Gage Miskimen @GageMisky [Co Executive Newspaper Editor]

The long awaited IOS 8 update came out yesterday for the iPhone. There are some interesting features but there’s one small feature that is actually a big deal. It’s called, “quick reply”.

Quick reply is nice because the user can just simply swipe over when they get a text message, tap “reply” and then type their message and send. There is no more typing in passcodes, transitioning between screens and having to then close back out of messages and then locking the phone again. Does this hint at society’s laziness? Does changing an already simple task, into an even simpler task really expose society’s laziness? Is the quick reply feature the epitome of society’s downfall? Probably not. But thinking about is a little ridiculous. Realistically, it’s an unnecessary feature but it is definitely a fan favorite of Apple users everywhere.

Some people will judge and say that it is indeed sad that people are excited over this feature but to defend it, it was a very voiced issue for iPhone users. That’s one thing Apple is pretty good at consistently: giving the people what they want.

In reality though, now people can technically access a phone while it’s locked by using quick reply. This means anybody. A little sibling, a sworn enemy, a homeless man on the street. Anybody can now reply to a text from one’s phone if it’s just lying around. So caution to iPhone users: do not leave phones lying around and keep it guarded. Otherwise a simple “What’s up?” text from one’s girlfriend could get a reply from a mischievous sibling saying, “Hey, I think we need to break up…” That’s dangerous right there.

But overall, the pros outweigh the cons and quick reply gets a thumbs up. It’s useful, obviously quicker, and efficient on top of it all. As users update their phones to IOS 8, expect quicker replies but be aware of confusing text messages due to unwanted stranger access.