Apple Announces New Features for Your iPhone, iPad, Mac Computer, and More at WWDC 2020

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Last week Apple hosted its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), but unlike previous years, the conference was conducted virtually due to Coronavirus. The WWDC keynote address was filled with a preview of software and other updates Apple will be releasing for its devices during the remainder of the year.

Most of these features will be available for existing devices, making your current iPhone, iPad, Mac computer, and Apple Watch seem like new. All of these updates announced at WWDC are free so you’ll be getting these new features for your existing devices without having to spend any money.

iPhone – iOS 14

In the fall, Apple will be releasing iOS 14, an update to its iPhone operating system, that will be filled with features to make using your iPhone more efficient and private. Apps will be organized differently and will be accessible more easily and quickly. Maps and Messages will have more features to make them more useful and your iPhone will be able to translate languages in real time.

App Widgets on the Home Screen

In iOS 14, iPhone users will be able to add widgets to their home screens to access apps easily. You’ll be able to choose which apps appear as widgets on your home screen, as well as the placement and size of the widgets.

You’ll also be able to see widgets on your home screen change, based on the time of day. Siri can learn your habits and predict which apps you’d like to access at different times of the day, then change your home screen widgets accordingly. For example, if you tend to check stock prices at the end of the business day, Siri can add the Stocks widget in the late afternoon so you can view stock prices on your home screen without having to open the Stock app.

App Clips

In iOS 14, some apps can open automatically for easy access when you’re near a place where you’d use them. For example, when you enter a store whose app has an app clip, that app clip can open automatically so you do things such as place an order, view a store map, pay for parking, or rent a scooter.

 

 

App Library

iOS 14 also introduces the App Library that can automatically group your apps into categories. and arrange them into folders on your screen. No more need to sort and arrange your apps manually, your App Library can do that automatically.

 

=> See, A Handy Trick to Organize Your iPhone Apps Easily

More Screen Space

Multi-tasking on the iPhone will be more convenient in iOS 14. When a phone call comes in and you’re using an app, a notification will appear in a bar at the top of your screen instead of filling your entire screen.

Similarly, when Siri is summoned, a bar will appear across the screen instead of Siri consuming your entire screen. And when you open a different app while you’re on a FaceTime video call, a video window will appear in the corner of your screen so you can continue the video chat.

=> Don’t miss Here’s How to Make a Group FaceTime Video Call on Your iPhone, iPad, and Mac Computer

Messages

The Messages app will be getting updates in iOS 14 too. You’ll be able to pin up to nine important conversations to the top of the Messages app so you can access them more readily.

In group conversations, your name will be highlighted when someone mentions you in a text message. You’ll be able to respond to a specific message in a group conversation. Messages and responses will be threaded so you can more easily see responses to messages.

Maps

The Maps app will be more helpful in iOS 14 by allowing users to plan bicycle routes in addition to walking, driving and public transportation. Bicycle navigation in Maps will show how challenging a route is by highlighting changes in elevation, stairs, and busy streets.

Maps will also show electric vehicle charging stations so you can plan your route most efficiently if you’re driving an electric vehicle.

Guides is a new feature in Maps that can show you recommendations of places to visit and eat nearby.

These new features will also be available in Maps on iPads, Mac computers, and Apple Watches.

Translate

A new Translate app in iOS 14 lets you translate into 11 different languages, so you can converse with others and see real-time translations.

You can download languages to your phone to translate even when you’re offline and away from the Internet and save favorite translations for easy access later.

An Attention mode in Translate enlarges the lettering so you can show someone your message in easily visible text. Safari will offer to translate websites in seven different languages.

CarPlay

Apple CarPlay gets a major upgrade, but you’ll have to get a new car to take advantage of it. With CarPlay in iOS 14, you’ll be able to unlock and start your car using your iPhone. You won’t have to ever worry about losing or forgetting your car keys, your iPhone can be your car key.

This car key feature will be available on compatible new cars beginning with a BMW 5-series model available later this year.

You’ll also be able to send your iPhone virtual car key to another driver to give them access to your car. You can set restrictions on the shared access of your key according to time and/or driving distance.

You’ll be able to change the wallpaper on your CarPlay dashboard screen. New types of apps will be available in CarPlay such as parking, electric vehicle charging, and food ordering apps.

AirPods

AirPods are also getting new features with iOS 14. Apple is adding spatial audio to AirPods to give wearers a surround sound effect.

Your AirPods will be able to switch connections automatically so if you finish a call on your iPhone and open your iPad to watch a movie, your AirPods connection will transfer automatically from your iPhone to your iPad.

Apple TV 4K will allow two sets of AirPods to be connected simultaneously so two people will be able to listen to a movie or show on their AirPods without bothering others in the house.

Availability

iOS 14 is scheduled to be released by Apple in the fall. The company says that iOS 14 will be available for these iPhones:

• iPhone 11
• iPhone 11 Pro
• iPhone 11 Pro Max
• 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 (1st generation)
• iPhone SE (2nd generation)
• iPod touch (7th generation)

iPad OS

iPadOS will be getting many of the same features as iOS 14, including app widgets on the home screen, more screen space for calls and Siri, pinned conversations in Messages, and bicycle routes in Maps.

Your iPad will able to do more things in the fall, such as recognizing handwriting as typed text. You’ll be able to search handwritten notes, copy and paste handwriting, and circle handwritten text to select it. iPad OS will also be able to convert handwritten text into typed text.

You’ll be able to search for terms using your handwriting and call a handwritten number on your iPad. Shapes you draw can be recognized and converted to a geometric shape.

Availability

This iPadOS will be available in the fall for the following models of iPad:

• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation)
• iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd generation)
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation)
• iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation)
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation)
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st generation)
• iPad Pro 10.5-inch
• iPad Pro 9.7-inch
• iPad (7th generation)
• iPad (6th generation)
• iPad (5th generation)
• iPad mini (5th generation)
• iPad mini 4
• iPad Air (3rd generation)
• iPad Air 2

MacOS Big Sur

Apple is bringing new features to Mac computers this fall with the update to its MacOS operating system, this year named Big Sur. This update makes using the Mac more convenient and adds new features to Safari as well.

Many of the new features coming to the iPhone and iPad are also coming to your Mac, such as bicycle routes in Maps, pinned messages and threaded replies in Messages, translation of websites, and more.

Control Center for Mac

Apple is giving you more control over your Mac with Control Center. You can customize Control Center for easy access to settings such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Do Not Disturb, Dark Mode, and more. Drag and drop items into Control Center and re-arrange their order. You can also drag and drop favorites from Control Center into your menu bar for even easier access.

 

Messages

The Messages app will be updated in Big Sur. You’ll be able to add GIFs to your messages from within the app. You’ll also be able to use your Memojis in Messages on your Mac.

Safari

In Big Sur you’ll be able to customize your home page in Safari, with the ability to add shortcuts to favorite websites, frequently visited sites, your reading list, and more. Drag and drop a photo onto your home page in Safari to change your wallpaper.

You’ll be able to use extensions in Safari, including ones such as shopping, ad blocking, utilities, social media, and more. Safari will let you restrict extensions access by time period or to only certain websites.

Safari’s tabs have been redesigned in Big Sur. If you hover over a tab with your cursor, you’ll see a preview of the tab on your screen.

Availability

Big Sur will be available in the fall for the following Mac computers:

WatchOS 7

Your Apple Watch will be more customizable in the fall with the release of WatchOS 7. Apps on the Watch will be able to offer multiple complications. For example, a weather app could offer complications for temperature, forecast, sunrise/sunset, and more.

Watch Face Sharing

Sharing is caring and in WatchOS 7 you will be able to share a watch face with others. Create a watch face, then share it with others via text message, email, or a link.

Sleep Tracking

WatchOS 7 brings a much-requested feature to the Apple Watch — sleep tracking. Your Apple Watch can track your sleep and even help you wind down with a meditation app before you go to sleep.

You’ll be able to see information about your sleep last night, as well as for the past 14 days. If you use your Apple Watch for sleep tracking and charge your Watch in the morning, you’ll get an alert on your iPhone when your Watch is fully charged.

Hand Washing Help

In what may be the best combination of adorable and useful tech, the Apple Watch with WatchOS 7 will help you wash your hands better. The Watch will automatically detect when you’re washing your hands and launch a 20-second countdown clock with exploding bubble numbers for a more thorough hand washing experience.

The Watch can also help remind you to wash your hands when you arrive home.

Availability

WatchOS 7 will be available in the fall for these model Apple Watches:

• Apple Watch Series 3
• Apple Watch Series 4
• Apple Watch Series 5

Privacy

Apple is making privacy a priority in the fall, with updates that better protect your privacy in iOS 14, iPadOS, and Safari.

In iOS 14 and iPadOS you’ll be more aware of apps that track you and have access to your camera and microphone. Privacy statements will be more readily available in the App Store for iPhone, iPad, and Mac computers.

=> Check out Is Your Phone Is Listening to You? Here’s How to Stop It.

A yellow dot will appear when an app has access to your camera and/or microphone in iOS 14 and iPadOS. You’ll be able to restrict apps to access only your approximate location, instead of your exact location. You’ll see alerts when an app is accessing your information.

With many apps you’ll be able to Sign in with Apple, verifying your identity without sharing your personal information with the app.

One beta tester of iOS 14 already has detected that the app Tiktok has been accessing text he has been copying to his clipboard.

Okay so TikTok is grabbing the contents of my clipboard every 1-3 keystrokes. iOS 14 is snitching on it with the new paste notification pic.twitter.com/OSXP43t5SZ

— Jeremy Burge (@jeremyburge) June 24, 2020

The fall should be very interesting if these updates reveal what information about us apps are accessing. We may suddenly become keenly aware of how our personal information is being shared with apps.

Your Thoughts

Are you impressed by these updates coming from Apple in the fall? Which of these new features will be the most helpful to you?

Share your thoughts in the Comments section below!