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"Apple is launching its iOS 7 software on Wednesday, and if we've learned anything from major system updates in the past, there will be kinks. \nBefore you download the new software \u2014 which will be pushed to iOS users sometime during the day (we got the iOS 6 notification on our devices around lunchtime last year on the East Coast) \u2014 there are a few simple things to do ahead of time in case there are bugs. The last thing you'd want is to have your pictures, music and other files wiped along the way.\nSEE ALSO: Hands On With iOS 7: It's Just the Beginning\nTo download iOS 7 worry-free, the first step is to back up your data via iCloud. Apple actually backs up the most important data (if using iOS 5 or later) automatically, but the feature has to be enabled. To set this up, visit Settings &gt; iCloud &gt; Backup &amp; Storage. This will back up your iPhone on a daily basis as long as the device's screen is locked, on a Wi-Fi network and connected to power.\nBut before you download iOS, we suggest doing a manual back up. To do so, follow the same steps as above (Settings &gt; iCloud &gt; Backup &amp; Storage) and then click \"Back Up Now.\"\n\n\nIt will take a bit of time to do a full backup, so just sit tight in the meantime. For those with a ton of data you might not be able to complete the backup \u2014 you'll have to either transfer files (photos, etc.) via an Apple connector to a computer, delete a few apps you haven't used in awhile, or make room elsewhere. \nYou'll probably run into the same issue when trying to update iOS 7 if your device is near storage capacity, so you might want to clean house now.\n\n\nAnother area worth backing up is your iTunes library. Connect your device to a computer to sync with iTunes, but note this might be disabled if you have iCloud backup turned on. RIght-click the device in iTunes under Devices and select Back Up. You can also back it up by clicking the file menu and select Devices &gt; Back Up.\nWill you be downloading iOS 7 when it launches or will you be waiting until possible bugs are updated? Let us know in the comments below.\n\n\nHands On With iOS 7\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nStarting Up\nFrom the moment iOS 7 loads, its clear this is different. The linen that infused iOS 5 and iOS 6 is gone, replaced with white and thin sans serif typography.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nA Splash of Color\nWhile white is a predominant theme in iOS 7, this is not a monochrome OS. Color accents are almost always visible.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe New Home Screen\n\nFor the first time since the original iPhone, the overall look and icon structure of iOS is now new and fresh. \nThe wallpaper can now be dynamic or static. Dynamic wallpaper is similar to the animated wallpaper in Android, except it doesn't interact with your finger. The default wallpaper is static.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nA Cleaner Inbox\nMail has received a full revamp to both its main view and the compose screen.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nNew Integrated Services\nFlickr and Vimeo join Facebook and Twitter as built-in services.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFolders and Control Center\n\nSwiping up from the bottom brings up the Control Center. This is an easy way to access your most used settings, including WiFi, audio, brightness and quick access to alarm, a calculator, camera and flashlight.\nMeanwhile, photos can now store more items and span pages.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCamera Options\nThe new camera interface has a number of options built-in. Swiping across the bottom brings up options for the standard camera or the video camera.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nInstagram Friendly\nThere is a new square mode on the camera, perfect for Instagram. The panorama mode is still here too.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHouston We Have Filters\nApple also has its own filters built-into iOS 7. Rather than simply applying a filter in post, these filters are actually real-time and you can look through the viewfinder in that filter before taking a shot.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nStocks and Notes\nThe Stocks app looks totally fresh. Notes also has a new coat of paint. The texture is still there but the yellow lined paper and Marker Felt are a thing of the past.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\niTunes and Wish Lists\niTunes and the App Store both have new designs. Additionally, Apple has introduced a new Wish List feature on mobile, making it easy for users to save an app to buy later.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nApp Store\nThe App Store structure is still the same but the look is more fresh. In addition to the general charts, users can also check to see what apps are popular in their area.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSharing Or Adding to a Wishlist\nA new share button shows off what you can do with an app which includes AirDrop and adding it to a wishlist.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPassbook and News Stand\nBoth look fresh.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLock Screen \n\nThe Lock screen no longer has anything to slide to unlock, just swipe to the right.\nYou can choose to make Control Center available at the lock screen or not.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nNotifications and Weather\n\nPulling down from the top still brings up notifications, only now without linen and with a history.\nThe weather app is beautiful and animated.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nReminders\n\nReminders is now more robust in its appearance. There are different groups of reminders, not just lists. \nThe new reminder screen also has a refined look. It still has texture, but the lines are less bold.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCompass\nThe compass looks totally new and totally great.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSwitching Apps\n\nDouble tapping home brings up full screen previews of various apps. Scroll back and forth and see previews of your apps in real-time.\nSome might say this is copying Window Phone, but really, this look was pioneered by Palm with the late, great, webOS.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDialer and Messages\nThe dialer and the iMessage interface follow the new trends of being bright and with lots fo color.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nNotifications\nNotifications pop-up in dark now, not white. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCalendar\nThe calendar is de-leathered and has a very Google+ look.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCalendar Inbox\nThe calendar gets a proper inbox for incoming invitations.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMaps\nApple Maps has toned down some of its textures but the basic app looks very similar.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDirections\nThe directions page in Maps has been rebuilt and it looks much more sleek.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCalculator and Clock\n\nThe calculator still pays homage to the great HP calculators of the 70s, but with fewer bevels.\nAs for the clock, gone is that patent-infringing world clock look. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAlarms and Stopwatch\nCheck out the 3D effect when picking a time.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTimer and Settings\nThe timer is totally new too. This is what one of the standard settings pages looks like.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSafari\n\nThe bookmarks section for Safari is texture free but full of color.\nThe search and URL omnibox makes a glorious return (it was separated with iOS 3 back in 2009).\nThe whole look of this browser would look equally at home at Mountain View as it does in Cupertino.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSearching and Loading a Page\n\nTyping in a URL or string of text offers up real-time suggestions for an address or search query.\nThe thin bar at the top of the screen indicates page load progress.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTabs\nIt's like Cover Flow, but vertical!\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFaceTime Audio\nFaceTime can now do audio calls! \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nImage: Apple"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2013/09/17/what-to-do-before-ios-7/>