Apple iOS 14, iPadOS 14 features, supported devices

Apple recently announced its latest version of the iOS, the iOS 14, along with the iPadOS 14, at the WWDC 2020. The former features a redesigned Home Screen page and several smart features for the users.

Here are the new features of the iOS 14:

• Redesigned Home Screen – Users can customize more with the Smart Stack which shows widgets based on time, location, and activity. They may choose to display and hide Home Screen pages for quick access to the App Library.
• New App Library – organizes all apps in one place for easier viewing.

• Picture-in-Picture support – allows users to watch a video, answer a FaceTime call, or ask Siri a question while using another app.
• App Clip – finds apps easily by scanning a customized, Apple-designed code. It is integrated with Apple Pay and Apple ID for quick payments and secured login.
• Siri – Apple’s voice assistant expands its knowledge and can now send audio messages. Keyboard dictation runs on a device when dictating messages, notes, email, and more.
• Phone calls and FaceTime – Incoming FaceTime and phone calls now appear as a lightweight banner that allows users to either answer or flick to ignore.
• Messages – Conversations may now be pinned to the top of the messages list. Users may now directly reply to a message and track inline replies, and further customize conversations by setting a group photo or Memoji.

• Maps – offers cycling directions along bike lanes, bike paths, and bike-friendly roads; adds charging stops based on current vehicle charge and charger types in electric vehicle routing, and gives curated Guides for discovering must-visit places and restaurants.
• App Privacy – all apps are required to ask for user permission before collecting information that can be used for targeted advertising etc. Users may now share their approximate instead of giving their precise location to some apps, and see more transparent use of apps of the microphone and camera.
• App Store – now present a summary of the privacy practices of each app before downloading it.
• Home app – new automation suggestions and expanded controls in Control Center.
• Digital car keys – unlocks and starts vehicles via iPhone’s NFC technology. Keys can be shared through Messages and disabled via iCloud. A new version, which will be launched next year, may unlock future car models without taking an iPhone out from a bag or pocket.

• Translate – On-device mode for offline voice and text translation.
• Find My – adds support for third-party devices
• Airpods – now comes with automatic device switching, Airpods Pro comes with Spatial audio for a more immersive experience.
• Accessibility – Headphone Accommodations for amplifying soft sounds and optimizing audio for clearer listening, sign language detection in Group FaceTime, and VoiceOver screen reader app for the blind community.
• Weather – keep users up to date on severe weather events and a new next-hour precipitation chart shows minute-by-minute precipitation during rainy days.
• Safari – now features Privacy Report for monitoring cross-site trackers that have been blocked, secure password monitoring, and built-in translation for webpages.
• Health – new experiences for managing sleep and a better understanding of audio levels that may affect hearing health, adds support for new data types for mobility, Health Records, symptoms, and ECG; Health Checklist for managing health and safety features.

Apple Developer Program members may now preview the iOS 14 through this site. Although Apple said that the public beta will be available to iOS users next month, some iPhone models have already received the 4.39GB software update. Do note that some features mentioned above may not be available in some regions.

Here’s the list of devices that will support iOS 14:
• iPhone 11
• iPhone 11 Pro
• iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone XS
• iPhone XS Max
• iPhone XR
• iPhone X
• iPhone 8
• iPhone 8 Plus
• iPhone 7
• iPhone 7 Plus
• iPhone 6s
• iPhone 6s Plus
• iPhone SE (1st generation)
• iPhone SE (2nd generation)
• iPod touch (7th generation)

Meanwhile, new features of the iPadOS 14 take advantage of the iPad’s multi-touch screen. It adapts the same redesigned Home Screen and widgets, as well as improvements on Messages, Weather, Siri, Accessibility, Maps, Home app, and Safari.

Among the new features in the iPadOS 14 are:

• Conversion of written notes to text
• Incoming FaceTime and phone calls now appear as a lightweight banner that allows users to either answer or flick to ignore.
• Searches in web browsers without having to leave an opened app in the background.
• Redesigned sidebars across apps, streamlined toolbars, and new pull-down menus for multi-tasking.
• Scribble feature for writing in any text field. It is available in English, Traditional and Simplified Chinese, and mixed Chinese and English.
• Support for Depth API and introduction of Location Anchors via ARKit 4 for pinning AR experiences to a specific geographical location.
• Smart Selection for distinguishing handwriting from drawings and Shape recognition that allows users to draw geometrically perfect shapes for illustrations.

Just like in iOS 14, the iPadOS 14 also requires apps to ask for user permission before collecting information, transparent use of apps of the microphone and camera, and limiting location permission.

The preview for the iPadOS 14 is now available for the Apple Developer Program members through this site.  Meanwhile, its public beta will be available to iPadOS users next month at beta.apple.com. Some features may vary according to the location.

Here’s the list of iPads that will support iPadOS 14:

• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation)
• iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd generation)
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation)
• iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation)
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation)
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st generation)
• iPad Pro 10.5-inch
• iPad Pro 9.7-inch
• iPad (7th generation)
• iPad (6th generation)
• iPad (5th generation)
• iPad mini (5th generation)
• iPad mini 4
• iPad Air (3rd generation)
• iPad Air 2