avatarNikhil Vemu

Summary

The article anticipates significant enhancements in iOS 16, potentially including landscape mode, multi-tasking, complete Wi-Fi and Bluetooth control, interactive widgets, always-on display, and emergency features like car crash detection and satellite communication, among others.

Abstract

The upcoming iOS 16 update is poised to be a substantial upgrade, addressing long-standing user requests and introducing features that have been standard on Android devices for years. Rumored features include the ability to lock the screen orientation in landscape mode, true multitasking capabilities with split-screen functionality, the option to fully disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth from the Control Centre, and the introduction of interactive widgets that could reduce the need to open apps fully. Additionally, the update may finally bring an always-on display to iPhones with OLED screens, as well as emergency features such as car crash detection and satellite-based communication for situations without cellular coverage. These enhancements are expected to leverage the powerful hardware of recent iPhones and could make the iOS experience more competitive with Android.

Opinions

  • The author expresses frustration with the limitations of previous iOS versions, particularly the inability to fully disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth from the Control Centre.
  • There is an expectation that iOS 16 will silence critics who have pointed out the lack of certain features in iPhones compared to Android devices.
  • The author is enthusiastic about the potential for interactive widgets to streamline app usage and improve efficiency.
  • The anticipation of an always-on display is high, with the author expressing disappointment at its absence in previous iPhone models despite the presence of OLED screens.
  • The rumored emergency features, such as car crash detection and satellite communication, are seen as significant advancements that could enhance user safety.
  • The author has created a personal shortcut to fully disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, indicating a strong desire for more control over these settings.
  • There is a hint of skepticism regarding Apple's tendency to adopt trends at a slower pace, as seen with the always-on display feature.
  • The author is hopeful that the rumored features will indeed be included in the final release of iOS 16, as they believe the hardware is more than capable of supporting them.

iOS 16 Might Be Way Better Than We’ve Expected — Here’s Why

All the features rumoured till now

Photo by TheRegisti on Unsplash

The news of WWDC 22 keeps sending shockwaves through my body. For many years, I’ve been longing for some already-in-Android features but iOS 13, 14, and 15 disappointed me.

However, it’s highly rumoured iOS 16 meets all the expectations of newly switched iPhone users — like me 2 years ago. Here’s a detailed list of all the features predicted by reliable sources.

#1. Landscape mode

Image courtesy of apple lab on Behance

The feeling I get when my iPhone rotates itself to portrait while a suspenseful scene’s happening on Netflix is irritation.

Though I could switch the screen orientation to landscape, I just couldn’t lock it as such.

With the iOS 16 update, it’s rumoured Apple plans to bring locked landscape mode to the Control Centre, which’d be much appreciated by binge-lovers

#2. Multi-tasking 🔛

Image courtesy of apple lab on Behance

Apple chips are so powerful they can handle tens of trillions of operations a second.

According to NanoReview.net, the list of most powerful smartphone chips goes as:

  • A15 Bionic
  • Dimensity 9000 by Mediatek
  • Snapdragon 8 Gen 1

etc.

The 2nd and 3rd chips are currently being used in high-end Android smartphones — which debuted split-screen multitasking back in 2010.

And it’s been 12 years by today, and we still don’t have it in iPhones, despite the powerful chips that could multitask like cakewalk. For a good news,

It’s finally rumored Apple brings split-screen facility with iOS 16. So we can use multiple apps, probably drag and drop too, at once.

#3. Ability to turn Wi-Fi and Bluetooth off “completely” from Control Centre 📶

Image courtesy of apple lab on Behance

After years of using iPhones, I still couldn’t figure out why Apple doesn’t allow me to completely turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth from the Control Centre.

If I do it, it says Disconnecting Nearby Wi-Fi / Bluetooth Devices Until Tomorrow . I don’t know why Apple wants them enabled again — maybe to improve Find My services.

I encounter this annoying thing especially after AirDropping. Then, I had to go to system settings to separately turn Wi-Fi and Bluetooth off completely.

I couldn’t bear it and created a shortcut widget for myself, which turns them fully off with a single tap.

Screenshot by the author

Fortunately, Apple’s rumoured to allow us to completely turn Wi-Fi and Bluetooth off directly from a redesigned Control Centre in iOS 16 update.

#4. Interactive Widgets 🕹

Image courtesy of LeaksApplePro on Twitter

To best explain you about interactive widgets, imagine you could:

  • Scroll through emails from Mail widget.
  • Control brightness from a widget.
  • Control music from Music widget.
  • Create and monitor alarms, stopwatches, timers from Clock widget.
  • Turn on or off different appliances from Home widget.
  • Create notes and checklists from Notes widget.

etc.

It’d be amazing, right? We’ll lose the need to open apps — as most options will directly be available in widgets only.

It’s rumoured, if not all, at least some apps might support interactive widgets with iOS 16 update.

#5. Always-On Display ☀️

Image courtesy of apple lab on Behance

Always-On display has only one prerequisite — OLED display, as it’s more energy efficient than standard IPS display. This is because OLED pixels completely shut themselves off to display true black, saving battery.

Despite OLEDs existing on iPhones since the X, they still lack always-on display even today, even after 13 series.

And Androids have been having always-on display for years now.

This clearly states Apple isn’t in a hurry to adopt trends — and there’s surely no convincing explanation for it. However,

It’s finally rumoured Apple plans to enable always-on display for iPhones having OLED screens. I’ll be badly disappointed if it doesn’t arrive.

PS: It’d be very nice to have my iPhone on a bedside stand for time.

Other nice awaited features…

#6. Car crash detection

Image courtesy of MacRumors

It’s rumoured iOS 16 and watchOS 9 might support “Car Crash Detection” — which detects it via the embedded motion sensors and can immediately call 911.

This sounds similar to fall detection on Apple Watch — which can detect if the wearer takes a hard fall and is unable to move, and call emergency immediately.

#7. Emergency Satellite

It’s also highly rumoured that Apple’s planning to add emergency satellite calling feature to iPhone 14 models which would be supported by iOS 16.

This enables a user to text anyone in emergency conditions where there’s no cellular coverage.

#8. Health app upgrades

Apple plans to enhance the “Sleep Tracking” functionality in Health app. It’s also developing “Pill Management” tool which lets users scan and record their medicine bottles.

Rumours also indicate there’ll be new health tracking features for women.

#9. Major icon redesigns

According to iDrop News, iOS 16 will have new and modern icons having similar changes that Maps and Weather icons had from iOS 14 to 15. They’ll stand out — they say.

#10. Apple’s AR/VR Headset

Image courtesy of MacRumors

There had been rumours for so long that Apple’s working on its own AR/VR headset and is planning for its release in 2022. If that’s the case, iOS 16 might be supporting AR/VR headset integrations.

Not all iOS 15 devices might be supported

According to iDrop News, Apple might discontinue iPhone 6s, 6s Plus, and original iPhone SE for iOS 16. I.e., iPhones only with chipsets A10 or newer are supported.

Conclusion

All the rumoured features are absolutely possible for Apple to introduce in iOS 16 — like Always-on display, landscape mode, interactive widgets, etc.

The hardware could support all of them. I really hope Apple shuts up my Android pals’ laughs at my iPhone with iOS 16.

Note: All the images used to picture the rumours are purely conceptual. They aren't provided officially by Apple.

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Apple
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