As of Monday, iPhone owners may notice a software update available on their devices. This is none other than Apple’s iOS 8.1, the long-awaited update promised to address many of the bugs associated with the original iOS 8. Yet, the real excitement isn’t in what iOS 8.1 fixes, but rather, what it features: Apple Pay.
Apple first introduced Apple Pay in September, along with the iPhones 6 and 6 Plus. The service, which allows users to pay for products from their mobile devices, uses Touch ID and NCF, along with Apple’s existing credit card integrating Passbook feature. Owners of Apple’s newest devices (iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, iPad Air 2, and iPad Mini 3) can now officially make contactless payments at over 220,000 US retailers, including Nike, McDonalds, and even Uber.
Along with Apple Pay, iOS 8.1 integrates continuity features, which allow users to move freely from device to device. SMS is now supported on all devices, as is automatic mobile hotspot connection upon the loss of wifi.
All in all Apple’s iOS 8.1 seems promising. New features, namely Apple Pay, will certainly stir things up.
