Apple shows what new features the update to iOS 16 will bring to iPhones in September. The focus is on the lock screen, which will be spiced up with widgets, among other things, and will show notifications at the bottom in the future.
Gone are the days when operating systems made leaps and bounds with yearly updates. iOS 16 will not surprise iPhone users with spectacular innovations either. Nevertheless, there will be changes that are noticeable at first glance, as Apple has now shown in a preview at the start of the WWDC developer conference.
Widgets and more in lock screens
This is what the lock screen widget collection looks like.
In the first place of the presentation was the lock screen, which users see as soon as they lift the iPhone. You can now add widgets to it to get important info. This includes weather, calendar events, date, time zones, alarm clock, battery status or the progress of activity rings.
The multilayer effect in action.
Users can also create their own lock screens with their favorite emoji or various color combinations. If you have created several, you can switch through them by swiping sideways.
Own lock screens can also be set up for the focus function under iOS 16. It allows users to display only certain messages depending on the situation. To activate a focus, simply swipe to the relevant background.
Live activity and notifications from bottom to top
Live activities, for example, show real-time sports scores.
The new feature called Live Activities is particularly interesting, although Apple will only add it after the update later in the year. Widgets on the lock screen show, for example, the score of a football game in real time or how far away a taxi is called or the pizza ordered.
iOS 16 displays notifications sequentially from bottom to top. Apple expects more clarity from this.
Delete messages afterwards
Messages can now be deleted up to 15 minutes after they were sent.
The messaging app has an important function to avoid misunderstandings: users can edit or recall sent texts for 15 minutes. You can recover deleted messages within 30 days. Conversations can be marked as unread to deal with later.
Users also have "a moment" to revoke messages sent in Mail before exiting the outbox. They can also schedule emails to be sent in advance. Machine learning enables the app to independently recognize when important parts such as a subject have been forgotten. It also reminds you if you have not yet received a reply to a message. The search should work much better in Mail than before.
CarPlay accelerates, Passkey replaces passwords
CarPlay has significantly more options with iOS 16.
With iOS 16, CarPlay is more deeply integrated into car hardware and makes content available for multiple screens. In the future, drivers will be able to control the radio or the air conditioning, among other things. With the vehicle data, CarPlay brings speed, fuel level, temperature and more to the instrument display, widgets are also supported. However, the first compatible vehicles should not be available before the end of 2023.
In the Safari browser on iOS 16 there are shared tab groups to share website collections. Passwords can be replaced with "Passkey", creating unique digital keys that remain on the device, making them inaccessible to hackers. Touch ID or Face ID is used for biometric verification, iCloud keychain for synchronization on other Apple devices.
Routes with 15 stops, fitness without an Apple Watch
In future, Apple Maps will allow users to plan routes with up to 15 stops and automatically sync them between Mac and iPhone. In addition, the integration of local public transport will be improved. Among other things, it is possible to add bus or train tickets directly to the app.
If you use the dictation function under iOS 16, you can make manual entries at the same time. In addition, the dictation function can automatically insert punctuation marks and emojis.
If you don't have an Apple Watch, you can still use the fitness app to set goals and track your progress toward them. iOS 16 uses the motion sensors of the iPhone for this.
Not only parents have it easier
Parents can more easily set up child accounts with the right backups in Family Sharing. They can allow or deny requests for more screen time directly in the Messages app.
With the new "Safety Check" users can quickly revoke all access to the device that they have granted to other people.
The Home app will soon also support the Matter Smart Home connection standard, patients can manage their medication in the Health app, the Game Center has a new dashboard and 3D audio can be personalized with the true-depth camera.
