iOS 7 is still relatively new on the scene, but that hasn't stopped people from speculating about the next generation of Apple's mobile operating system. The same holds true for the next iPhone itself, with a rumored curved-glass screen touted for the upcoming iteration. Supposedly leaked screenshots of iOS 8 have emerged, as well as a concept video (below) showing what a curved iPhone 6 would look like.
The images of the unannounced iOS 8 interface have come from Chinese social network site Weibo, where we've seen other legitimate leaks posted before. There are some new icons of note, such as the rumored Healthbook application, a sign Apple would be following Samsung down the path of fitness-related smartphone capabilities.
Also present are mobile versions of the OS X programs Preview and TextEdit. 9to5Mac claims these would be used to view files in iCould that the phone could not otherwise make use of.
The same site also claims to have verified with its own sources that the screenshots from Weibo are real, but take all of this with a grain of salt. The screenshots may very well be real, but everything here is far from official, and we don't know if this is what iOS 8 will look like. It looks pretty legitimate, and a leak is certainly possible, but we won't know for sure until Apple announces something concrete.
As for the iPhone 6 rumors, it's only natural speculation is occurring. After all, it's been a few months since the iPhone 5s, so everyone must be the first to know what's next. The belief that the iPhone 6 will use curved glass is based on Apple's $578 million investment in sapphire glass, but may be part wishful thinking.
This special glass uses sapphire crystals for increased strength and toughness in screens, which is inherently thicker than Corning's Gorilla Glass, but less of it is needed to provide strength. Apple could conceivably make even thinner and lighter phones with less glass, something we know they aim for in their devices. The concept video for a thin, slightly curved iPhone 6 is below, but keep in mind the actual phone could end up looking quite different.
Sources: Digital Spy, TechCrunch
