Available in beta since July 11, iOS 16 brings a lot of new features, including a new lock screen well promoted by Apple. There are also a dozen small very practical functions, on which the brand has communicated little.
At the beginning of June, during his WWDC conferenceApple presented iOS 16 et iPadOS 16. Future versions of the iPhone and iPad operating systems bring quite a few significant new features, such as a new lock screen, the ability to modify an iMessage and a multitasking system with several windows for the brand’s tablets. These updates will be available to all users in September, but the most impatient of you can already install them. Beta versions have been available since July 11, just go to beta.apple.com to download them.
Since early June, Numerama has been testing future versions of Apple’s OS. While it’s too early to release what could be considered a test (we’ll wait for the final versions), we’ve spent the last few weeks listing all the fun little things we’ve discovered in iOS 16 and iPadOS 16. here are ten.
1 – The Wi-Fi password finally accessible
15 years later the first iPhoneApple finally realized that not all of its customers knew the Wi-Fi password by heart.
In the iOS 16 settings, when you select a network, you can display its authentication key in clear text (after Face ID, Touch ID or password verification). It is possible to copy and paste it to send it to someone who does not have an Apple device (between Apple devices, sharing a Wi-Fi password is automatic).
2 – Face ID works when lying down
Since theiPhone X, Apple allows you to unlock your smartphone, access a secure application or pay with its Face ID facial recognition system. Strangely, Face ID today only works when you hold your smartphone vertically.
With iOS 16, this flaw finally disappears. The iPhone 12 et 13 (not the X, XS, XR and 11 ????) can now recognize you if you hold them horizontally, in a game or in bed for example.
3 – The cryptogram of your bank card finally saved
Some may be afraid when reading this subtitle, but this novelty is still very useful. Now, when a site asks us for our credit card details, Safari can complete everything, including the CVC (cryptogram) field. On iOS 15this field always remains empty.
4 – The result of a football match on the lock screen
Summer obliges, there are not many sports competitions at the moment. It is at the start of the school year that the new sports pinning function of iOS 16 should become more practical. In Spotlight, search for the name of your favorite team and add the game currently being broadcast to your lock screen. A widget will be updated throughout the match, with the score in real time, without application.
5 – A wallpaper that changes every time
Since iPhone OS 1, you can only choose one wallpaper on your iPhone. With iOS 16, it is possible to choose a selection of photos or let an artificial intelligence do it for you. It’s up to you to set how often you want your wallpaper to change. This can be done each time the screen wakes up if desired. Interesting if you want for example enjoy the wallpapers showing the panoramas taken by James Webb.
6 – Weather: temperature curves
It’s particularly good in the middle of a heat waveiOS 16 allows to open special modules in the application Weather report. If you click on the temperature program, you now have access to curves showing the evolution of degrees over the day.
7 – Haptic feedback on the keyboard
On Android, it has been possible for several years to make the keyboard vibrate as soon as a key is pressed. It wasn’t pleasant at first, but has become so over time, thanks to the emergence of haptic motors that improve vibrations and give the impression of really pressing a key.
iOS 16 allows you to do the same thing on iPhone. This is an option to activate in the settings but, once selected, the smartphone vibrates very slightly when you write. On our side, we love it.
8 – The iPad screen can show more things
A novelty reserved for iPads, which is also stolen from Macs, the possibility of enlarging the surface available on the screen. How it works ? Icons and text become smaller, to allow more space for other elements. If you have good eyesight and want to multitask Stage Managerthat could be very handy.
9 – Voice memos in iMessage change design
Real false novelty: voice memos are now hidden in the “applications” section of iMessage. When you click on the blue icon dedicated to voice memos, you have access to a real full-screen interface, which was not the case before. Unfortunately, there are no other new features. We still cannot listen to a message before sending it or modify just a part.
10 – Masked photos protected by Face ID ????
Good news if you have nudes important photos to hide, iOS 16 automatically password protects a few folders in your photo library. It is now impossible to access photos hidden in or the trash without going through Face ID, Touch ID or the passcode of your iPhone.
Bonus: the other cool little novelties
Since we couldn’t put everything in this selection, let’s mention some of the other new features of iOS 16 that will arrive this fall. There is for example thecancellation of an email within 10 seconds of sending it (a kind of countdown), the ability to adjust spatial audio with AirPods by scanning his ears with the TrueDepth camera or instant captions which, in English only, adds text to everything that passes by your device’s speaker. These functions are already available in the beta of iOS/iPadOS 16.