Apple yesterday announced its new version of iOS operating system, which is named as iOS 10, at its annual WorldWide Developer Conference (WWDC 2016). Apple calls the iOS 10 as its biggest release yet.
The developer preview of iOS 10 is available to iOS Developer Program members at developer.apple.com starting June 13, and a public beta program will be available to iOS users in July at beta.apple.com. iOS 10 will be available this fall as a free software update for iPhone 5 and later, all iPad Air and iPad Pro models, iPad 4th generation, iPad mini 2 and later, iPod touch 6th generation.
Announcing the release, Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering in a press release said, “iOS 10 adds Siri intelligence into QuickType and Photos, automates your home with the new Home App and opens up Siri, Maps, Phone and Messages to developers – while increasing security and privacy with powerful technologies like Differential Privacy.”
New Messaging App
The new iOS 10 brings a new messaging app that allows writing messages in one’s own handwriting. Besides, it bring powerful animations, such as balloons, confetti or fireworks that can take over an entire screen to celebrate a special occasion, and invisible ink to send a message only revealed after a friend swipes over it. Automatic suggestions have been added to make it easy to replace words with emoji, Tapback creates a quick and simple way to respond with just a tap and rich links let you see content inline and play media without ever leaving your conversation.
iOS 10 brings the power of the App Store to Messages, opening up new opportunities for developers to create fun new ways for users to communicate in a thread, including stickers to be peeled and pasted into conversations, the ability to quickly personalise GIFs or edit photos, send payments or schedule dinner or a movie, all from within Messages.
Siri Improvised
For the first time, Apple has opened up Siri for developers who can now use Siri SDK to modify their apps. SiriKit will help developers easily design their apps to work with Siri for messaging, phone calls, photo search, ride booking, personal payments and workouts, or use Siri to control CarPlay apps, access climate controls or adjust radio settings within automakers’ apps.
Redesigned Maps
Maps in iOS 10 will proactively deliver directions to where you most likely want to go next, based on your routine or appointments on your calendar. Once a route is planned, Maps can search along the route for gas stations, restaurants, coffee shops and more and provides an estimate of how the stop impacts the length of your trip.
It is also open to developers with new extensions, apps like OpenTable can integrate bookings right into Maps, and services like Uber and Lyft can make it easier for users to book a ride, without ever leaving the Maps app. Maps
Memories in Photos
Apple has added a new Memories feature in its Photos application in iOS 10. Memories scans all your photos and videos and finds favourite and forgotten events, trips and people, and presents them in a beautiful collection. A Memory also contains the Memory Movie, an automatically edited movie with theme music, titles and cinematic transitions.
“Memories uses advanced computer vision to group the people, places and things inside your images into albums with on-device facial, object and scene recognition. This intelligence brings Memories and related photos to life in a way that’s personal and meaningful to you, while maintaining your privacy,” Apple said in a press release.
Home App
The Home app has now been deeply integrated into iOS. Accessories can be managed individually or grouped into scenes so they work together with a single command and can be controlled by using Siri. They can be managed remotely or set up for home automation with Apple TV, and can respond with automatic triggers set by time of day, location or action.
Apple claimed that nearly 100 home automation products will adopt HomeKit this year, bringing support for thermostats, lights, window shades, door locks, video cameras and more to the Home app. “Later this year, leading home builders, including Brookfield, KB Home, Lennar Homes and R&F Properties, will begin integrating many of these HomeKit devices into new homes,” as per Apple.
New Apple Music & News
Apple Music has an all-new design. The Library, For You, Browse and Radio tabs have been completely redesigned to provide an even greater sense of place, and we’ve added a Search tab to make finding music even easier. All of these changes come together to create a design that is clear and intuitive. iOS 10 features a redesigned News app with a new For You, organised into distinct sections that make it easier to find stories, support for breaking news notifications and paid subscriptions.
iOS Experience
In iOS 10, you can raise the device to wake it automatically, making it easier to view all your notifications at a glance, right from the Lock screen. Notifications, Today view and Control Center are accessible with just a swipe or a press, and deeper 3D Touchâ„¢ integration with iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus makes interacting with apps even easier.
Siri intelligence now brings new QuickType features, including contextual predictions to surface relevant information based on location, calendar availability or contacts; and predictive typing supports multiple languages without switching keyboards.
Privacy in iOS 10
Starting with iOS 10, Apple is using technology called Differential Privacy to help discover the usage patterns of a large number of users without compromising individual privacy. As per Apple, this technology will help improve QuickType and Emoji suggestions, Spotlight deep link suggestions and Lookup Hints in Notes.