iRealSMS beta with iOS 7 inspired QuickReply

The developer of iRealSMS contacted us recently regarding a new upcoming feature to its popular Messages app alternative. iRealSMS 3.0.6 brings a new iOS 7 inspired QuickReply theme to the fold, and it looks pretty interesting. Once QuickReply makes its way to iOS via an iOS 7 jailbreak, we imagine that this is similar to how it’d look. What say you? Check out our brief video preview after the jump.

Of course, this is just a preview, and you can expect a full in-depth review once the tweak update officially touches down on Cydia. So far, the developer has yet to provide a solid ETA for release, but I would imagine that you can expect it much sooner than later.

What do you think? Do you use iRealSMS, or do you stick with its more popular alternative, biteSMS? What made you decide to use one app over the other? Please sound off with your thoughts and comments down below.

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iOS 7 Beta 3 could drop on July 8

On Monday, Apple seeded iOS 7 Beta 2 to its registered iOS developers. The second beta arrived precisely two weeks after the launch of iOS 7 Beta 1, which was made availableright following the June 10 WWDC 2013 keynote.

Now, you might recall that an hour before Beta 2 hit Apple’s servers we ran an article saying the software could drop that day. The same source that called for it is at it again, now claiming the third beta of iOS 7 will see release on Monday, July 8.

It’s kinda bad news for developers who must be looking to some time off for Independence Day. If true, July 8 would make iOS 7 Beta 3 available exactly two weeks following the launch of the current iteration of the software. Starting to notice a pattern here?

BGR has the story:

BGR has been informed by trusted sources that iOS 7 beta 3 is currently scheduled to be made available to carriers for testing on July 8th.

These are the same sources who accurately foretold the release timing of Apple’s last iOS 7 beta, and just like iOS 7 beta 2, it is likely that the new software will be released to developers on the same day it reaches carriers.

The two-week interval between the first three betas also matches up nicely with last year’s iOS 6 betas.

iOS 6 Beta 1 – lasted 14.75 days
iOS 6 Beta 2 – lasted 15.4 days
iOS 6 Beta 3 – lasted 15 days
iOS 6 Beta 4 – lasted 18.6 days
iOS 6 Beta 5 – lasted 17.8 days
iOS 6 Beta 6 – lasted 11 days

According to the well-known iOS hacker states, iOS 7 Beta 2 expires on Thursday, August 8, 2013 at 12am GMT.

Subsequent betas will smooth out the rough edges and refine the iOS 7 design and visual language, while possibly introducing new tweaks and features.

For example, iOS 7 Beta 2 brought us the iPad interface with HDR photography and theMemos app, along with a bunch of refinements and new goodies like the ability to control the interface using head movement, direct Google Contacts sync, Messages improvements,male and female Siri voices and other perks.

And as a Fall launch draws near, we’re expecting to see major changes to the Apple TV software stemming from the new technologies that make iOS 7 possible.

Per usual, count on iDB keeping you in the loop.

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iOS 7 allows developers to detect blinking and smiling in photos

As the tech community continues to dig through the iOS 7 betas, a new feature has been discovered. Apple’s next-generation mobile operating system contains new APIs that allow developers to detect blinking and smiling in photos.

Now, iOS has had basic facial recognition for a couple of years now (since version 5). But according to a new report, Apple has added new image detectors in iOS 7 that are capable of identifying certain facial expressions in photographs…

Benjamin Mayo of 9to5Mac has the scoop:

“iOS 7 adds several new camera-orientated features for developers, which may hint at future consumer-facing features. In iOS 7 beta 2, Apple has added new image detectors that find certain face expressions in photos. As of iOS 5, the APIs have provided basic face recognition, but in iOS 7, characteristics such as blinking and smiles can be individually distinguished.”

Mayo goes on to speculate that because the stock Camera app received face detection when Apple added the function in iOS 5, these new APIs that allow for the recognition of individual expressions could be an indication of things to come.

Apple has done a lot to improve the iPhone’s camera over the years, adding a Panorama mode and improving low-light quality. It’s obviously an area of great interest for the company, as it frequently touts its ranking as the #1 camera on Flickr.

And it looks like it’s going to continue to build on it with the iPhone 5S. Recent reports, as well as components leaks, suggest that Apple’s next-generation handset will feature an improved camera with a dual LED flash and 12 megapixel sensor.

Call me crazy, but if you combine that kind of hardware with these new APIs, you get one heck of a camera. Here’s hoping the rumors materialize this fall when Apple is expected to launch its new iPhone, alongside the public version of iOS 7.

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A hands-on look at iOS 7 on the iPad

iOS 7 beta 2 is the first iOS 7 to feature support for Apple’s iconic tablet, and we’ve got a hands-on demonstration of how it looks and feels. The first word that came to my mind when I initially fired up iOS 7 on the iPad was “modern.” The iPad feels more spacious, and lightweight with iOS 7 installed. Whereas iOS 6 felt heavy and weighed down by skeuomorphism, iOS 7 feels light free.

I think you’re going to like the way that iOS 7 looks and performs on the iPad. Check out our full video demonstration inside…

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Messages app gets timestamps, contact photos, and other UI enhancements in iOS 7 beta 2

Earlier today, Apple released the second beta of its next-generation mobile operating system, iOS 7, to developers. The update comes exactly two weeks after the original beta of iOS 7 was released, and brings with it a number of new features and improvements.

Thus far we’ve covered the revamped Voice Memos app and new Siri voices, and now we’re going to talk about the different changes in the stock Messages app. Apple has added contact photos to group conversation threads and a few other UI enhancements…

Easily the most noticeable change to the Messages app in beta 2 are the presence of contact photos in group conversations. Similar to how jailbreak tweaks like Copic add contact photos to messaging threads, the Messages app now shows images from your contact cards in conversation.

Here’s Jeff with a hands-on look at the beta 2 changes in Messages:

Unfortunately, it appears that this is only the case when in group conversations. So you have to be talking with multiple people to see the contact photos. I’d like to see the photos everywhere in Messages, including the main window that shows all of your convos.

Other changes in the app include what looks like thicker text on the Send button — in beta one, the font was very thin — as well as enhanced ‘send’ animations. And also, there are now timestamps for each message. Simply swipe to the right on a Message to reveal.

Of course, these are just a few of the changes in the Messages app for iOS 7. If you haven’t yet, make sure to check out our complete rundown of the revamped application. Otherwise, stay tuned to iDB today for more coverage on the new features/changes in beta 2.

How do you think the Messages app is coming along?

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