Apple iPad Air iOS 8.1

iPad Air on iOS 8: Better Together

Released on September 17, 2014, iOS 8 transformed the original iPad Air from a standalone tablet into a seamlessly connected extension of the Apple ecosystem. For the Chasms.com community, this update was the dawn of "Continuity," making the transition between iPhone, iPad, and Mac feel like magic.

Continuity and Handoff

iOS 8 introduced the ability for your devices to actually talk to one another.

• Handoff: You could start writing an email on your iPhone during your commute and finish it on the iPad Air’s larger screen the moment you walked through the door.

• Phone Calls on iPad: For the first time, your iPad Air could answer cellular calls and send "green bubble" SMS messages by routing them through your iPhone.

Interactive Notifications and Widgets

The iPad Air’s 9.7-inch Retina display became much more functional with iOS 8:

• Actionable Alerts: You could reply to a message or accept a calendar invite directly from the notification banner at the top of the screen without leaving your current app.

• Today View Widgets: The Notification Center finally opened up to third-party developers, allowing you to add widgets for weather, sports scores, or eBay bids for a quick glance.

Family Sharing and iCloud Drive

• iCloud Drive: iOS 8 turned the iPad into a better file manager, allowing you to store and access any type of document across all your devices.

• Family Sharing: A huge win for households, this allowed up to six people to share App Store and iTunes purchases. It also introduced the "Ask to Buy" feature, giving parents control over what their kids downloaded.

Photo and Keyboard Upgrades

• Third-Party Keyboards: After years of waiting, iPad users could finally install custom keyboards like SwiftKey or Swype.

• Photos App: New smart editing tools allowed for precise control over light and color, turning the iPad Air into a powerful, portable photo studio.