iOS 15 and Powerful New Features

In June 2021 Apple presented the latest version of the iOS system, iOS 15, which is set to be released with the next iPhone device this fall. iOS 15 is packed with the new features for FaceTime, tools to reduce distractions, a new style of notifications, adding more privacy features, complete redesigns the browser Safari, Weather, Maps, and more.

Let’s start with Safari, which features a completely new design. Controls are redesigned and placed so that the user can reach with one hand and get more focus on a webpage’s content. The new, compact tab bar floats at the bottom of the screen so users can easily switch between tabs. Tab Groups allow users to save tabs and easily access them at any time across the devices.

Tab groups – now you can save and organize your tabs in the way that works best for you and switch between them easily.

Redesigned Notifications in iOS15 has added contact photos and larger icons for apps. To reduce the distraction, a new notification summary will collect notifications and deliver them at an appropriate timing sorted by the user with priorities.

SharePlay: a new way to share video and audio experiences with your friends or family. If you like sharing music, videos, or if you need some help with your phone, SharePlay is the new way to communicate instead of sending screenshots or screen recordings. You can watch a Netflix show together while chatting in iMessage or browsing the social network with the picture-in-picture mode. Or simply listen to an album on Apple Music.

Focus is a new feature that filters notifications and apps based on the user’s focus at a specific timing. When a user’s sets do not disturb in incoming notifications, their status will be displayed to others in Messages. in addition, iOS will suggest a Focus option for different occasions, such as sleep time, work hours, or free time for all, of course, users can also create a custom Focus setting with desired notifications.

Live Text: Similar to other platforms, Apple introduced Live Text to iOS 15 which gives you the ability to copy text from the photo, screenshot, or web image. The live look-up lets the user point camera at something and look it up on the web. It can recognize animals, flowers, landmark buildings, art, and much more.

In addition to Live Text, you can now do a Visual Look Up, which highlights objects and scenes and it recognizes the image so that you can get more information about them.

The Photo app, Apple took the best options from competitors and has added a new, redesigned memories option. Which curates photos and selects music based on the picture, user’s taste, and history of the playlist. In addition, the Photos will now be searchable in Spotlight. The new feature allows you to look for the photos by people, location, and interest, and considering the live text feature, you can even lookup by specific text that you wrote on a sheet of paper or from the screenshot.

All new Wallet additions: Wallet got some improvements, letting you add the car keys (which of course depends on the manufacturer and upgrade option), work or office badges, hotel room keys, and even state IDs in the states that accept the digital ID. Apple also in process of negotiation with TSA which will allow you to use your iPhone for identification at the border (probably for domestic flights 🙂 ).

iMessage sharing features
iOS 15 adds new cool features for photos, news articles, and playlists shared with you with iMessages. When a friend sends you multiple photos, they’ll appear in a live collage formation that allows you to swipe and review or tap and look through to view the whole bunch. If you want to access the same photos later, you’ll find them stored in a new Shared with You folder in the photo app, as well as mixed in with your featured photos and memories.

Shared with You in other apps – Shared with You is built into Photos, Safari, Apple News, Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, and the Apple TV app.

The Weather app is getting a pretty upgrade with an addition of a lot more animations and new infographics. New weather forecast notification reminds you of the current storm or air quality with the smart notifications.

Find My: one of the most important and long-awaited option upgrades. Now you can track everything with find my, even if the item was erased or wiped completely. Meaning that the Find My network and Activation Lock can locate your let’s say “stolen”. To help ensure that nobody is selling your device unlawfully, the Hello screen will indicate that your device is locked and locatable.

Another desired option that will help many is Separation alerts – which Enables alerts, if you leave a device, AirTag, or compatible third-party item behind, your iPhone will alert you with notifications, and Find My will give you directions to your item.

Facetime: all new grid view shows people on your FaceTime call in the same-size tiles, so you can have better conversations with a large group. The speaker is highlighted so you always know who’s talking. One nice upgrade is a Portrait mode – Inspired by Portrait mode in Camera, this new video effect puts the focus on you, not what’s around you.

A new cool feature that was added and which might replace the need for video calling apps is FaceTime links – which allows users to Schedule and share FaceTime calls with a unique web link, even if they’re using Windows, google, or Android device. In addition, FaceTime will provide spatial audio which makes people’s voices heard from their position on the screen.

Maps: Apple is aiming maps and navigation superiority with Maps in iOS 15. With the new update, It will offer a globe view (similar to Google Earth)

which adds new city details like elevation, turn lanes, crosswalks, and bike lanes. It will also show you more road details and traffic conditions. Street-level view as you approach a complex section of the highway. Transit users will be able to pin their exit or favorite lines, and Maps will notify you when it’s time to exit. By intensifying the maps experience apple has added AR (Augmented Reality), when you exit from a train station and you find yourself lost in the street, hold up your iPhone and let it scan the buildings around you. It’ll bring guide you to the directions you need to go to.

Apple implemented 3D Map data and AR walking directions, with the upgrade and more elevation data, road colors and driving directions, rich labels, 3D landmarks, and improved night mode it is a new experience.

All-new App Privacy Report – Shows how apps are using the permissions you have granted them, which third-party domains they communicate with, and how recently they do it.

And last but not least, audio of your Siri requests – Siri adds on-device speech recognition, so the audio of your requests is processed on your iPhone or iPad and on-device processing means Siri can perform many tasks without an internet connection.

iOS 15 will be compatible with these devices:

iPhone 12
iPhone 12 mini
iPhone 12 Pro
iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhone 11
iPhone 11 Pro
iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone XS
iPhone XS Max
iPhone XR
iPhone X
iPhone 8
iPhone 8 Plus
iPhone 7
iPhone 7 Plus
iPhone 6s
iPhone 6s Plus
iPhone SE (1st generation)
iPhone SE (2nd generation)
iPod touch (7th generation)