Apple has announced that its latest iOS 14 software will be released on September 16, ahead of the company’s release of the next-generation iPhones.
The iOS 14 was first unveiled earlier this year at Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference (WDC) on June 22 which included home screen widgets and reply threading in Messages.
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iOS 14 brings widgets to the iPhone home screen for the first time, gathers all of your apps into a new App Library, and adds picture-in-picture mode (which had already been available on iPads).
It also comes with new Maps features, including adding cycling as a transportation option, and routing for electric vehicle owners so they can find charging points along the way.
iOS 14 comes with an in-built translator, an improved and redesigned Siri, and better security and privacy features in the Safari browser.
However, one privacy feature promised by Apple will be delayed when released for public use.
The company said it would allow iPhone users to opt-out of in-app tracking, which the company said would not be immediately enforced when iOS 14 is released.
This follows an uproar from ad giants — including Facebook — which lobbied against the proposal. Apple said it would give developers until next year to adjust to the changes.
iOS 14 will be supported on iPhone 6s and later, and lands as a free download. Apple said it will also release its upcoming iPadOS 14, watchOS 14 and tvOS 14 on September 16.
iPadOS 14 Features
Apple continues to update iPadOS separately from iOS due to the differing hardware. All the features mentioned before are available in iPadOS 14 with the exception of App Library. The new widgets are limited to the “Today View” on iPads.
Compact UI changes how Siri and Universal Search works on iPad too. When Siri is on the screen, users can still interact with the content behind it. Universal Search does not take up the entire screen, taking on a Mac-like design.
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The company confirmed that all of the new hardware it announced today – Apple Watch Series 6, Apple Watch SE, iPad Air (2020), and iPad 8 will ship with the updates pre-installed as well.
