we know what you don’t know

Monday, June 6, new features were thrown at the WWDC keynote. We saw the announcement of iOS 16, iPadOS 16, watchOS 9, macOS 13 Ventura, and a new MacBook Air. However, many new functions were also appointed too quickly or not at all. In this article we list these 16 ‘secret’ new functions for you.

You missed these features in the WWDC keynote

The WWDC keynote on Monday evening, June 6, moved quickly. Way too fast if you ask us. Besides of course new software for all your Apple devices with fresh designs and full of great functionalities (and the MacBook Air 2022!), there were many more small new functions.

In this article we list them for you. We think, in addition to Apple not even naming everything, that you too because of this overload have not received everything in terms of information. We have written these out in purely random order. There are a lot of cool new features in there. Are you reading along?

1. Keynote WWDC Credits: New Games!

We didn’t necessarily see any new features in the very last visible frame of the WWDC 2022 keynote. At the very bottom, in light gray, we did find some nice information. the games Resident Evil: Villages† No Man’s Sky and GRID Legends coming to Apple later this year.

We did see the first two in the keynote. We saw the gameplay of No Man’s Sky and this title was also briefly appointed. Also the creator of Resident Evil invited to talk about the new techniques that will make gaming on the Mac feel smoother. GRID Legends however, we have not heard of it at all. We are really looking forward to playing this racing game on our Mac!

2. Face ID also works horizontally with iOS 16

Your iPhone can also activate Face ID in landscape mode with iOS 16. So you no longer have to hold your iPhone upright. This would be ‘supporting models’. We believe this will work on the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 models.

We can’t find much about this feature on Apple’s website yet. It is in any case very useful if you often have your iPhone in a (car) holder. You no longer have to clumsily turn your body 90 degrees. In any case, Apple has been tinkering with existing functions since the WWDC keynote.

3. Hidden photos can now be locked

We have found these functions in Android phones for a while, but now it is finally possible in iOS 16. The Photos app ensures that you can now provide your album with hidden photos with a password. This can be a code or you can set that you can only open the folder with Face ID.

We’ve been waiting for this feature for a while. There are also many third-party apps that now facilitate this. Apple has finally closed this gap with the features of Android’s photo apps with iOS 16 since the WWDC keynote.

4. Apple Music: New Music Sorting Features

Before the WWDC keynote, you could sort the playlists in the Apple Music app by the order the songs were added to the playlist. With iOS 16, all playlists in Apple Music have new sorting options.

You can reverse the above order, but you can also sort by title, artist or record. It is even possible to sort by date of release. This function can be reached by going to a playlist in Apple Music and tapping the three dots. In addition, scroll in this menu to find the new sort option.

It is also possible to mark certain artists as favourites. This is useful for the music app’s algorithms. They can better keep track of which part of your music taste is most important to you, and thus which new music they should recommend. You can see this feature on the profile page of your favorite artist.

5. Spatial Audio is quickly becoming (even) more personal

Spatial Audio, Apple’s 3D technology in collaboration with Dolby Atmos, is entering a new era. The technology works on the AirPods Max in combination with Apple Music, among other things, and lets you hear music and videos with a special spatial sound.

The selfie camera of your iPhone will add a personal touch to that. With iOS 16 you will soon be able to measure your auricle by taking pictures of it. Your AirPods then calculate how sound moves through your ear and adjust the Spatial Audio profile accordingly. In comparison, a concert hall is precisely designed for the best live sound. With iOS 16, Spatial Audio will do the same for your type of ear like a true architect, but in a small way.

6. macOS 13 Ventura authorizes new USB devices

With iOS and iPadOS it is already the most normal thing in the world: If you want to use a USB accessory in it, the device first asks for permission. After that you don’t have to do anything. In macOS 13 Ventura, Apple will now also implement this on the Mac.

The permission is only needed for data transfer. Do you just want to charge? Then you do not have to give permission. According to Apple, you don’t have to confirm anything for three days after the confirmation.

7. macOS System Settings has a new look

System Preferences is now called System Settings. With macOS 13 Ventura, it resembles the iPhone settings app. So you can also change the settings of the many apps and programs that are installed on your Mac. Do you want to receive notifications from one app, but not from another app? You can now do that in the refreshed system settings on macOS 13 Ventura. So Apple hasn’t just been rolling out flashy new features since the WWDC keynote.

8. iOS 16 Makes AirPods Settings Easier

Speaking of settings, the AirPods settings on your iPhone (and other devices) will be revised in iOS 16. This can be done via the Settings app when the earbuds are connected to the phone. In iOS 15, we still find it somewhat cumbersome to find the settings of our AirPods. This is still in the Bluetooth settings at the ‘i’ next to the AirPods.

With iOS 16 and iPad 16, this is no longer necessary. You can now see the AirPods settings directly under your name in the app. This makes it much easier to adjust functions. Think of the personal Spatial Audio settings to measure your auricle.

9. iOS 16 asks permission to copy and paste between apps

If you try to paste text or anything from your clipboard with your iPhone running iOS 16, the app will ask for your permission first. With this new feature, Apple wants to prevent apps from reading sensitive data from the user’s clipboard without the user’s knowledge.

When Apple launched these clipboard alerts in iOS 14, we discovered that several apps could view information. As a result, these apps have been updated so that they no longer have access to the user’s clipboard. That is no longer necessary with iOS 16.

10. Siri can end FaceTime and phone calls in iOS 16

Siri is now even easier to set up. You can now perform commands from within the apps themselves with this voice assistant. For example, you can add emojis to messages that you send via Siri.

In addition, it is possible to make Siri work better offline. Then, when you have an internet connection again, the results will come to you. The funniest of Siri’s new features since the WWDC keynote is ending a phone call. You just have to say “Hey Siri, hang up”.

11. iPadOS 16: Straighten ‘handwritten’ notes

Notes allows users to create neater handwritten notes. After you’ve written down a word or phrase with your Apple Pencil, you can straighten it. Other features include locking “secret” notes and adding screenshots in a quick note. Smart folders and filter options make it even easier to find the right file.

12. iPhone gets its own Fitness app, Apple Watch not needed

Before iOS 16, Apple’s Fitness app was only for people who own an Apple Watch. Now, among these secret features of the WWDC keynote, there’s something even better! The Fitness app will soon be available to everyone (with an iPhone). Your phone can also keep track of your steps with the motion sensors. You can also see the well-known rings with daily goals in the Fitness app for your iPhone.

13. Duplicate photos will soon be easier to clean up

In the photos app you often have a lot of photos. So much so that you no longer keep track of whether you have already shot or downloaded one by chance. That is no longer necessary with iOS 16. From then on, the app automatically recognizes duplicate photos and then puts them in a folder. From there you can delete it and free up more storage space for new apps or other photos.

14. Finally a vibrating keyboard

We are actually quite surprised that Apple is only now adding this to the functions of iOS 16. The ‘haptic feedback’ when typing on a keyboard in your screen is very handy. You will receive vibrations as feedback while typing. You can even adjust this function in intensity.

15. More Memoji’s Features for Your Mac

Okay, we admit it: we are fans of Apple’s Memojis. Fortunately, with macOS 13 Ventura, there are now even more options to make this digital avatar look like you. There are more sticker poses, contact stickers, more hairstyles (with curls!) and more headwear. You can also choose from more nose options and more neutral lip colors.

16. New Features: Clock & Weather app to macOS

If you install macOS 13 Ventura, you will also see two new apps on your desktop. Apple comes with a weather app and a new clock. Here you can set alarms and timers.

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