iOS 7 Release Date: What To Expect From Apple's New Operating System [VIDEO]

The long awaited release date for Apple's new iOS 7 is finally upon us. The new software will be releasing today for the iPhone 4, 4S, and 5 along with the iPad 2, mini and iPad with Retina display. Apple's new operating system is unlike anything you've ever seen from the company. It sleek, modern and totes a new "flat" design. The new iOS also offers a wide array of new features and services that the previous smartphone have not seen before. In this article we highlight some of our favorite features from iOS 7.

One of the most obvious new layers in navigating iOS 7 is the control center, which can be accessed by swiping up from the bottom of the screen at any time. Apple has made iOS 7 much more multi-tasking friendly, including the ability to double-click on the home button to bring up full-page previews of your currently running apps. A subtle change is how the new iOS will handle data downloads, with users now offered the option to trigger automatic data downloads from messages and emails. Downloads are also lumped together and only start when you're in a good signal area.

Camera and Photo's

The camera app has had a striking makeover, with a new minimalist black and white layout and its own all-caps font. Users can now take pics in a suspiciously Instagram-like manner, with filters built as well as a square-format offered. Other software changes include the addition of Moments, Collections and Years for the Photo app. And automatic groupings of your photos that will create albums that match.

The real update for the physical camera comes in the next generation iPhone 5S. The 5S offers HD video recording at 120 frames per second and slow-mo playback; a burst capture mode that takes up to 10 frames a second; and True Tone flash - a dual amber and white LED flash that makes for more accurate colors and natural-looking skin tones.

Safari

Along with the rest of the OS it too gets a visual update, with new minimalist icons for navigation, but there are also changes to how you manage tabs and bookmarks. Safari browser is no longer limited to eight tabs, and switching between windows has been revamped with a 3D scrolling effect. Bookmarks get the best changes though; with a new function that collates updates from Twitter streams.

AirDrop

With iOS 7 AirDrop is finally going mobile. It's essentially a built-in app for swapping files with other nearby Apple users. The interface looks incredibly simple and easy to use. Files are shared via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi and users can toggle their visibility on and off. You can automatically be seen by other people in your contacts list but you can opt in and be visible to anyone in the vicinity.

Apple has done so much more that we have not mentioned from a wide array of other changes including Siri updates (male and female voices! Integrated Wikipedia and twitter results!); the introduction of iOS in the Car. and the launch of iTunes radio (a free streaming music service to rival Spotify, Rdio and Pandora.

iOS 7 is more than just a visual makeover, it's a fantastic and much needed update of the iOS system.

Are you excited for iOS 7?

Related: iOS 7 Release Date Today! How And When To Download Apple's New Software