Get to know iOS 7's four best usability features

It doesn't take long to get used to iOS 7's new look. Jason Parker's review of iOS 7 describes the update's interface as "elegant."

Many of iOS 7's best new features aren't so obvious, however. Here are four tweaks that make an iOS 7 device easier to use.

Customize the lock screen via Control Center
One of last May's "Four time-saving iPhone tips" explained how to bypass the iPhone's lock screen to use the camera and control music playback. iOS 7 expands the options you can reach without unlocking the device.

Swipe up to access Control Center. By default, you can open Control Center from any screen or app. To disable this feature in apps, press Settings > Control Center and toggle off Access Within Apps.

Among the settings accessible by default are the audio-playback controls, a brightness slider, flashlight, clock/timer, calculator, and camera. You can also toggle airplane mode and Bluetooth on and off, lock the screen orientation, and activate the AirDrop Bluetooth-based sharing feature.

Also accessible from the lock screen are Voice Dial, Siri, Passbook, and Reply with Message.

To change the options that can be accessed from the lock screen, press Settings > General > Touch ID & Passcode (iPhone 5S) or Settings > General > Passcode Lock (other models). Press the toggle to the right to activate or deactivate the Control Center option.

Close apps with a swipe
Shutting down apps is simpler than ever in iOS 7. Double-tapping the home button shows big thumbnails of your open apps. Move between them by swiping left and right. To close an app, just swipe it up. Close multiple apps at once by placing a finger on each one and swiping up.

Via: CNET