The WWDC21 keynote began with the company’s CEO Tim Cook and wrapped up wishing the participating developers across the globe. Before the pandemic happened the Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference used to take place at Apple Park in California. Since last year the company has taken the route of an online-only event due to the coronavirus pandemic. During the event, the Cupertino-based company gave us insights into the upcoming operating systems such as iOS 15, iPadOS 15, watchOS 8 and more. So if you have missed watching the event live do not worry Gadget Bridge will give you all the biggest news about the new features coming to your iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch.
iOS 15
At the WWDC21 Apple introduced the next iteration of iOS. Yes, iOS 15 has been announced bringing an advanced iPhone experience. Here is everything you should know:
Brand new FaceTime features in iOS 15
FaceTime has always been an important video calling feature offered by Apple. But since the lockdown happened it has become more important for the iPhone user to stay connected with their loved ones. To make the user’s experience more even more natural and comfortable the new iOS 15 will bring support for spatial audio to the FaceTime calls. This will make voices in a FaceTime call sound as if they are coming from where the person is positioned on the screen and new microphone modes separate the user’s voice from background noise. In addition to this, it will now have a dedicated Portrait mode for FaceTime designed specifically for video calls, so users can blur their background and put themselves in focus.
During Group FaceTime, a new grid view enables participants to see more faces at the same time. With the new feature called SharePlay, you can now integrate listening to songs together with Apple Music, watching a TV show or movie in sync, or sharing their screen to view apps together. This new experience sharing feature will be available across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and with shared playback controls, anyone in a SharePlay session can play, pause, or jump ahead. Additionally, with SharePlay the media can also be played on an Apple TV so users can watch shows or movies on a big screen while connecting over FaceTime. It will also add support for third-party apps such as Disney+, ESPN+, HBO Max, Hulu, MasterClass, Paramount+, Pluto TV, TikTok, Twitch, and many others.
Besides this FaceTime will also allow users to create a link from iPhone, iPad, or Mac, and share it through Messages, Calendar, Mail, or third-party apps. This functionality will allow users to join a FaceTime call from their web browser on Android and Windows devices. The calls on the web will remain end-to-end encrypted so that privacy is not compromised.
Notification and tools to find focus in iOS 15
The Notifications has got a new look with the arrival of a new operating system. It will now add contact photos for people and larger icons for apps that make them even easier to identify. Whereas a new notification summary will collect non-time-critical notifications for delivery at a more opportune time, such as in the morning and evening. Also, notifications will now be arranged according to priority with the most relevant notifications rising to the top, and based on a user’s interactions with apps, therefore, delivering urgent messages immediately. Users can also temporarily mute any app or messaging thread for the next hour or for the day.
Focus which is another important and fresh feature will filter out notifications and apps based on what a user wants to focus on. According to Apple users can set their device to help them be in the moment by creating a custom Focus or selecting a suggested Focus, which uses on-device intelligence to suggest which people and apps are allowed to notify them. Focus suggestions are basically based on the user’s work routine like working hours, resting time and when this feature is enabled on Apple devices, it automatically applies to their other Apple devices. This will also let you create Home Screen pages with apps and widgets that apply to moments of focus to only display relevant apps and reduce temptation. When someone has enabled these features on their device and Focus is blocking incoming notifications, their status is automatically displayed to others in Messages, reflecting that a user is not currently reachable.
Advanced Photos features in iOS 15
With Live Text now the Camera app can also quickly identify and copy text from a whiteboard, or Wi-Fi password displayed at a local coffee shop, handwritten family recipe or even capture a phone number from a storefront with the option to place a call. It can recognise seven languages including Chinese. Whereas the spotlight feature will allow users to search photos by location, people, scenes, or objects, and using Live Text, Spotlight can find text and handwriting in photos. Additionally, it will also offer web image search and all-new rich results for actors, musicians, TV shows, and movies. Enhanced results for contacts show recent conversations, shared photos, and even their location if shared through Find My.
On the other hand Photo Memories will let you personalise song suggestions that bring memories to life by setting up their own music from Apple Music. The Memories videos are editable and allow adding transitions and filters to them.
Maps, Wallet and Weather features
With the iOS 15, Apple Maps will get new features to navigate and explore. As per the company users will be able to experience enhanced details in cities for neighbourhoods, commercial districts, elevation, and buildings, new road colours and labels, custom-designed landmarks, and a new night-time mode with a moonlit glow. Also a three-dimensional city-driving experience with new road details like road details that help users better see and understand important details like turn lanes, medians, bike lanes, and pedestrian crosswalks. The nearby station can be found easily and one can pin it to their favourite lines. Users can also simply hold up the iPhone, and Maps generates a highly accurate position to deliver detailed walking directions in augmented reality.
Besides this Apple Wallet will now support additional types of keys for easy access to everyday places with just a tap. BMW was the first car company to add its keys to digital car keys and now this functionality will get support for Ultra-Wideband technology, so users can securely unlock and start their supported vehicle without removing their iPhone from a pocket or bag. One can also use their device to unlock their home, office, or even a hotel room — all through keys stored in Wallet.
By the end of the year, the customers in participating states will be able to add their driver’s license or state IDs to Wallet. As per the company, the ID cards stored in your wallets are encrypted and safely stored in the Secure Element.
The Weather app has got a new look with addition to more graphical displays of weather data, full-screen maps, and dynamic layouts that change based on conditions. The animated backgrounds have been redesigned and now more accurately reflect the sun’s position and precipitation, and notifications highlight when rain or snow starts and stops.
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