In June 2021, Apple announced the latest version of its iOS operating system, iOS 15, which is set to be released in the autumn. iOS 15 introduces new features for FaceTime calls, tools to reduce distractions, a new notifications experience, added privacy features, complete redesigns for Safari, Weather, and Maps, and more.
First of all, Apple customers can expect a big upgrade on Apple FaceTime which is set to look a lot more like Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Apple said in their WWDC 2021 keynote that they would be adding features that will let people schedule calls and even access them via a browser on Google Android and Microsoft Windows devices. Craig Federighi, Apple’s head of software, said, “you can generate a link for a FaceTime call and share it anywhere,” address. “It’s a terrific way to plan ahead for a call.” The addition of spatial audio in FaceTime is supposed to make it sound like the people you’re talking to are in the same room, and voice isolation on the microphone will dampen ambient noise and prioritize the speakers’ voices. The aim was to make FaceTime “more natural, comfortable and lifelike,” Federighi said. FaceTime also supports Portrait mode and offers a new grid view to see more faces at the same time. SharePlay is a new feature that allows users to share media together in sync during a FaceTime call. Users can also generate shareable links to a scheduled FaceTime call, which can also be opened on Android and Windows devices.
Notifications have been redesigned in iOS 15, adding contact photos for people and larger icons for apps. To reduce distraction, a notification summary collects notifications together for delivery at an appropriate time and arranges notifications by priority.Additionally, Focus is a new feature that can filter notifications and apps based on what a user wishes to focus on at a certain time. When a user’s Focus is blocking incoming notifications, their status will be displayed to others in Messages. iOS will suggest a Focus for different occasions, such as work hours or winding down for bed, using on-device intelligence, but users can also create a custom Focus. When a Focus is set on one Apple device, it automatically applies to other Apple devices.
Also getting a makeover is Safari, which gets a completely new design. Controls are easier to reach with one hand and give more focus to web content. There is a new, compact tab bar that floats at the bottom of the screen so users can easily swipe between tabs. Tab Groups allow users to save tabs and easily access them at any time across devices. There is also a customizable start page and web extensions for the first time.
iOS 15 also brings valuable enhancements to Maps, which will now offer a new 3D view in cities with significantly enhanced details, showing buildings, pedestrian crosswalks, bike lanes, and more. There is a new city-driving experience with added road details and improved Transit features, such as pinned favourite lines, notifications to disembark, and AR walking directions.
The Weather app has been redesigned in iOS 15, showing more graphical displays of weather data, full-screen maps, and dynamic layouts that change based on weather conditions. Totally new animated backgrounds can now more accurately reflect the sun’s position and current precipitation, and there are notifications to highlight when rain or snow starts and stops.
The Wallet app adds support for new key types in iOS 15, such as homes, offices, or hotel rooms. Later this year, customers in participating U.S. states will be able to add a driver’s license or state ID to the Wallet app. The Photos app features a major update to Memories with a new design and an interactive interface. Memories now supports integration with Apple Music, using on-device intelligence to offer song suggestions for personalised Memories.
iOS 15 also introduces new privacy measures, such as processing Siri requests directly on the iPhone, which has the added benefit of better responsiveness, Mail Privacy Protection to stop senders knowing if an email has been opened and detecting a recipient’s IP address, and an App Privacy Report view to show how often apps use the permissions they have been granted.
Although the full version of iOS 15 won’t ship until later this year, this preview from Apple offers us the chance to see what big features Apple has planned and of course, the latest software will power the anticipated (rumoured) iPhone 13 models due out later this year.
iOS 15 Supported Devices
iOS 15 is compatible with all the same iPhones as iOS 13 and iOS 14, including older devices like the original iPhone SE and iPhone 6s. iOS 15 compatible devices are listed below. For ease, here is a complete list: –
• iPhone 12
• iPhone 12 mini
• iPhone 12 Pro
• iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 11 Pro
• iPhone SE (2020)
• iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone 11
• iPhone XS
• iPhone XS Max
• iPhone XR
• iPhone X
• iPhone 8
• iPhone 8 Plus
• iPhone 7
• iPhone 7 Plus
• iPhone 6s
• iPhone 6s Plus
• iPhone SE (2016)
• iPod touch (7th generation)
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Photo credit: Forbes
