Apple Announces iOS 16 With A Redesigned Lockscreen, Messages Upgrade, And More

Apple has released iOS 16, which comes with significant updates in terms of customisation and capabilities. For starters, you get an all-new lock screen, iCloud Shared Photo Library, and enhancements to Messages and Mail. Moreover, there is a slew of other enhancements planned for the user interface.

At the WWDC 2022, Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering, stated, “iOS 16 is a big release with updates that will change the way you experience iPhone”. He further added, “We have reimagined how the Lock Screen looks and works with exciting new features that make it more personal and helpful, introduced iCloud Shared Photo Library for families, streamlined communication through new capabilities in Messages and Mail, and harnessed enhanced intelligence with updates to Live Text and Visual Look Up.”

A New Lock Screen

The Lock screen has got the most significant update in the upcoming software. Apple claims that the newly showcased widgets are inspired by Apple Watch complexities, allowing you to quickly access information like as upcoming calendar events, weather, battery levels, alarms, time zones, Activity ring progress, and more. There’s also a new layering effect on the Lock Screen, where the subject of images is elegantly placed in front of the time, creating a sense of depth.

There’s also a new lock screen gallery feature with Apple curated collections, live weather updates, and astronomy related content. Consumers can also use their favourite emoji or colour combinations to create custom lock screens. Users can switch between various lockscreens with a simple swipe. The lockscreen notifications will be more organised and play nice with more apps in the future.

Messages Gets An Update

Users will soon be able to edit or recall recently sent messages, recover recently deleted messages, flag chats as unread, and much more. Additionally, SharePlay is coming to Messages, allowing you to enjoy synchronised content such as movies or songs while conversing.

Text And Visual Lookup Enhancements

Live Text on iOS 16 recognises text in photographs using on-device intelligence, and it’s now expanding to include video. Users can pause a video at any point in the video and interact with the text. iPhone owners can also convert currency, translate text, and do other things with Live Text.

Decked Out Apple Wallet

Another significant update in iOS 16 is the addition of services like Apple Pay Later to Apple Wallet. This service allows consumers in the United States to split the amount of an Apple Pay purchase into four equal payments over the course of six weeks. Apple Pay Later also makes it simple to view, track, and return Apple Pay Later payments right from the Wallet. Users can sign up for Apple Pay Later in Wallet or when checking out with Apple Pay.

In the US, the Mastercard network accepts Apple Pay online and in-app. Users can obtain detailed receipts and order tracking information in Wallet for Apple Pay purchases made at participating merchants using Apple Pay order tracking.

The next addition is to the Wallet app’s Keys and IDs section. Users can use their digitally stored ID from the Wallet to validate their personal information in apps that require it. Apple claims that these details will be stored on your device in a secure manner. Much like the Pay Later feature, these new capabilities are exclusive to the United States.

Next Gen CarPlay

Apple is making substantial improvements to CarPlay with iOS 16, aiming to “reinvent the CarPlay experience” across all automotive entertainment systems. This includes a slew of additional functions and interfaces on compatible infotainment systems.

CarPlay may now access extra data from your vehicle, such as weather, instrument cluster readings, and more. You can manage your car’s radio, control the AC, and much more with CarPlay. According to Apple, these CarPlay updates will be available in new cars starting “late next year”.