Apple To Let Users Unsend, Edit iPhone Messages In iOS 16

The company debuted a number of updates to iMessage. These updates will allow users to edit their conversations after sending messages or recall the messages entirely by clicking “undo send.”

When that update arrives, users will be able to delete an iMessage once it has been sent. Users will then not be able to see the message. Although they will be able to see that one had been deleted.

Messages that have been edited will be designated as such in-thread; though it’s unclear whether users have a time limit for making edits.

Those options will be available for 30 days after a message has been sent.

The update brings Apple in line with other messaging platforms, such as Slack and Telegram, both of which already include edit and delete buttons.

Others, such as WhatsApp, offer the option to delete messages but not to edit them.

Also, users can recover recently deleted messages. Users will be allowed to mark text threads as unread. And the users can flag threads they’d like to revisit when they have time.

In addition, SharePlay is coming to Messages; making it possible to enjoy synced content like movies or songs and shared playback controls all while chatting in Messages.

Ultimately, these are some pretty basic features that have been missing for a while; but they will likely make a big impact for iMessage power users.

New Tools for Mail

Now users can schedule emails ahead of time and are even given a moment to cancel delivery of a message before it reaches a recipient’s inbox. Mail detects if the user forgot to include an important part of their message, such as an attachment.

Users also have the option to resurface a message at any date and time with Remind Later, and Follow Up suggestions automatically remind users to follow up on an email if they have not received a response.

Mail includes the biggest overhaul to search, and uses state-of-the-art techniques to deliver more relevant, accurate, and complete results. Users see recent emails, contacts, documents, and links the moment they begin to search for emails.

A Personalized Lock Screen Experience

The Lock Screen gets more personal, beautiful, and helpful with iOS 16. With a new multilayered effect, the subjects of photos are artfully set in front of the time on the Lock Screen, creating a sense of depth. Users can also change the look of the date and time with expressive type styles and color choices.

The Lock Screen features widgets that take inspiration from Apple Watch complications, making it easy to get information at a glance, such as upcoming calendar events, the weather, battery levels, alarms, time zones, Activity ring progress, and more.

 

A new Lock Screen gallery features a range of options for inspiration. Users can also create Lock Screens using their favorite emoji or color combinations. With multiple Lock Screens, users can switch between their favorites with just a swipe.

Live Activities is a new feature that helps users stay on top of things that are happening in real time, such as a sports game, workout, ride-share, or food delivery order, right from the Lock Screen.

Notifications have been redesigned to roll up from the bottom, ensuring that users have a clear view of their personalized Lock Screen.

Find Balance with Focus

Focus is more powerful, easier to set up, and now connects to the Lock Screen; offering users a way to tie a Lock Screen wallpaper and widgets to a particular Focus. To activate a Focus, users can simply swipe to the corresponding Lock Screen. With Focus filters, apps like Calendar, Mail, Messages, and Safari can display only the content that is relevant to a user’s Focus, helping them to find better balance.

One Place for Family Photos with iCloud Shared Photo Library

iCloud Shared Photo Library gives families a new way to share photos seamlessly with a separate iCloud library that up to six users can collaborate on, contribute to, and enjoy. Users can choose to share existing photos from their personal libraries, or share based on a start date or people in the photos.

A user can also choose to send photos to the Shared Library automatically using a new toggle in the Camera app.

Additionally, users will receive intelligent suggestions to share a photo that includes participants in the Shared Photo Library. Every user in the Shared Photo Library has access to add, delete, edit, or favorite the shared photos or videos, which will appear in each user’s Memories and Featured Photos so that everyone can relive more complete family moments.

Live Text and Visual Look Up Enhancements

Live Text uses on-device intelligence to recognize text in images across iOS; and it is now expanding to include video. Users can pause a video on any frame and interact with text. Live Text also adds the ability for users to quickly convert currency, translate text, and more.

Visual Look Up takes photos further by introducing a new feature that allows users to tap and hold on the subject of an image to lift it from the background and place it in apps like Messages. Visual Look Up also expands to recognize birds, insects, and statues.

Wallet Adds Apple Pay Later, Order Tracking, and Other Features

Apple Pay Later provides users in the US with a seamless and secure way to split the cost of an Apple Pay purchase into four equal payments spread over six weeks, with zero interest and no fees of any kind.

Built into Apple Wallet and designed with users’ financial health in mind, Apple Pay Later makes it easy to view, track, and repay Apple Pay Later payments within Wallet.

Users can apply for Apple Pay Later when they are checking out with Apple Pay; or in Wallet. Apple Pay Later is available everywhere Apple Pay is accepted online or in-app, using the Mastercard network.

Additionally, with Apple Pay Order Tracking, users can receive detailed receipts. They can also order tracking information in Wallet for Apple Pay purchases with participating merchants.

Dictation

The company is also giving dictation a significant upgrade with the ability to automatically add punctuation to longer messages; and dictate emoji characters. Users can also multitask between the keyboard and QuickType suggestions. They can do this while using dictation, in order to make it easier to tweak specific messages.