Right alongside the launch of Yosemite, Apple announced the launch of iOS 8.1, the first major update to iOS 8 since it launched in September. As expected, the update will include support for Apple Pay, a re-introduced Camera Roll, and iCloud Photo Library in beta. It also adds Continuity support, so iOS devices can be more smoothly integrated with OS X Yosemite, which launched today. iOS 8.1 drops on October 20— just in time for the Apple Pay rollout.
The iOS 8 debut hasn’t been a smooth one for Apple, but the iOS 8.1 update should address some of the bumps. With Camera Roll back in the picture, third-party photo apps should work properly again, and it will bring back the familiar look and feel of Apple’s Photos app that many users miss.
Apple teased us about iCloud Photo Library during WWDC in June, and now users can take part in its public beta program come Monday. iCloud Photo Library will let you store all of your photos across iOS devices via iCloud.
Possibly the most anticipated new feature of iOS 8.1 is, of course, Apple Pay. Come Monday, if you install the update on your iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus, you’ll be able to use Apple Pay to complete purchases with any of Apple’s participating retail partners.
iOS 8.1 will ship with the new iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3, and will be available for everyone else to download on Monday, October 20.
Author: Leah Yamshon, Associate Managing Editor
Leah Yamshon is a former Macworld editor.