iOS 10 has been announced in what Apple says is the biggest update to the iPhone and iPad ever. With many new features and enhancements, including a revamped lock screen, redesigned control center, smarter photos abilities, major improvements to Siri, and enhancements to Maps, there is much to be offered.
Here’s a quick overview of some of the new features and changes available in iOS 10.
Most immediately notable are changed to iOS 10 lock screen, which has been redesigned and now includes rich notifications and widgets that are just a swipe away on the lock screen. Essentially this means you can get things like your calendar data and weather without having to unlock your iPhone. There’s also faster camera access from the lock screen as well.
Major expansions to 3D Touch are also included, with significantly more data and previews available from the 3D Touch view.
Photos can now be clustered together used on people, location, objects, and scenes, using feature recognition to determine people and locations. There’s also a new Memories feature in Photos that uses algorithms to resurface pictures from past events, topics, and also show memorable pictures of people, and it can even present those past memories as little instant videos or slideshows to walk you through the event.
Siri will be opened up to developers as well, which for the average user means that many of your other apps will gain Siri support and allow Siri to interact with third party applications. Siri also is getting a lot smarter with the Quick Type keyboard, with enhanced contextual recognition, allowing it to pre-fill in things like new appointments, or offer email address and contact information in reply to user messages
Maps is also improving with traffic recognition which will offer up alternate routes to locations depending on traffic in a region.
The Music app also has been redesigned to further emphasize a users music library and the Apple Music subscription service, making it easier to use. Lyrics are also coming to the Music app, in case you want to clarify a song or sing along with your own karaoke.
The Messages app is also getting many enhancements, including bubble effects with a crafty invisible ink feature that lets you hide a message until someone swipes on it, there are some major Emoji enhancements, previewed links, improved photo sending, and sketches and handwriting.
iOS 10 will be released this fall alongside macOS Sierra, watchOS 3 and tvOS 10. A developer beta is available immediately, while a public beta will be available in July.
Apple has put up a preview page here for those interested in learning more about iOS 10 and has created the following video to demonstrate some of the iOS 10 features: