iOS 14 rumor roundup: Launch date, new features, apps and more
Celso Bulgatti / CNET
Apple’s annual developer conference WWDC is only a few weeks away, which means we will soon find out what new features Apple has in store for the iPhone with iOS 14. In the meantime, however, there are many rumors about what to expect.
In recent months, several Apple rumor websites have reported getting their hands on early trial versions of iOS 14, which include details on everything from user interface changes to new apps. And although we can’t know for sure whether these leaks are the real problem or whether the changes listed can even make it to the final build of iOS 14, there’s a lot to look forward to.
Look at that:
iOS 14: everything we know
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Publication date
If everything goes according to plan, which has not been the case so far, Apple will introduce iOS 14 under WWDC 2020that starts on June 22nd. This year the conference will take place virtually, but we still expect it to be announced on the keynote that usually starts the event, along with all other major announcements of software updates.
In the past, the announcement was followed by the release of the developer beta, a few months later the public beta with the official release of iOS at the iPhone launch event in early September.
However, the timeline may change this year. The Coronavirus pandemic Rumor has it that the next iPhone will have production delays, and Apple may be forced to postpone the launch event to October along with the release of iOS 14. Apple has not yet made a comment.
Home screen updates
The home screen may look drastically different in iOS 14. According to 9to5Mac, iOS 14 offers a list view that allows you to organize apps as a list instead of the current grid view. With Apple Watch, you can view apps that are already listed alphabetically. On iPhone, however, you can also sort them by the most used or the number of unread notifications.
Change standard apps
Since the existence of the iPhone, Apple has made its own pre-installed apps such as maps or music the standard selection. This can change in iOS 14, as rumors suggest that Apple may allow you to choose third-party apps instead: Spotify instead of Apple Music, Google Maps or Waze instead of Apple Maps, or Chrome instead of Safari.
@ Mentions in news
Rumor has it that Apple’s messaging app orients itself to other messaging apps like Slack and WhatsApp by letting you mention certain people in group chats by adding an @ symbol in front of their name. According to MacRumors, the app would also include the option to delete a message once it has already been sent, or to mark a message as unread as you would with an email. We are also expecting a new set of emojis along with some new tricks for Animojis and Memojis.
iPad-like multitasking functions
iOs 14 can also bring Multitasking functions for the iPhone. Apple Leaker Ben Geskin posted a video on Twitter of what this would look like on an iPhone 11 with an early version of the operating system. Since then, people have replied that it’s just a current jailbreak version and not an iOS 14 feature. Rumor has it that Apple is launching one iPhone 12 max with an even bigger screen than the current Max, which would benefit from more iPad-like features, but that doesn’t mean we will see it in this version of iOS.
New features in Safari
Siri can already translate words and phrases, but iOS 14 may allow you to translate text on your screen. According to 9to5 Mac, Safari gets translation capabilities similar to Google Chrome and allows you to switch languages at the push of a button, even if you don’t have a cellular signal or WiFi. The report also mentioned that it may also be available for some other Apple apps.
Safari can also get Apple Pencil support because it can be used as a cursor to click and scroll, and to take notes or markup pages.
Other accessibility aids
Another 9to5Mac report also mentions an accessibility feature that allows you to convert sounds like the ringing of an alarm or even a crying baby into haptic feedback for people with hearing loss.
A new training app
There are also two new app rumors that will come with iOS 14. The first is a training app that guides you through various exercise routines.
According to MacRumors, this includes running, cycling, rowing, weight training, dancing, yoga and a number of other activities. The app would also be available on Apple Watch and Apple TV. The report says the app is free, but Apple may be subscribing to the service or putting more premium content behind a paywall, as is the case with Apple News Plus.
Augmented Reality App
Apple may also be working on a new augmented reality app for iOS 14. With the app mentioned in 9to5Mac, you can get more information about a physical product that you see in a store without having to search online. The report relates to the Apple Store and Starbucks at launch, but could also be extended to other retailers.
compatibility
All rumors to date indicate that iOS 14 will be compatible with all devices running iOS 13. This is good news for people sticking to older devices, as previous iOS updates ruled out older models of the iPhone and iPad.
