Last year’siOS 14 releasewas one of the best iPhone updates yet . Apple did n’t necessarily deliver everything onour wishlist from last give , but it made self-aggrandizing pace on a surprising number of them , with a massive home screen revamp , immense privacy advancements , and an delinquent streamlining of Siri ’s UI . And subsequent update have save up the momentum , withthe upcoming release of Io 14.5slated to wreak Apple Watch unlocking , app trailing foil , and a slew of other tweak and plus .
Looking forward to iOS 15 , we still need Apple to tackle some of our evergreen complaints ( Siri ) , but the addition of self-aggrandizing changes like the App Library and home screen Widgets have gone a recollective way toward making iOS a more New and compromising mobile operating organisation . But we ’d like Apple to go even further . Here are some of our most - trust features and change for this year ’s major iPhone O update . And be certain to see out our wishlists formacOS 12andwatchOS 8 .
Update 05/25/21 : A new hearsay claim iOS 15 will include dark mode tweak , food tracking , and new lock sieve notification preferences .
iOS 15: Beta and release
Ever since iOS 5 , Apple has lodge to a very rigid dismissal docket for its yearly OS refreshes . We can expect a reveal of iOS 15at WWDC during the tonic on June 7 , followed by a developer beta , a public genus Beta , and then the general release in September , likely concur with the launch of the iPhone 13 .
iOS 15: Expected new features
We wo n’t recognise much about iOS 15 until WWDC , buta account from Bloomberg disgorge some lighton Apple ’s programme for the new oculus sinister . While point are sparse , Mark Gurman report that Apple is look to bring a raw Lock Screen to the iPhone , which would be a welcome change . As we write in our wishlist below , the current lock screen is n’t very good and Apple needs to rethink its purpose and function .
Apple is also reportedly looking to tweak the way notifications are handled , which has been a major pain percentage point for iPhone users . Gurman says iOS 15 will bring a new feature that will set aside users to set varying notification preferences , such as if the earphone makes an audible sound or vibrates , depend on their current status . Apple will reportedly infix a unexampled bill of fare that lets users select whether they are take , working , sleeping , which will be shown on the updated Lock Screen and in Control Center . Additionally , there will be an option to position automatic replies to substance based on the drug user ’s position , a feature presently only available while driving .
Gurman allege iOS 15 will also work up on the privacy features it deliver in iOS 14 , with one of the plotted novel features being a new menu that will show user which apps are silently call for data about them . And finally , Apple is also working on a Messages update “ with the eventual goal of acting as more of a social connection and better vie with Facebook Inc. ’s WhatsApp , ” but that might not ship until a later iOS update .
Over on Twitter , Connor Jewiss , who arrogate to have seen iOS 15 , suppose that Apple will include a food - trailing system ( which is exchangeable to MyFitnessPal or fall back It ! ) . He also confirms previously - reported rumors like modification to Messages , notification on the lock screenland , and interface tweaks to dark mode .
iOS 15: What we want to see
While we hold off for iOS 15 to make it , we ’ve compiled a tilt of feature of speech and tweak we desire to see in the next iPhone update .
Appearance
Along with a pair of crosscut that you ca n’t customize , the iPhone lock screen does n’t do much other than display the clip and day of the month , and the battery level ( briefly ) . Its master determination is to show notifications as they arrive , but the lock screen really is n’t the best topographic point for that — they should dash up when fresh , but seeing old apprisal on the lock screen does n’t have a lot of utility that would n’t be served just as well by swiping down to show the notice shade .
Far better would be to allow us to put widgets on the lock screenland . If there ’s a security worry with showing data on an unlocked earphone ( though Face ID should be able-bodied to take care of it as it does with notifications ) , another choice might be for Siri to be proactive and show what it feel might be useful information based on our use habit . If you have a calendar event come up soon , it may look , but not if it ’s more than an hour away . If you always call your mom on Saturday at 3 pm , a “ Call mom ” button could be present near that fourth dimension . The current weather and approximate - term forecast might always be visible . Tapping on any of these things would unlock your iPhone ( with Face ID ) and take you directly to the related app .
The current time - engagement - and - list - of - notifications lock filmdom does n’t do a very good job of what a modern lock screen should aim to — intuitively helping you get directly to the thing you were picking up your iPhone to do — and helping you keep it locked for longer .
The Apple Watch has an always - on display . OLED Android sound have had always - on display for days . There ’s no reason why the OLED iPhone good example ca n’t have them as well . An always - on “ eternal rest ” blind for the iPhone should be similar to the lock chamber screen , with a few alteration . It should display time , date , and battery life on a black background , but no notifications . Perhaps young notifications could in brief appear and go off , but we needfewerreasons to clean up our earpiece , notmore .
An always - on show would do wonder for the iPhone .
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I ’d be intimate to see Apple take the idea of complications from the Apple Watch and total them to the curl screen door and always - on sleep sieve . Perhaps four of them , flank the clock , with standardized formatting . Developers could produce complications for their apps , and exploiter could pick out which four they want to see . This would be a great means to get simple information without picking up our phones and diving into apps . Some of what we demand we could get without even unlock our telephone set . It would make the iPhone more utile even when at residue while bring home the bacon an authoritative feature to promote digital health and wellbeing .
TheApp Librarywas one of the self-aggrandising and best new characteristic of iOS 14 . A position where all your apps live , take into account you to remove seldom - used apps from your Home screen — it ’s Apple ’s answer to the App Drawer that Android drug user have had forever .
While the concept is majuscule , the implementation get out a snatch to be desire . The automatic app groupings are confusing — it ’s unclear which apps are in which group if you ca n’t see the icon , and it ’s tough to sympathise that tapping on the large icons in each radical opens that app but tapping on the little chemical group of four icons in the lower - right opens up the group to explore . The auto - arrangement of group is frustrating , too — core user interface features should not be rearranged every clock time you visit them , or you ’ll never build up a impropriety with where you need to go to do things .
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Apple can switch each App Library group to show four with child ikon , and make the radical open when you exploit anywhere on it ( rather than launching the app direct ) . The group arrangement should be static and editable ( via the usual tap - and - curb “ jiggle mode ” ) . And we should have an option in preferences to make the App Library default to the list survey , rather of have to hang back down on the App Library concealment or tap the hunting bar at its top .
Apps
The Weather app is stuck in the past times , having change very minuscule since the redesign back in iOS 7 . It ’s time to completely overhaul its visuals , and move on from the Weather Channel as a data source . Why else didApple buy Dark Sky ?
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Weather is one of those thing where everyone has dissimilar priorities , so the new Weather app should focalize on adaptability and customization options in add-on to bringing the port up to modern standards . We ’d like to see live radiolocation , more information , an factual seven - day prognosis , and weather - service alerting , not to bring up a design that does n’t look like it was designed three year ago .
While we ’re verbalise about apps in want of an overhaul , the Home app feels like Apple just does n’t care about HomeKit stuff at all . A basic gridiron of square with minimal info , with no verbatim feedback about what hap when you intercept on one versus long - press ? light adjust separately instead of in chemical group ?
Home needs bigger “ widget ” for different HomeKit - enable devices that show more entropy about their current state and have saucy structured control . HomePod needs its own tablet to expose late queries and the results of Siri questions that need visual aid . The whole app necessitate a ground - up change in design philosophy , one that make it seem like smart rest home engineering is actually important to Apple . The current Home app has a very “ minimal viable product ” flavor , and it ’s not a skilful look .
The Stocks app may have been utilitarian back in the days when you had to call your factor to make trade , but smartphone trading is the hot affair now . Manually supply stock symbolisation just to get data you ca n’t really act on feel like a waste .
Apple should grant fiscal apps likeRobinhood , E*Trade , orTD Ameritradeto incorporate with Apple ’s Stocks app through an API , so your Stocks are always up to appointment with your account . And if you require to make a swop , the Stocks app could deep - connection to that exact parentage within a supported app . With those changes , we might actually open it sometimes .
With iOS 14 , Apple made it potential tochoose a different web browseror email app as your default , so clicking on links and beam mail automatically opens the app you take instead of always Safari or Mail .
A late update taught Siri to ask which audio app you require to use when asking it to diddle a Sung , artist , record album , or podcast . That ’s not exactly the same affair ( you ca n’t go into setting and change defaults ) , it ’s a start . Just go out front and let us choose real defaults , already .
There ’s no reason for Apple not to go much further with this . Forcing Apple Maps on citizenry when you call for for commission or rap on an speech is protectionism that benefits Apple , not its customers .
Why not let us assign a default Camera app ? There are lots of good option on the App Store , but the television camera clitoris on the lock filmdom always goes just to Apple ’s , and asking Siri to take a picture does the same . Messaging , too , should get the default app treatment . In some parts of the man , WeChatiseverything , and the fact that Apple always wants to utilize substance must be a incessant frustration .
Last year , we noted that , while Apple makes continual improvements to Siri , it has alongway to go measure up to Google Assistant or Alexa . We wrote this about my hopes for Siri iniOS 13 :
Siri still lags right smart behind Google Assistant and Alexa in its ability to answer worldwide question and graciously perform action with third - party hardware and services . There are so many obvious deficit ; you could do a Spotlight search for a flight turn and get detailed flight of steps info , but ask Siri and you just get a web search . Siri needs better voice recognition , faster reply times , and more “ fun ” action like triviality and game . It need to give more precise answers to a much broader lot of dubiousness .
Two years on , all of that is still true . Siri still fails at somewhat basic stuff that it should be capable to do such as flight of steps condition , and the ability to link together control without having to say “ Hey Siri ” every fourth dimension should have been added years ago . Why ca n’t I tell Siri to stop or snooze an alarm that ’s going off ? And it ’s utterly derisory that Siri requires a web connection to do anything at all . For a privacy - focus troupe like Apple , local tasks like setting timers or reminders should work entirely offline .
Apple attempt to make it vocalize as if Siri have a big cost increase in iOS 14 by saying it love 20 time the number of facts … as it know three years ago . I ’m sorry , but 20 time the number of facts as in the iOS 11 day is not the Browning automatic rifle Apple needs to clear . That figure should be two orders of magnitude higher ! Apple likes to tout its 25 billion Siri postulation a month as an impressive figure , but it ’s just a big numeral thatsoundsimpressive . There are over 1.65 billion Apple machine in combat-ready use in the earth . That works out to a pitiful15 requests per equipment per calendar month . On average , users are making Siri postulation on each of their devices only about once every other solar day !
Security and privacy
Last year we asked Apple to make dependability and performance the magnetic core pillars of iOS 14 , and iOS 14 release was remarkably solid . course , no operating arrangement being deployed to hundreds of millions of user using five years ’ Charles Frederick Worth of iPhone computer hardware is blend in to be bulletproof , but Apple gets mellow marks for iOS 14 ’s dependableness .
What storm us most was thebig push into privacy features . From app tracking transparence to clamp down on hidden clipboard , microphone , and camera memory access , and even “ privacy label ” in the App Store , Apple seems feed up with the seclusion abuse that ’s so rearing in smartphone apps .
Privacy protection is Apple ’s big advantage right now , and I ’d be intimate to see iOS 15 push even further to foil the unnecessary and avaricious gobbling up of personal data point . Your average user does n’t have the light-headed cue how much personally identifiable information is being collected on them , and they ’d be up in arms if they did . Apple took a braggart step with app tracking transparency in iOS 14.5 , but this is a war Apple would do well to escalate .
2FA app integration
With iOS 14 , Apple added an awesome ability to taketwo - cistron authenticationcodes sent via SMS and glue them into the right petition subject field with just a tap . It ’s a huge advance in usability compare to jump back and forth between Messages and the app or site you ’re trying to access .
But SMS is n’t really the best 2FA method acting — one - time use codes generated by a code app are far more untroubled . Apple should build a dependable API that grant apps likeAuthy , Google Authenticator , orMicrosoft Authenticatorto mechanically fulfil 2FA request subject area . It could ferment just like the SMS auto - fill does , only with one - fourth dimension use code generation apps .
