Even with that drop, it’s impressive how these phones lasted this long.
Apple’s latest WWDC just happened today, and oh boy, they revealed a lot of things during that keynote. This is probably one of the more significant keynotes Apple has ever done, with iOS 16, a new MacBook, the new M2 chip, and so much more.
Let’s start first with iOS 16, which brought features that were already available for Android since 2012.
LOCK SCREEN
The main significant thing about iOS 16 is the lock screen. Such significance is important because Apple users have been really boring to talk to when it comes to tech. The new lock screen comes with new customization features, including the ability to change the font, font size, and colour. You can now also add widgets, taking notes from the Apple Watch. These include calendar events, weather, battery levels, time zones, and much more.
While you can add your own photos anytime, Apple also has its own gallery, appropriately called “Apple Collections”. This includes the Pride and Unity collection which help certain communities celebrate special occasions. There is also the “Astronomy” collection that has a collection of heavenly bodies. In addition, you can also add emojis and different colour combination to your lock screen.
NOTIFICATION AREA
Notifications have also been moved so that they know appear from the bottom to the top. This makes the UI less cluttered, especially with the new notification options.
FOCUS
Focus, a feature introduced in iOS 15, is now available for iOS 16’s lock screen. Selecting on a particular lock screen wallpaper lets you choose the “Focus” you want on that said lock screen, so only the most relevant ones you’ve added to each profile would be available. You can always turn this off.
iCLOUD SHARED LIBRARY
iCloud introduces the Shared Library for Apple Photos. Up to six users can collaborate to add their favourite moments to the said shared library. Also, users can move certain photos to the shared library if they want to. Users would also intelligently receive suggestions to share a photo, along with a contributor. The camera app also gets a new option so that the photo you have just taken can be sent immediately to the shared library. It has access to a normal photo album, having the ability to edit, delete, or favorite the photos
DELETE AND ALTER MESSAGES RIGHT AFTER SENDING THEM
Users can now edit messages after sending them as well as recover previously deleted messages. They can also mark them as “unread” so that they can come back to the message later as if you never actually read them. Several messaging apps have these features already, including WhatsApp. So it’s about time Apple does something to iMessage.
Apple has a fine print regarding deleting and editing messages. Users can edit and recall messages 15 minutes after sending them. Users also have a total of 30 days to recover recently deleted messages before they are permanently erased.
APPLE MAIL IS NOW MORE ATTENTIVE
Apple Mail can now schedule emails ahead of time and e-mails can now be canceled before they even reach the recipient. If there is supposed to be an attachment to the e-mail, then Apple Mail will let the user know in case they forgot it. Reminders can now be made, especially to e-mails that requires a response.
LIVE TEXT and VISUAL LOOK-UP ENHANCEMENTS
Google Lens is such a useful feature in identifying different objects such as bugs and flowers. It also helps in translating signs. Oh wait, we’re still talking about iOS 16, right? We mean Live Texts.
Live Text, like Google Lens, uses AI to identify objects around you using the camera. Now, this feature includes video. When taking a video with Live Text, users can now pause the video frame-by-frame so that they can go back anytime to where they needed Live Text the most. Currency conversion and text translation are also available.
In addition, Visual Look up now allows users to cut certain parts of the image (similar to the Lasso Tool in Photoshop) and then paste it as a sticker in places like iMessage. Also, Visual Look-up also now recognizes different types of bugs, birds, statues, and insects
PAY LATER WITH APPLE PAY
Apple Pay now includes a “Pay Later” method. It is a credit-based method where you can buy certain items and then you could pay for it as a form of credit. Currently, the feature is only available for users living in the United States. Purchases made using Apple Pay can now be separated into four different sections that spread over six weeks with no interest and no fees of any kind. Apple did state that banks can still charge a user if their debit has insufficient funds.
For expanded security, Apple also lets users use any valid ID for any app that needs it. It applies to apps where purchases are available, such as UberEats. Users can also share the information providing they have consent, through FaceID or fingerprint identification. Apple said only necessary information for the transaction is used.
CARPLAY
CarPlay now supports multiple screens. With this, users can now browse one app to another, and will be more flexible in terms of features such as controlling the radio, and change the climate of the vehicle they’re in.
CarPlay can now also seamlessly render temperature, speed, fuel level, and more through the car’s instrument cluster. This data is accurate because it will originate from the vehicle’s data. Users can also customize this cluster gauge to provide a more personalized experience.
Apple will release more info about the next-generation CarPlay next year.
OTHER FEATURES
- Safari now has passkeys. These are unique digital keys that are never stored on a web server. This makes it less prone to hacking, according to Apple.
- Apple Maps can now plan ahead up to 15 stops. These stops sync in real-time through Mac and iPhones. Transits are now updated in real-time so that users know when their next train or bus is arriving, as well as ticketing costs. Users can also now add transit cards to their wallets. They can also top-up in the Wallets app, too.
- Family Sharing is a parental control measure. Here, parents can set up passwords, age restrict apps and other features. It also includes suggestions in which the AI might think to be age-appropriate. For other devices, a more simplistic version is used, and they can use the same parental information they have set up earlier
- Siri can now run shortcuts as soon as an app is downloaded without requiring a prompt. Less confirmation means more time saved. This also includes emojis
- Health now includes medication allowing for users to conveniently track their medicine use, including creating reminders and schedules.
- Apple News now has a separate sports section
- Personalized Spatial Audio is now more accurate and precise. Listeners can use the TrueDepth feature found on their iPhone’s camera app to create a personal profile for Spatial Audio.
- Safety Check is Apple’s newest privacy tool. Here, users can remove all access they have granted to others. This is useful in case you need to break off contact with others you previously had contact with. It also includes emergency features such as a reset that allows users to quickly sign out of their iCloud accounts to all their other devices. Users can also limit features and clear of every permission they had for that account.
- Door Detection is now available in the Accessibility option. This is very useful for blind or low-vision users.
AVAILABILITY
IOS 16’s beta test is available on the same day as the keynote. A public beta is expected by July that will also coincide with third developer beta.
Source: Apple
You must be logged in to post a comment.