Watch Apple WWDC 2014: Get to know the iOS 8 and its 8 key features!

Here are 8 key features of the iOS 8, as reviewed by Anne Wilson.

Apple fans holding out hope they’d see the company’s next great gadget on June 2 were disappointed. At the keynote address for the company’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2014, software was king.

For owners of the 800 million iPhones, iPads and iPods that run the company’s iOS operating system, the biggest news may have been the rollout of its latest version, iOS 8. Due to be released this fall, the new system will update lots of existing features and add some new ones.

Here’s a first look at eight key features of iOS 8.

Apple has been pushing fitness and health apps, such as the one associated with Nike’s FuelBand. With Health, they’re taking it a step further. Basically, Health pulls together data from different health-related apps into one place, creating a comprehensive profile for the user. It also lets the users send health information to doctors at selected hospitals.

It’s easy to see this being a prominent feature when (and if) the long-rumored iWatch arrives, which could include sensors that track the wearer’s steps, heartbeat and other vital signs.

Even if it’s not the expansive home-automation system that some rumors suggested, HomeKit is a step toward turning your smartphone into a remote control for the connected devices in your home. Apple has partnered with lots of third-party folks (but notably not Nest, founded by former Apple designer Tony Fadell and recently purchased by Google) on the app.

By pulling all of those apps’ abilities together in one place, HomeKit will let users control their garage doors, locks, lights, cameras and thermostats with their phone. Obviously, some third-party hardware will be required – at least for now.

The iPhone’s famous voice assistant, Siri, only got a quick mention Monday. But she’s learned a couple of new tricks. On iOS 8, users who plug their iPhone into their car will be able to wake Siri up by voice without having to touch their phone. Less distraction on the road sounds like a good thing to us. And you’ll be able to ask Siri to identify the song you’re listening to, using technology from the Shazam app.

Text and Video copyright:  Anne Wilson