCloud Drive will be available on Macs running OS X Yosemite. In October, SMS Continuity will be available as a free update to iOS 8 and iCloud Photo Library will be available as a beta, the company press release highlights. 

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