Apple has just announced iOS 8 for the iPhone and iPad. Unveiled during this year's Worldwide Developers Conference, the latest version of the company's mobile operating system isn't a complete re-working like iOS 7, but there are more than a few additions and refinements this time around nonetheless.

Notifications:

With iOS 8, Apple has updated its notification center, now allowing users to reply directly from a notification, even from the lockscreen. Third-party apps can now offer widgets for the notification center as well. Double tapping now not only gets you to the multi-tasking function, but also shows the people you contact the most for more quick-access functionality.

Mail:

Mail with iOS 8 has been enhanced as well, with new actions added for flagging and marking to read later. You can also now swipe an email draft down on the iPad so that you can search through other messages. With the new Spotlight, iOS 8 pulls from a wider variety of sources, letting you search for apps, text messages, songs, and news.

Apple has also updated its keyboard with QuickType, which shows predictive answers to questions that someone may ask you via text. It can also predict the next word that you're going to type, much like we've seen on other keyboards.

When text messaging, iPhone owners will be happy to know that they will be able to name group message threads, add or remove people in the conversation, or easily share your location for a set amount of time. The ability to send audio messages has also been included using the Tap to Talk function.

iOS 8 will also work with Apple's new Continuity features that it introduced alongside OS X Yosemite. Starting an email on your phone and finishing it on a MacBook is now an easy task, and iMessage has been updated to handle non-iMessage texts through your computer. Phone calls can now be answered through OS X as well. iCloud Drive is also present with iOS 8, adding built-in access to files across your various Apple devices.

Apple also introduced its entrance into the health and fitness space with HealthKit. The software suite tracks a variety of activity and health-related information, and works with third-party apps like Nike+. Using Healthkit, data can be shared directly with healthcare providers that are part of the Mayo Clinic network.

With iOS 8, there is now an easy way to share photos, calendars, and reminders with friends and family with Family Sharing. Using GPS, parents can even locate their kids devices. Even purchases can be shared with through Family Sharing—don't worry, parents, kids have to get your permission before purchasing apps.

Photo management and editing has a few new tricks too. Touching up pictures can now be done through a built-in app that lets use adjust a number of aspects of the photos, or boost the image's overall composition. Edits also sync over iCloud so that the changes are seen across devices.

Siri received a couple small updates, including Shazam song recognition integration, the ability to purchase songs from within the software, and streaming voice recognition. Other small updates include the ability install system-wide third-party keyboards and enhanced communication between apps. In a demo, a photo from one app was updated uses a filter from another, without leaving the initial app. Third-party apps will now be able to utilize TouchID for authentication—fingerprint data will not be shared with the third-party, in case you were concerned. As far as the app store is concerned, developers will have the option to bundle apps for a single, discounted price, and can even let users test out their apps with a new feature called TestFlight.

Apple has stated that the new software will be available in the fall, which is when we assume we'll see the next iPhone.