Apple has launched the iTunes Radio internet radio service and iOS 7 at the annual developers conference in San Francisco, US.
The new iOS 7 is the said to be the most major iOS update since the launch of original iPhone in 2007.
The launch of radio service, featuring over 200 stations and a catalogue of music from the iTunes Store, follows Apple’s signing of deals with Vivendi’s Universal Music, Len Blavatnik’s Warner Music Group and Sony/ATV Music Publishing.
The new free radio service is ad-supported, while users of iTunes Match get iTunes Radio ad-free and it stores all music, including songs imported from CDs in iCloud.
By fall 2013, iTunes Radio is anticipated to offer personalised experience based on users’ listening history and past purchases from iTunes, while also allowing building station around songs of users’ interest from iTunes Radio or music library.
In addition, Apple’s revamped OS boasts a streamlined design employing translucency and new colours, and features animation in apps.
The new OS features an entirely new user interface, that makes phone appear bigger, as it has been designed to exploit the entire screen, while also features Control Center that allows controlling Airplane Mode, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or Do Not Disturb modes with just one swipe from the bottom of the screen.
The new Control Center also allows adjusting screen brightness, pause or play a song, jump to the next track and stream music with AirPlay, while offering instant access to apps including Clock, Camera, Calculator and the Flashlight.
Additional features of new iOS 7 include Find My iPhone Activation Lock, Night Mode in Maps, FaceTime audio, Notification sync, Phone, FaceTime and Messages blocking, Tencent Weibo support and improved in-car integration.