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| Apple launched iOS 15 with new FaceTime features |
Apple announced iOS 15 at WWDC 2021, an update for the iPhone that will be released to the public this fall and will soon become a developer beta.
As usual, the company used the WWDC 2021 keynote at the Apple Developer Conference to reveal the next major OS release.
iOS 15 will hit the market this fall alongside new devices like the iPhone 13, introducing a host of new features and other improvements.
As you'd expect from the main release, the changes are extensive, from the home screen to the apps built into the mobile operating system.
Apple continues to enhance user privacy and security in the latest version.
Apple said it took four things into consideration when developing iOS 15: staying connected, focused, using intelligence, and exploring the world.
video call:
The first round of changes at WWDC concerns FaceTime, Apple's video calling app, which has grown exponentially over the past year.
Add spatial audio support to FaceTime so you can more easily see who's speaking in a conference call by making the audio sound as if it's from a picture of the person speaking.
Improvements in sound isolation help reduce background noise while providing an improved sound mode.
Grid view also makes it possible to rearrange the call and see all participants in the call at the same time.
One of the great things about FaceTime is cross-platform communication. You can create a FaceTime link and share it with others.
Apple now allows users to schedule FaceTime calls in advance, and the video calling platform supports non-Apple devices such as Android smartphones.
This link can be used for Android devices and Windows desktops, and this is the first time in its history that the service has expanded.
SharePlay allows users to share media on FaceTime calls, including shows, movies, and music from various providers.
Apple Music support is also included in the integration with Multi-User Playback Sync. Screen sharing options are also available. This includes many of the major streaming services.
SharePlay is a powerful set of new features that let you enjoy the sharing experience during FaceTime calls.
iMessage:
To continue the topic of communication, iMessage users are given new options for grouping and stacking photos for sharing, providing more ways to visually display photos shared with others.
Shared Stacks brings news content to your News app and Photos app.
When you share something like an Apple News article or reading list, it now appears embedded in the message rather than a link.
Share with you on Apple Music, Safari, Podcast, Apple News, and Apple TV apps to bring together shared content to listen to or watch later.
To focus:
To help users stay focused while performing other tasks, Apple has added a number of features to reduce potential distractions.
The notice has changed and there is now a summary of the notice. Instead of a series of notifications, a single large summary notification can be presented to the user when needed. It combines all the important elements into one message.
When a user has enabled Do Not Disturb mode on their device. This status will be shown to others in the message to let them know that the user has turned off the notification.
Under focus, the mode can be set for different situations and the mode is activated or displayed depending on the user's location. For example, if a user appears in a fitness studio, the fitness mode to be configured for them can be displayed.
Live Text:
In an effort to help users deal with large amounts of typed information, Live Text is an automatic OCR feature for the Camera app.
Users can point the camera at text via a board, tag, or page. This makes the live text selectable and can be copied and pasted elsewhere.
And by taking advantage of machine learning, the feature isn't just limited to the camera app. They can be used to scan images practically anywhere they are used in the operating system. Including pre-captured images and web images.
It also includes support for seven languages, and can recognize objects and scenes.
Spotlight Search:
Spotlight has been updated with the ability to search for images within the user's library. Contact searches have also been improved, with an indication of whether DND mode is enabled by them.
A large selection of new cards are included. Shows information for actors, movies, and other types of content
Pictures:
Photos users can take advantage of Apple Music support in the Photos app for the Memories function. That can expand the music used to accompany slide shows.
The Memory Mixes feature allows users to edit memories that have been created to enhance them in various ways.
Apple Wallet:
Apple is significantly expanding the types of cards and documents that can be added to the wallet. Including IDs, driver's licenses in certain cases, and more types of keys.
The biggest advantage is the ability to add information from the ID card in some supported US states to the wallet via the iPhone. Apple says it is working with the US Transportation Security Administration to support digital identities at airports.
All information in the wallet is stored in a secure and encrypted manner. It includes the person's legal name, birth data, photo, and true identifier status.
In addition to supporting IDs, Apple is also expanding the types of keys that can be added to a wallet. This includes smart home lock keys, hotel room keys, and work badges that can be scanned to enter the workplace.
For example, hospitality company Hyatt will offer its support for digital keys to more than 1,000 locations later in 2021.
weather:
The weather app has got an updated user interface. There will be more details about the current weather conditions provided to users, so that they are more aware of what is happening outside.
The app also gets a weather map, which includes the temperature, rain, and air quality of the area.
Maps:
Apple announced that it is bringing its updated Maps experience to Australia, Italy, Portugal and Spain later in 2021.
Additional information is provided to users in cities, which display areas such as commercial areas, elevation signs, and individual buildings.
Sights receive custom designs, as well as a Night View mode. The globe is also displayed.
The new Navigation view relies more on 3D images. Including showing overlapping and complex exchanges.
In theory, this makes it easier to navigate more complex intersections and highways.
And if you're traveling on foot, you can scan a building in augmented reality view to get walking directions.