New notifications and a major update of the iPad home screen expected
Apple is preparing major updates for its iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 mobile operating systems, which will be unveiled on June 7th. The first details of the new OS versions have come to light.
Shortly before the official unveiling during the WWDC 2021 developer conference, Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, who is known for his good inside sources at Apple, got the first details of iOS and iPadOS 15. Among other things, the updates should have major changes to the notifications and a revision of the iPad home screen on board. Apple also has new features in store for watchOS and tvOS.
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iOS 15 and iPadOS 15: Improved notifications and increased iMessage
According to Gurman’s sources Apple is planning a new function for its iPhone and iPad operating systems that will allow users to make different notification settings depending on the current status – for example, whether the phone should make a tone or not. The innovations should be controllable via a new menu in which users should be able to choose whether they are driving, working, sleeping or doing some other activity. The menu will be displayed on the lock screen, which also receives a major update, and in the control center for quick access.
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In addition, there should be an option for the automatic reply to messages depending on the status set. According to Gurman, it will be an improvement over the current auto-reply feature. It can currently only be used while driving. Although Apple has already integrated some new notification functions such as “do not disturb” and a sleep mode in its systems, with iOS and iPadOS 15 the company is introducing a system-wide function for the first time to change notifications depending on the user status, according to the reporter.
Apple’s developers are also working on improvements for their own messenger iMessage: The service should therefore function more like a social network in the future, in order to be able to compete directly with Whatsapp from Facebook, Gurman speculates. According to the Bloomberg sources, however, the innovations are still at an early stage of development and could only appear later. It should be known that Apple and Facebook are not particularly well-disposed towards each other and each pursue extremely contrary strategies.
iPadOS 15 should bring a new home screen for iPads
Apple’s iPads will get a major update in the fall with iPadOS 15. (Mockup: 9to5Mac)
After iOS 14 brought major changes to the iPhone homescreen last year, it appears to be the turn of the iPad a year later, according to Bloomberg sources. With iPadOS 15, Apple is planning “the most significant update for the device’s home screen since the product was launched in 2010,” writes Gurman.
With the upcoming update, the iPad home screen is to receive a similar range of functions as the screen of the iPhone. In addition to the introduction of home screen widgets that can be placed anywhere on the home screen, it will also be possible to replace the entire app grid with widgets. Furthermore, an improved multitasking system can be expected, with which several apps can be operated on the home screen at the same time.
iOS 15 and iPadOS 15: New privacy options planned
According to Bloomberg, the protection of privacy is also back on the agenda for iOS 15. With the update, a new menu should be introduced that shows users which apps are quietly collecting data about them.
Although Apple has increased the privacy of its devices in recent years, in the course of this development the company has identified thousands of apps that use special trackers to collect and pass on data such as phone numbers and locations. Apple wants to curb this further with the new feature.
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New interface for watchOS
In addition to innovations for iOS and iPadOS, updates for macOS, watchOS and tvOS can be expected. After the big leap to macOS Big Sur, the manufacturer is only planning a smaller update for its desktop system this year. According to Gurman, the new version of watchOS will have a new interface and enhanced health functions. A new version is also to be presented for the Apple TV – Bloomberg has not been able to find out what improvements tvOS should receive.
Of course, on Monday we will provide you with all the new features for iOS 15, macOS 12 and other topics directly in detail in individual articles – we also offer a WWDC live ticker.
