In June 2020, Apple introduced the latest version of its iOS operating system, iOS 14, which is about to release this fall. iOS 14 is Apple’s biggest iOS updates to date, launching Home screen design changes, important new features, updates for the existing apps. Siri enhancements, and several other tweaks that simplify the iOS interface. Here, we will discuss everything about this latest version, including the new features of iOS 14.
First, iOS 14 comes with a redesigned Home screen that includes support for widgets for the initial time. Widgets can be dragged from the “Today” view right on the Home Screen and can be pinned in various sizes.
New Features of iOS 14
One of the new features of iOS 14 is it adds a new App Library view for arranging all your apps. Apps are organized automatically in the App Library, and you do not have to keep every icon on your real home screen view. There are a new list view and features for sorting applications depending on usage and many other things.
New widgets are data-rich and come in different sizes. They are accessible through the “Today View” but can be pulled out of Today View on the home screen. Apps move out of the way routinely to make space for the widgets. You can access these widgets through the “Widget Gallery”, with several sizing options.
Other new features of iOS 14 include it offers support for picture in picture, works like iPad experience. Siri is a new interface that does not overtake the whole screen. Here, are some of the new features of iOS that will change the way iPhone is used.
Tag someone in the mid of a text conversation
Updates coming to the Message app announced by Apple are mainly focused on group message conversations. Now, you can tag someone in a conversation when you want their attention and reply to a message directly. This in turn creates a thread within your conversation. This will help to grab their attention and ensure you will get a response quickly. Tagging somebody in a group conversation must be as simple as typing @ sign by their name while chatting.
Pin a conversation to the top of the message
Pinning a conversation to the top of a messaging app signifies there is no need to scroll through the long list of group conversations and contacts to find your favorite contacts. This is mainly useful if you have a go-to group, like friend chat or family chat where you chat with the members every day, or if you are planning a long term event like a group watch party.
Apple has now a built-in Translate app
Rather than using Google’s Translate app on your iPhone, iOS 14 comes with a baked-in Translate app that will help you to convert text and hold conversations with someone who speaks a different language. You can easily translate French, English, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Italian, Korean Arabic, Russian, and Portuguese.
Once you open this app, you will have two options. You can type the phrase or word which you want to translate or tap on the icon of a microphone placed at the bottom of the screen to use the voice to text feature. When you are done, the app will translate your words or phrases to a language you want. This is mainly useful if you are asking someone a fast question or want to hear the pronunciation too,
To continue the conversation, you will turn the phone to a landscape mode and tap on the mic icon. But this time you do not have to press and hold it for a long time. You must be able to close the app by swiping up when you are not using it. There are buttons to play and pause.
Has an organized home screen with App Library
Have you ever wished that your iPhone had an app drawer like Android? Well, no worries. Soon, it will. It is known as App Library.
App Library is a new screen that comes to the right side of your home screen. It arranges all the Google apps along with other apps present in your phone in folders automatically. The main objective of this feature is to make it simple for you to find all the apps that are installed on your iPhone. It goes hand in hand with another new home screen feature that allows you to hide the pages of apps that you use infrequently.
An App Library can be used when you want to open an app that is not listed on your home screen. To get an app, swipe left to right on the home screen. You can make use of it in three different ways. First, you can look in the automatically organized folders for the icon you are looking for- for example, social or health & fitness. At the top of the App Library screen, you will find two folders: Recently Added and Suggestions. Both will update automatically and adjust which apps are in either folder depending on how often you use an app and what are the apps that you have installed recently. You can also search for your app using its name in the search field at the top of your home screen or tap to see the alphabetical list of your apps.
Widgets come with a new look and a home
You no longer must be jealous of your Android-toting friends. Because now the iPhone also can have widgets on its home screen. Instead of restricting Widgets to the Today View that lives off to the left side of the home screen, you now easily add widgets directly to the display, with different sizes as an option. It even comes with a Smart Stack widget that shows information from different apps when it thinks you require it. For instance, it shows the weather widget followed by your calendar widget after you wake up in the morning.
You can view your widgets in Today View on the left side of your main Home Screen or you can drag and drop a widget from the Today View to the home screen. Alternatively, while editing the app layout, you can click on the + sign on the top left side of the screen, bring the widget gallery and find out which widgets can be added to your device.
You can pin a conversation or a contact to the top of the conversation list by swiping to the right side across any thread.
Picture-in-picture is an accessibility tool you will love
The iPad has had the capability to play a video in picture mode for a few years now. It is ultimately now coming to the iPhone. Picture in picture produces a thumbnail image of a video that continues to play even when you are on another screen or app. It will appear on the screen when you want to shift gears to use a different part of a phone when you do not want to stop the video.
Whenever you are watching a video using a supported app, like Twitch, and swipe to return to the home screen, the video will continue to play in a small window. You can drag PiP around the screen, adjust the size by pinching and zooming, and even briefly hide off the screen’s edge. Once you are done, just tap the X to shut down the video. Also, Picture in Picture as it is popularly known, also works with FaceTime video calls and several other apps.