Your iPhone's new eye candy finally has a release date. iOS 7 will be available for download on September 18, two days before Apple (AAPL 0.53%) launches its new iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C.

iOS 7 on new iPhone 5c. Source: Apple.

iOS 7, beyond the new colors
The new colors on the OS are certainly one of the main new features. Even more, the colors match the five colors of the new iPhone 5C quite nicely. But there's more to the new software than colors.

iOS 7. Source: Apple.

Design. Post-Apple Maps fiasco, Apple's executive in charge of mobile software division, Scott Forstall, was fired. Along with him went Apple's love for skeuomorphisms, or imitations of physical textures and objects. Think wooden bookshelves in iBooks or the faux leather in the Calendar and Contacts app.

Partly filling his shoes was none other than Apple's hardware design guru, Jony Ive. His preference for a "flat" interface and simplicity and negative disposition toward bookshelves has overhauled and unified the iOS design. From font to app icons, everything was reconsidered.

In one word, we'll call it minimalism.

New Features. The iOS 7 upgrade boasts 200 new features. Among them are an upgraded Siri, iTunes Radio, and AirDrop with a simplified way to share photos, videos, and contacts using both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

Check out the rest of the new features here.

Devices eligible  for upgrade. You qualify if you have:

  • An iPhone 4 or later
  • An iPad 2 or later
  • An iPad mini
  • A fifth-generation iPod touch

Is iOS 7 a game changer?
The new OS is certainly a much-needed departure from the same old design that has seemed to stay largely the same since the original iPhone. For the first time, iOS offers a fresh, new experience.

As Apple's senior vice president of software engineering, Craig Federighi, said, "iOS 7 is completely redesigned with an entirely new user interface and over 200 new features, so it's like getting a brand new device, but one that will still be instantly familiar to our users."

Even before iOS 7 launches, a consumer poll points to customer approval.

What do you think: Is iOS 7 a game changer?