iOS 7 Now Available: How to Download and Use the New Software

Sept. 18, 2013 — -- Today iPhones and iPads everywhere will start to look a lot more colorful, brighter and modern. This morning Apple began to make the next version of its iPad and iPhone software -- iOS 7 -- available for download.

The software is available to owners of the iPhone 4, 4S, 5 and the new iPhone 5S and 5C, which will be available on Friday morning. It will also be available for the iPad 2 and up, which includes any iPad with a Retina Display, and the iPad Mini.

The software can be downloaded by connecting your device to your computer and running iTunes or by checking for the software update directly on your device if you are on a Wi-Fi network. You can find the update on your device in the Settings menu under General and then by tapping Software Update. Depending on how many people are downloading the software, it should take about a half an hour. And remember to back up your phone, before you begin the update.

But before you get to it, it's important to know that this version of iOS looks very different from previous versions, with new icons, colors and animations. All the apps have been redesigned, and there are some new features too.

We could go on and on about the new features, but instead we've created a handy interactive of the seven things you should know about it.

Click on the icons below, and you'll learn more about the features, what we like and don't like and watch them in action.

If you are on a mobile device you can click here to see them.