Apple's Messages app will be getting many great new features in iOS 8, and it's likely the app that will see the most significant changes. One of the most requested features for Messages had been the ability to respond to alerts of incoming text messages from the lock screen or from within other apps, rather than having to open the Messages app. iOS 8 will now offer that feature.
In addition, Apple has added SnapChat-like audio and video messaging. The messages will destruct in a couple minutes unless you change the settings. To send an audio message, you simply touch and hold the new microphone button. A first-look demo video on AppleInsider shows the new instant-response and audio features. Similarly, you can tap and hold the new camera button in Messages to take a photo or video and send it via Messages. In addition, tapping the camera button brings up a screen that shows your recent Photo Library images and lets you choose one or more to send. Or you can tap to view your Photo Library to select photos to send.
The new Messages app also adds useful group messaging features. You can start a group message and give it a name, then add specific contacts to the group message. You can add people during the conversation, or drop them. Or you can leave the conversation.
In addition, the Details link available at the top of the screen offers a range of new options. It shows the contact information of the person you're messaging and lets you share your location with other iOS users for an hour, until the end of the day, or indefinitely. If others have shared their location with you, you can see their location on a map right within the thread.
The Details screen also lets you name conversations so you can easily find them again. In addition, a Do Not Disturb button in the Details screen lets you stop your phone from making sounds or vibrating when messages come in, in case you don't want to be bothered at the moment and would rather read them later. Yet another feature of the Details screen is the ability to see a list of message attachments, such as images and videos, so that you don't need to scroll back to see them again. AppleInsider has posted a video showing many of these features.