Guide 101: Apple’s Upcoming iOS 15

iOS 15 is now official!

With Apple making the announcement very recently, now it’s all about the “long wait” to finally get our hands on this latest operating system for iPhones.

When it’s Apple, every update brings some awe-inspiring changes. So what’s exciting about iOS 15? Let’s find out.

Tentative iOS 15 Release Date

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At the annually held Apple WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference) 2021, Apple announced its latest major update for its iPhone operating system, i.e. iOS 15.

But the iOS 15 is only available to the developers for now as the company wants app developers to try out the latest features in the coming iPhone OS update before it becomes available for everyone to download. Yes, during the WWDC, Apple has handed the app makers a beta version of the iOS 15.

And when can you expect to be able to download it as an iPhone user? Because unless until you’re a developer, that too a registered one, you won’t be able to download the beta version.

Well, as Apple has confirmed, iOS 15 is set to release for the world by later this year, probably sometime in Fall, if Apple continues to follow the pattern of its previous releases. Though the iOS 15 public beta is expected to come in July.

The Biggest New iOS 15 Features and Updates

The iOS 15 is expected to introduce some really dense updates and features. Let’s check out the highlights of the iOS 15 segment of Apple’s presentation yesterday.

SharePlay

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This fascinating iOS 15 feature is connected to FaceTime.

It will help the iPhone users to flip out of your FaceTime chat (using picture-in-picture), activate another app, and enjoy the effect of the app on everyone present in the FaceTime call.

For example, you can get into the Music app without leaving the chat and play a track for everyone in the call. You can also create a shared playlist where everyone can contribute songs.

And not just music, this feature will let you share your media experiences such as videos, even your phone’s screen with the participants of your FaceTime call for showing off gameplay or troubleshooting.

While chatting in iMessage in picture-in-picture mode, you will also be able to watch a movie together.

Apple has also said that HBO Max, Hulu, Disney+, TikTok, and Twitch are all on board with SharePlay. This means you will be able to quickly extend the videos that you’re watching on your iPhone to a larger screen of Apple TV. 

FaceTime

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FaceTime is Apple’s video-calling service. And it’s going to get a lot of substantive changes with iOS 15.

• Apple is adding Spatial Audio to this popular video chat which will make the audio contributions of every participant appear to come from the irrespective locations on the screen.
• There will be also the Voice Isolation mode using which you’ll get improved audio clarity where the sounds will feel more natural as machine learning will help to identify and remove ambient noises.
• There will be the Wide Spectrum audio mode as well that will help you include background noise deliberately.
• FaceTime will get some new interfaces as well, such as Portrait Mode where the background will be blurred to draw more attention to the subject, or the new Grid View where you’ll be able to see all the participants in a group chat instead of foregrounding the speaker.
• This update will also iPhone users to create FaceTime meetings by generating links that can be saved as a Calender entry and shared via iMessage, emails, and so on.

Apple has also added that with iOS 15, Windows and Android users will be able to join meetings on FaceTime via the web.

Focus & Notifications

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Notifications have always been a pain point for iOS devices. And with this feature called Focus, Apple seems to take care of notifications to a certain degree.

With “Focus” you’ll be able to create several bundles of settings based on the different segments of your life. For example, by creating a Work Focus status, you will get your notifications settings, arrangement of widgets and apps on your Home screen, your availability, etc. to be perfectly tailored to suit your professional life.

Similarly, you can create other bundles of settings as well, such as one for your recreational time, another for your sleep time, etc. 

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• In iOS 15, conversions will appear first and notifications will be sorted in a deal-with-it later category. 
• The look and feel of your notification panel will get a modern facelift as well.
• In iOS 15 you will be able to add contact photos for people and make the app icons larger.
• On top of the new Focus mode and the improvements related to notifications, iOS 15 will introduce changes in the Do Not Disturb status as well. It will let you set your Messages and iMessages status to DND will send an auto-reply saying you’re busy. 

Photos

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iOS 15 has improved the Photos app features too.

• The Memories feature of Photos will not only receive a new design with a more interactive interface; but will also support integration with Apple Music, where the on-device intelligence will provide song suggestions to help you create better personalized Memories.
• For sending batches of photos, there will be a collage design in iOS 15 along with a folder in the Photos app that will display the photos that will be shared with you in messages.
• Improving the photo search feature, iOS 15 will introduce Spotlight search that will pop up photos and allow searching photos based on the locations, people, and objects present in the photos.
• With Live Text, users will be able to look up photos that have specific texts in them. This feature will allow you to select, copy or interact with the text present in the photo. As announced by Apple, Live Text will understand seven languages as of now.

Weather

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The Weather app will receive a redesigned look in iOS 15 and will get more graphical displays of weather data along with dynamic layouts and full-screen maps that will change according to the weather conditions.

While the new animated backgrounds will reflect the sun’s position more accurately, the notifications will highlight when will snow or rains start or stop. 

Wallet

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The Wallet app in iOS 15 will let you scan your ID and hotel key into its Wallet. This means, once you install the update, you’ll be able to unlock your apartment or home with Apple Wallet.

The updated Apple Wallet will also let you receive your hotel key automatically as Apple has teamed up with Hyatt Hotels.

This update will let you (only customers who participate in US states) keep an encrypted and digitized copy of your ID on your iPhone, though it’s still working with TSA and trying to make them airport-compliant.

Maps

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Just like the weather, Maps too will get designing enhancements. Now it will offer a new 3D view in cities along with significantly improved enhanced details such as showing bike lanes, buildings, pedestrian crosswalks, and more.

The iOS 15 will also offer a new city-driving experience with improved transit features and added road details such as AR walking directions, pinned favorite lines, notifications to disembark, etc.

Some More Feature Update

Apart from all these major features mentioned above, Apple’s iOS 15 is bringing some other changes too. Let’s take a quick look at what they are:

• The Find My app will let you locate a lost device that has been erased or turned off. It will also offer to Find My network support to Airpods Max and Airpods Pro.
• Safari will get a new design which will make teaching to the controls with one hand easier.
• The health app will not only get some new analysis features in iOS 15, but you’ll also be able to share your health data with your doctor or family.
• The privacy features will be more robust and all speech recognition will be controlled on-device by default.
• The Notes will allow user-created tags for easier categorizing of your notes.

iOS 15 Compatible Device List

Before we start with the list of iOS 15 features compatible devices, are you ready for a surprise?

iPhones that support iOS 14 will support iOS 15 as well.

Shocked? Don’t be.

Contrary to the rumors prior to the launch of the iOS 15 developer beta that suggested the original iPhone SE and iPhone 6S will get dropped, the iOS 15 announcements have confirmed that hardware that first debuted in 2015 will support iOS 15.

So here is the complete list of Apple devices where you’ll be able to run iOS 15.

• iPhone 6s
• iPhone 6s Plus
• iPhone 7 
• iPhone 7 Plus
• iPhone 8
• iPhone 8 Plus
• iPhone 11 
• iPhone 11 Pro
• iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone 12 mini
• iPhone 12 
• iPhone 12 Pro
• iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone SE (original model)
• iPhone SE (2020)
• iPhone X
• iPhone XR
• iPhone Xs
• iPhone Xs Max
• iPod Touch (seventh-generation)

Final Words

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