Unveiled on June 22, 2020, at the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference with some groundbreaking announcements, the release of iOS 14 was set to take place somewhere between September and November, and it indeed went like clockwork. Apple didn’t make users wait for too long and rolled out iOS 14 on 16 September 2020 introducing some impressive new features and enhancements. The additions in the latest release provide a more secure and smooth environment to iOS users.

In this post, we will delve into the key iOS 14 features and endeavour to offer you the relevant changes that would impact the end users.

1. Widgets, Library and Information security enhancements

New Widget Experience

The iOS 14 update brings a new widget experience for the users and offers more utility. Many widgets have been redesigned such as for clock, maps, weather, photos, battery, screen time, etc. These widgets now come in different sizes allowing users to pick the one they are comfortable with and can be placed anywhere on the home screen. To utilize the home screen space, iOS users can now make stacks of up to 10 widgets. 

The widget gallery now displays the top widgets based on the apps the users have been browsing the most. A smart stack has been added inside the widget gallery that displays the right widgets at the right time based on the user’s location, time, and activity. We have also been introduced to the Siri Suggestions widget that automatically suggests apps based on the user’s preferences and usage patterns throughout the day. The integrated machine learning algorithms will learn the user routines and put forward the suggestions accordingly. With the release of iOS 14, developers can also make their own widgets by making use of a new API that allows them to take benefit of the redesigned widgets.

App Library and App Clips

The iOS 14 update introduces us to the App Library and App Clips. Starting with the former, the App library has been added at the end of the home screen pages that automatically organizes your iOS apps and categorizes them- putting the right set of apps into the right category; Entertainment, Social, and Productivity. For example, a ‘social’ category may include apps like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram. A ‘recently added’ category would include apps that have been recently installed on a user’s device. The app library also displays a ‘suggestions’ category that recommends apps a user might be looking for based on their usage. A search bar is also incorporated in the App library that allows users to quickly search the app they are looking for. Users can choose to hide the home screen pages to keep only the app library option on their screen.

Coming to the launch of App Clips, an app clip is a small chunk of an app that is light and fast, easy to discover, and focuses on a specific task. Most importantly, these apps don’t require installation. They simply exit when you are done with the associated work, though you can download the full version after using it. Moreover, app clips come with the “Sign in with Apple” and “Apple Pay” option so you do not require creating a new account or use a different payment mode.

You can discover app clips by tapping NFC tags, scanning QR codes, or through Maps, Messages, Safari, and Apple-designed app clip codes that are uniquely paired to a particular app clip. QR codes can launch an app clip when you scan it with your phone camera on a QR reader app. For maps, the option to launch an app clip can be found on the place card but only for locations that support app clips. As far as launching app clips from Safari is concerned, it can be done by tapping on the links posted on the web and the related app clip would open. App clips are shareable and can launch from messages as well. Recently used app clips are added to the app library under the “recently added” category.

Privacy Changes

On the Apple Store, under each product page, a new segment has been added that allows users to check the app’s privacy practices like what data they are collecting. iOS developers now require to seek permission before they track a user. Under the settings, a user can check the permissions he/she has provided to the app for tracking purposes and make the changes if needed. In fact, if you have enabled access to your gallery, you can choose to share only selected items rather than providing complete access to the library. Whenever your mic or camera is in function while using an app, the device displays an indicator.

Other privacy changes in the iOS 14 update include the option to share an imprecise location rather than sharing the exact location. From a developer’s perspective, they can now offer users to upgrade their existing app accounts to Sign in with Apple option without requiring to set up a new account.

Read: How to Prevent Apple from Rejecting Your App?

2. UI Enhancements

Apple developers have kept a significant focus on the UI in iOS 14. Earlier (until iOS 13), during an incoming call, the device used to take control of the entire screen and there was no way a user could silence the call or get back to what they were doing. It was only possible after the call stopped ringing. Now, a banner is displayed at the top to answer or decline the call without causing any interruption in the user’s current task. Swiping up would dismiss the banner and silence the call while swiping down would present a full-screen interface. The same is the case for Facetime calls.

The iOS 14 features bring the Picture-in-Picture (PIP) mode that allows users to perform multiple tasks at a time. Whether you are on a Facetime call or watching a YouTube video, you can continue browsing other apps as well. Highly beneficial during video calls as you can do other tasks simultaneously without losing sight of the person on the video call. The PIP window can be dragged to any corner of the screen and can be resized by pinching in and out. If you want a full-screen view, you can drag the PIP window to your right.

Siri has received a major design change. Siri had been occupying the whole screen for a query up until iOS 13. Things have significantly changed in iOS 14. Now, whenever Siri is invoked, users will encounter a popup at the bottom of their screen and would be able to refer to the on-screen text and images for their query. The results would be displayed at the top of the screen like a notification.

Talking about the changes in Siri’s functionality, you can now ask Siri to send voice messages, share ETA to someone while navigating Apple Maps, and suggest cycling directions. More and more language support has been added for a better experience.

3. Feature Enhancements

iOS 14 provides an enhanced search experience to the users as Apple has integrated all the search functionalities into a single universal search. Now, when a search is performed, the most relevant results are displayed at the top. This includes search results from the web and within the apps such as contacts, mail, messages, maps, etc. As you start typing your query, search suggestions would appear and you can swiftly launch an app by tapping on the “Go” button. Users can also perform an in-app search.

Apple has introduced 3 new Memoji stickers, 19 new headwear styles, 6 new age filters, and new face coverings to play around with. 13 new hairstyles have been added that let you further customize the look of your Memoji. Facial and muscle structures have been revamped that allows users to be even more expressive.

Users can now pin their favorite conversations to the top. A maximum of nine conversations can be pinned including group conversations, synced across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. Users can also mention the group participants in a message. This also lets a user send a direct message to an individual in the group and they can even customize the group settings to receive notifications only when they have been mentioned. Inline replies have been enabled that let a user reply to a specific message in the conversation. Other message improvements encompass setting up a group icon using a photo, memoji, or an emoji that is being shared with all the group members.

4. Tool Enhancements

Apple has brought in a translate app in the iOS 14 update to offer easy translation service. During a conversation, you can turn the phone horizontally to split the conversation into two. Pick the language you want the text to be translated in, tap on the microphone button, and speak. The app will automatically detect your language and provide you with a relevant voice and text translation. This works even offline means the download languages can be translated using voice even when your Internet connection is turned off. The translate app currently supports a total of 11 languages.

An in-built dictionary lets you check the definition of a particular word in the translated text by just tapping on it.

Apple has done some major enhancements in Maps in iOS 14 to take the user experience to the next level. Cycling directions have been added along with the custom cycling voice guidance for users to move along cycle lanes or cycle-friendly roads. Charging stops en-route for electric vehicles have been added. All you need to do is link your electric vehicle to your iPhone and it will keep track of the current charge and the charger type to offer the best possible route.

Guides feature has been introduced. Now, while travelling places, this feature in maps will recommend you some of the best places to explore in a city and help you discover popular restaurants, shopping complexes, etc.

Maps have been updated to help users see congestion zone tolls and can assist to route around them if they like. Prime cities like London and Paris have congestion zones to reduce traffic in dense areas. Maps will also let you know when you are nearing red light and speed cameras and can help you locate the individual cameras en-route as well.

With an enhanced JavaScript engine in iOS 14, Safari now delivers two times faster JavaScript performance than Chrome on Android. Users can get access to a privacy report by clicking on the Privacy Report button that displays entire cross-site trackers blocked by the Intelligent Prevention System.

To make password protection even more secure, Safari employs strong cryptographic techniques to detect passwords that may have been involved in a data breach. If any such signs are noticed, Safari will ask you to upgrade to the ‘Sign in with Apple’ option when available or create a new secure password itself.

5. Accessorial Enhancements

New iOS 14 features capture several improvements in the Home app for smart living. On adding a new accessory, the app will provide useful suggestions for its automatic operations. For instance, you can enable your living room lights to turn on each evening automatically. A visual status has been placed at the top of the Home app that provides a summary of the accessories that need your attention. Adaptive lighting has been included for smart bulbs and can be automatically adjusted throughout the day, ensuring high comfort and productivity.

Home controls have been updated in the control centre that offers dynamic suggestions for the most relevant accessories based on the duration of the day. For example, bedroom light controls may appear during the morning time or night time.

Security cameras can now detect persons you have tagged in your photos app. You can even specify activity zones, wherein if motion is detected, the camera will record a video and notify you about it.

Users having AirPods Pro will be delighted with the related new features in iOS 14 as Apple brings in Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking that makes use of Gyroscope and Accelerometer in AirPods Pro and can place sound virtually in any space; creating an immersive surround sound experience. It will detect the movement of your head and compare it with the movement of your device and ensure that the sound remains oriented to the screen and not where your head is facing.

An automatic device switching feature has been added that allows easy switching across devices such as iPhone, iPad, iPad touch, and Mac. Also, users get notified about charging the AirPods when the battery level is low.

Headphone accommodations is also among the new accessibility features that focuses on amplifying soft sounds and adjusting certain frequencies for a user’s hearing so that the music, phone calls, movies sound even better.

CarPlay is a smarter way to use your iPhone while you drive. A new set of app categories have been introduced in CarPlay such as parking and food ordering apps. You can now add a wallpaper to your CarPlay dashboard and home screen, and get a fresh new customized look. You can also ask Siri to share your ETA with someone and it will keep them updated with your en-route progress.

From a developer’s perspective, API enhancements have been made for audio, messaging, and VoIP apps allowing developers access to more tools to customize the experience in those app categories.

To Conclude

These are the key iOS 14 features that have been introduced in the latest iOS version although some changes related to Accessibility, App Store, Apple Arcade, Camera, Augmented Reality, etc. can also be witnessed.

Talking about iOS 14 supported iPhones, all iPhones from iPhone SE (1st Generation) to iPhone 11 Pro Max will get the iOS 14 update.