Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference 2022 began as usual, with many details about its upcoming operating system update: iOS 16. It will be released this fall after spending the summer in beta testing, offering more options customization, an enhanced lock screen with widgets, and some welcome updates to Messaging for people prone to spelling mistakes between us.
The lock screen is at the heart of Apple’s iOS 16 updates, starting with the ability to customize the fonts and colors used. It will be possible to add widgets and set up various lock screens between which you can switch by swiping your finger across the screen. Different focus modes can also be assigned to different lock screens. Apple-supplied wallpapers are also updated, with animated and themed Pride options.
Notifications also appear on the lock screen differently. Instead of piling up on the screen, they “roll up” at the bottom of the screen. There’s also a “live activity” feature to show notifications associated with an event such as an Uber trip or a single-tab sporting event.
Remember the message! Rejoice! Image: Apple
There’s also a major update to messages: iOS 16 adds the ability to edit spelling errors in sent messages, remember messages you didn’t want to send, and the ability to mark a message thread as unread so you can return. then. SharePlay also gets messages.
Apple’s powerful Live Text feature will hit the video. In addition, more actions are available when you use Live Text in photos or videos. Wallet also has some extended features, with a way to securely share saved IDs by providing only the information you need. It will also be easier to share saved keys. Apple Pay gets a new “Pay Later” feature, which adds the option to split an invoice into four equal payments with no interest or commissions. Apple Maps will get a multi-stop routing in iOS 16, and six more cities will be added to the “detailed city experience” introduced in iOS 15.
Apple is also adding shared iCloud photo libraries, in an effort to make it easier to share certain photos between family and friends. Photos will include sharing suggestions, and image and keyword edits will be synchronized for all users.
In iOS 16, users can sync photos between accounts in shared iCloud image libraries.
There is also a new feature called Safety Check, which aims to protect people in abusive situations. Allows you to easily revoke access to certain information, such as your location, that you may have previously shared with someone else.
iOS 16 will be available this fall for iPhone 8 and later, and will likely debut alongside the iPhone 14 series, which is rumored to offer an ever-active screen for the first time on an iPhone.
In development … we are adding more to this post, but you can follow it with our live WWDC 2022 blog to get the news even faster.