iOS7 update released as early iOS8 details emerge
Car Play added alongside stability improvements, yet big changes set for next full operating software release
 
Apple has released the first update to its iOS7 operating software four months after its original release.
iOS7.1 comes with the addition of Car Play, a functionality that allows iOS devices to be connected to the software systems of certain cars to allow them access to maps, music and messages.
Car Play was first announced at Appleâs 2013 Worldwide Developers Conference, and most major car manufacturers have already announced that they are to integrate the software.
Minor visual changes have been made to various screens and pages, with rectangular buttons replaced with circular ones to retain a consistent theme throughout the software.
Stability has also been largely improved with many reporting faster and more bug-free experiences, particularly on older handset models, with applications also enabled to run faster.
The release comes as the first details of what may be included in iOS8 begin to emerge. A fitness-related Healthbook app has long been rumoured, but one of the major changes to iOS8 could be a complete overhaul of its mapping software.
Apple blog 9to5Mac alleges that these changes will ultimately lead up to the inclusion of augmented reality functionality in iOS9, which may pose as something of a challenge to Googleâs Glass device which is built around augmented reality capabilities.