iOS 14 first take: Apple launches a new iPhone home screen, Siri, widgets, picture-in-picture video and more

The company introduced iOS 14 during an online-only keynote at Apple’s annual Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC). The new iPhone operating system is a continuation of last year’s iOS 13, which initially had a rocky start with numerous software updates. The iOS 14 preview includes a major redesign of the iPhone home screen. Picture-in-picture video, better widgets, a new way to automatically organize your apps called App Library, and a new Siri interface. These functions are in addition to a new translation app and the ability to unlock your car with your iPhone.

The main features of iOS 14 mainly focus on the home screen, today view and notifications. Interestingly, the idea of ​​an app changes. Before iOS 14, there were apps and widgets based on your installed apps and available on the Today View page. Now there is a third form called App Clips if you need the functionality of an app that you don’t have.

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Take first: iOS 14 and all of its new features

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A developer version of iOS 14 is currently available for download. A public beta will start in July. A final version of iOS 14 will be released in the fall, probably along with the rumored iPhone 12, the first new iPhone since iPhone SE launched in April. iOS 14 runs on the same iPhones that are supported in iOS 13 – especially on the iPhone 6S and newer versions.

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Apple iOS 14 offers new ways to organize your home screen …

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The iOS 14 App Library makes the home screen of your iPhone clearer

Since its launch in 2007, the iPhone’s home screen has remained largely the same except for aesthetic changes. In iOS 13, organizing and moving apps can be very tedious because iPhone forces apps to be filled from the top left of the screen.

The app library in iOS 14 is a new page on the home screen where all your apps are automatically organized in one view. This may be my personal favorite feature for iOS 14 as it gives you several options for grouping and navigating your apps beyond the current magnetic app layout.

The app library intelligently bundles your apps into group apps by categorizing them. For example, apps like Facebook and Twitter would be grouped in a folder called Social Apps. If you’re not interested in using the App Library page, you’ll still have access to the current way you organized your apps. This solution feels like an answer to the app organization: “Have your cake and eat it too”.

Also worth noting: you can hide pages from apps, which can be helpful to group the apps you rarely use in one place.

Widgets in iOS 14 can be pinned, resized, and stacked

With iOS 14, Apple redesigned widgets that can currently be found in the Today view under iOS 13. Now you can pin widgets on your home screen and resize them to your liking. This is something Android has had for some time, but in a typical Apple variant, iOS 14 can automatically create a smart stack of widgets based on which apps you use often and at what time of day. You simply swipe across the widget stack to bring different widgets up.

The new widget design definitely shows some influence from Apple WatchOS and its complications.

App clips show a small part of an app for quick functions

App clips are an incredibly well thought-out addition to iOS 14. Suppose you are in a café and want to use the rewards program from the shop app, but you have not installed it. If you use a QR code or NFC in the shop register, a square map is shown at the bottom of the screen (similar to if you connected AirPods to your phone). The card gives you direct access to the functions selected by the developer of the app. The idea is that you don’t have to download the entire app to access a feature, especially if it’s a one-time use.

App clips don’t stay on your home screen and you can access them for as long as you need them. Even better, app clips can be connected to Apple Pay to give you a quick payment experience as well. This seems to be an incredibly useful feature, and I’m happy to see it launch with iOS 14 this fall.

Set an app as the default email address and browser

With iOS 14, you can set a third-party app system-wide as the default email or browser app. This means that the Gmail app can be your default email app or Firefox can be your default web browser on your phone. This function has been in great demand among iPhone users for years.

Picture-in-picture video will appear on your iPhone home screen

Like iPadOS and MacOS, users with iOS 14 can now have it Picture-in-picture video on their home screen. This way, you can watch a video while interacting with everything else on your iPhone.

The function even works when you are on the phone or calling FaceTime. However, if it is the version of iPadOS 13, YouTube videos (apart from the audio) cannot be played on your home screen.

You can pin conversations with iOS 14 messages

Similar to other messaging clients like Slack and What’s App, you can specify a person in a group message thread by entering their name. You can even customize a group thread so that you only get notifications when your name is given. With iOS 14, you can also pin conversations at the top of the messaging app.

iOS 14 offers Siri a redesigned user interface and knowledge

When you trigger Siri, the entire screen goes black and everything else disappears. When you activate Siri in iOS 14, a small animation appears at the bottom of the screen that minimizes visual restrictions.

According to Apple, Siri knows more than 20 times more facts than three years ago. The audio messaging feature in the messaging app can also be accessed directly from Siri.

Memoji get further adjustments, including a face mask

Memoji will get a number of new customizations. Apple has added 20 new hair and headgear options, as well as new age options. There are three new Memoji sticker campaigns: hug, punch, and blush. One of the more meaningful additions is the ability to put a face mask on your Memoji. Very relevant to our current time.

Continue reading: Apple’s invitation to WWDC showed people’s memojis on their Macs.

Siri can now translate text and dictation through the translator app

One of the cooler features is a new app that lets you translate text or dictations. It is similar to the Google Translate app. The translator app in iOS 14 was developed for conversations and uses the iPhone’s integrated neural engine. This means that you don’t have to be online to use them and your privacy is protected.

You can trigger the app with Siri and let the languages ​​be recognized automatically. There is a helpful conversation mode that is activated when you turn your iPhone to landscape mode. The translation of the other person is displayed on each side of the screen, making a conversation easy to follow.

The translator app supports 11 languages ​​when it starts:

• English
• Spanish
• French
• German
• Italian
• Japanese
• Russian
• Korean
• Arabic
• Portuguese
• Mandarin Chinese

The bike instructions can be found in Apple Maps

A missing function of the Maps app in iOS 13 is the ability to get driving directions. iOS 14 can show you route options for bike paths, paths and roads and inform you about height differences, busy streets and stairs.

Call notification windows are getting small

Much like iOS 14 now minimizes the Siri interface, incoming calls no longer take up your entire iPhone screen. Instead, a small notification window appears at the top of the screen for apps that can receive calls.

iOS 14 and CarPlay receive digital car keys

Think of this function as an Apple Wallet for your car. You can lock, unlock, and start your car with your iPhone or Apple Watch instead of a physical key. The function uses NFC and allows keys to be shared with friends or family. These digital car keys will be available next year.

iOS 14 app and feature Potpourri

There are of course a number of other minor but significant upgrades such as:

• The home app now supports “adaptive lighting”, which allows you to change the color temperature over the course of a day.
• Sleep mode turns your iPhone into an alarm clock that doesn’t bother you.
• The camera app offers faster exposure-to-exposure performance and new exposure compensation controls that let you lock an exposure without adjusting focus.
• Voice memos get audio enhancements.
• Sleeping in the health app can help you track and achieve sleep goals.
• The App Store will inform you about an app’s information and privacy practices before downloading. It’s huge.

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