Apple lifted the veil on iOS 7, the update it calls the most significant iOS update since the release of the first iPhone. The completely redesigned operating system comes with a host of new features.

At WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference) in San Francisco, Apple unveiled the completely redesigned iOS 7, touting the fact that this is the most important update since the launch of the original iPhone. The mobile operating system comes with an impressive new interface and a host of new features – Control Center, AirDrop, iTunes Radio, and more.

“iOS 7 is the most significant iOS update since the original iPhone,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering. “To create it, we brought together a team with a broad range of expertise from design to engineering. With what we’ve been able to achieve together, we see iOS 7 as an exciting new beginning.”

iOS 7 Main New Features

• Interface

The new UI features an elegant color palette, refined typography, functional layers to make it feel more alive, translucency and subtle motion to make performing tasks more engaging. Even though the interface was completely redesigned, iPhone users will immediately feel at home with it.

“There is a profound and enduring beauty in simplicity, in clarity, in efficiency. True simplicity is derived from so much more than just the absence of clutter and ornamentation—it’s about bringing order to complexity,” said Jony Ive, Apple’s senior vice president of Design. “iOS 7 is a clear representation of these goals. It has a whole new structure that is coherent and applied across the entire system.”

• Control Center

Access to Control Center is done by swiping from the bottom of the screen. This is a central location that lets you quickly access Airplane Mode, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Do Not Disturb, screen brightness, and other controls. It also lets you access apps like Clock, Camera, or Calculator.

• Notification Center

You can now access the Notification Center from the Lock Screen. Just swipe and you will have access to all your notifications.
The Notification Center also comes with a new Today Feature that gives you at-a-glance view of your day. It presents info on today’s meetings, events, weather, traffic, and so on.

• Improved Multitasking

Devs can enable any app to multitask in the background and users can switch between apps in a more visual and intuitive way. The mobile operating system remembers the apps you use most often and automatically keeps your content up to date in the background.

• AirDrop

It displays contacts that are close by and lets you share content with those contacts. It uses peer-to-peer to complete the transfer, meaning you can share stuff without any network or set up required. Security buffs will appreciate that the transfer is fully encrypted.

• Camera and Photos

With iOS 7 the Camera app features filters (meaning you can add real-time photo effects), includes a square camera option, and lets you easily switch between video, photo, square and panorama.
The redesigned Photos app presents a new way to automatically organized photos and videos: Moments.
iCloud Photo Sharing lets you easily share photos with family and friends – and they can contribute their own photos to your shared stream.

• Safari

The browser comes with a redesigned interface that lets you see more content. On top of that there’s a new view for bookmarks and tabs, new smart search field, iCloud Keychain password manager, and enhanced Parental Controls to block access to adult sites.

• Siri

You can now choose how you want the personal assistant to sound. You can pick between a female and a male voice.
Another new feature Siri has to offer is Twitter integration and Wikipedia integration.
Use Siri to search the web with Bing and to change your device’s settings and play back voicemail.

• iTunes Radio

This is a free internet radio service that serves music based on what you listen to on iTunes. iTunes Radio features over 200 stations and an incredible catalog of music from the iTunes Store.

“iTunes Radio is an incredible way to listen to personalized radio stations which have been created just for you,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. “It’s the music you love most and the music you’re going to love, and you can easily buy it from the iTunes Store with just one click.”

iOS 7 will be available as a free software update this fall.
The iOS 7 beta software and SDK are available right now for iOS Developer Program members.

Apple also presented OS X 10.9 Mavericks, the 10th version of its desktop operating system. It comes with more than 200 new features.
Check out the main ones here.