Apple
iOS 7: Old Keyboard Will Stick Around Until iOS 7 App Updates Arrive
The iOS 7 update will bring a new look to the iPhone and iPad, but there is one part of iOS 6 that will stick around until developers update their apps for iOS 7.
Apple introduces a new keyboard and dictation look in iOS 7 which is built in to all of Apple’s default apps, but until IOS 7 app updates arrive in the app store users will continue to see parts of iOS 6 long after upgrading to iOS 7.
The main place that users will see this disconnect is while using the keyboard in apps that have not received an iOS 7 update. In a very un-Apple like look, even apps that use a standard keyboard and dictation will show the iOS 6 keyboard while running on iOS 7.
Read: How Long the iOS 7 Update Will Take to Complete
The iOS 6 keyboard shows up in third-party apps on iOS 7 until they are updated.
The image above shows the new iOS 7 keyboard next to the iOS 6 keyboard. While the iOS 7 keyboard does not add any new features like swiping to type, it does fit in better with the new iOS 7 design.
In addition to the keyboard, users will also see the old dictation screen from iOS 6 in these apps, instead of the new one with a wave animation that shows speech is detected. The image below shows two third-party iPhone apps, one of which is updated for iOS 7.
Conflicting looks in iOS 7 thanks to third-party apps.
It’s not clear why the old code shows up in apps that are not using an app specific keyboard, but hopefully we will see many apps gain the new iOS 7 keyboard and dictation look in the near future.
The good news for users who don’t want to see these old parts of iOS 6 is that many developers are planning iOS 7 app updates and Apple is pushing some of them live already this week. We expect to see many more when the iOS 7 release date arrives tomorrow, and in the days and weeks after.
Read: 10 iOS 7 Features That You’ll Hate
A survey suggests that many popular apps will soon receive an iOS 7 update and that it could be an iOS 7 only update, meaning iPhone 3GS users and iOS 6 jailbreak users who don’t or cant’ update to iOS 7 will need to use an older version. Apple just changed the rules so that users can now download the older versions from the app store, up to the last compatible app.
The iOS 7 release is set for September 18th, as a free update for the iPhone 4 and newer, iPad 2 and newer and the iPod touch 5th generation. The update will arrive directly on the device or through an iTunes update.
John
09/18/2013 at 10:51 pm
I just updated my I phone 4s to the new operating system. When I try to use the keyboard there is a long delay and than the letters pop up. This is very annoying will it get any better?
Joe Schneider
09/19/2013 at 2:13 pm
Somehow I doubt Steve would have let this happen.
Aeroswift
09/19/2013 at 7:46 pm
Now when I dictate, I can’t say “period” for a period at the end of a sentene cuz it just writes the word! I nee my dictation commands back to normal! And yes, my letter are taking forever to react as well.
Jennifer
09/26/2013 at 4:17 pm
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MIC ON THE KEYBOARD ? I need it for fast texting !
Jonathon Taylor
11/04/2013 at 10:15 am
So what? All this “adapt to iOS7” nonsense is just throwing developers under a bus for little or no benefit to the developer.