Apple iOS 15 cheat sheet: Every little thing you’ll want to know
Picture: Apple
The newest model of Apple’s working system for cell gadgets, iOS 15, was introduced on June 7, 2021 on the firm’s Worldwide Developer Convention. The beta model of iOS 15 was launched on June 7, 2021 to builders, and the general public beta was launched on June 30, 2021. Apple launched iOS 15 to the general public on Sept. 20, 2021.
This new model of iOS contains many new options related to shoppers and builders alike, together with: an emphasis on communication modifications, the flexibility to concentrate on particular points of your life, on-device intelligence and exploring the world.
SEE: Apple iOS 15 cheat sheet: Every little thing you’ll want to know (free PDF) (TechRepublic)
What’s iOS 15?
iOS 15 is Apple’s newest cell working system that helps iPhones and iPod contact gadgets. It was introduced at Apple’s 2021 WWDC and contains many new options and providers that will likely be out there for iOS gadgets (see the part under to seek out out in case your gadget is supported).
This new model of iOS contains many new options which can be related to shoppers, builders and enterprise clients. These options embrace additions to communication, enhancements for customers to have the ability to concentrate on particular duties and contacts at hand and world-interaction options.
SEE: Apple’s Sept. 2021 occasion: What enterprise execs have to know (free PDF) (TechRepublic)
Will iOS 15 work on my gadget?
Most {hardware} that supported iOS 14 may also help iOS 15, together with the next Apple gadgets which can be out there on the time of this writing:
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 13 mini
- iPhone 13 Professional
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 12 Professional
- iPhone 12 Professional Max
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Professional
- iPhone 11 Professional 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 (first technology, 2016 mannequin)
- iPhone SE (second technology, 2020 mannequin)
- iPhone SE (third technology, 2022 mannequin)
- iPod contact (seventh technology)
SEE: How one can migrate to a brand new iPad, iPhone, or Mac (TechRepublic Premium)
What are the important thing iOS 15 options?
Communications
FaceTime
FaceTime is receiving a considerable replace with iOS 15, to make video chatting extra pure, snug and lifelike. This begins with the FaceTime app supporting Spatial Audio that Apple pioneered with AirPods Professional. Which means that audio will sound as if it’s coming from the gadget when sporting Spatial Audio-compatible AirPods.
FaceTime may also obtain an replace that allows you to block out ambient noise by way of a function referred to as Voice Isolation. Machine studying will energy this function that isolates your voice and blocks all different noise. In one other TechRepublic article, you may find out about the right way to allow this FaceTime function.
SEE: Finest hidden iOS 15 options to start out utilizing now (TechRepublic)
In iOS 14, Apple unveiled a brand new view for multi-person video calling that supported reside tiles that enhance in dimension primarily based on who’s talking. Whereas many customers favored this function, many didn’t. Apple is making a change that allows you to choose between the reside tiles view and a grid view that may present all video individuals in the identical dimension grids so you may simply see all individuals on the identical time.
The most important bulletins for FaceTime revolve round two new options: FaceTime Hyperlinks and Share Play.
SEE: WWDC 2021: The 5 greatest iOS 15 options for enterprise execs (TechRepublic)
FaceTime hyperlinks will assist you to schedule a FaceTime assembly prematurely, then ship the hyperlink out to individuals through electronic mail, iMessage, or a calendar invite. When a person clicks the hyperlink, it would robotically open FaceTime if their gadget helps it, and if the participant is on Home windows, Android or one other gadget incapable of utilizing FaceTime, an internet browser will open that lets them securely be a part of the decision with out the FaceTime app.
Share Play is one other notable FaceTime function that unlocks three new options for customers: Listening to music collectively, watching movies collectively and screen-sharing collectively.
Listening to music and watching movies collectively will synchronize the audio so that each one viewers are watching at the very same second whereas additionally with the ability to video chat on the identical time. Make the most of Image in Image to perform different duties whereas this is occurring, or AirPlay to an Apple TV or different AirPlay appropriate show to get a cut up view the place the video seems on the bigger display screen and video chat happens on the gadget display screen.
As well as, Share Play additionally helps the flexibility to share your display screen with different FaceTime individuals to provide assist to somebody or to demo one thing in your display screen.
Study extra about creating and sharing hyperlinks to FaceTime calls, together with utilizing FaceTime with Android and Home windows customers.
Messages
Messages introduce a number of new niceties that may enable for higher looking, higher app integration and photograph administration.
The primary new function is when your gadget is in Do Not Disturb mode, Messages will show that standing to anybody making an attempt to contact you. They are going to be alerted that you just’re in Do Not Disturb mode earlier than sending the message. They’ll nonetheless select to interrupt you for essential messages, nonetheless, and you can be notified of them regardless of being in Do Not Disturb mode.
SEE: Apple’s credit card gets a family plan with new Apple Card Family program (TechRepublic)
For those who share plenty of pictures with the Messages app, then you already know that sending plenty of pictures includes spamming the chat with every photograph by itself chat line. With Picture Stacks, Messages will resolve this by combining a number of despatched pictures right into a single carousel view that may be flipped between or tapped to get a grid view of all of the pictures.
The Images app can even pull in pictures that embrace these despatched in Messages by others. You’ll now not have to manually pull out pictures individually from the Messages app.
The final main function to Messages is the flexibility to pin gadgets in a chat, which may be extra simply discovered when looking in Messages. That is nice for coming again to a video, hyperlink or photograph afterward when you’ve got time.
SEE: Hiring equipment: iOS developer (TechRepublic Premium)
Focus
Notification Abstract enables you to specify a time to get non-urgent notifications delivered as a digest so you may compensate for what you missed all through the day.
Picture: AppleApple is wanting customers to extra simply concentrate on the duty at hand with iOS 15 by introducing two new options: Notification Schedules and Abstract, and Focus mode.
Notification Schedules and Abstract
Notifications have been redesigned to incorporate bigger icons, person profile pictures for Messages and bigger pictures to make them simpler to differentiate between each other. As well as, now you can set particular apps as non-priority so that you just don’t see them all through the day and as an alternative get a Notification Abstract at your chosen time to have the ability to compensate for non-priority notifications at your comfort. Vital communication notifications will at all times come by way of, however with the ability to set which notifications you want will go an extended strategy to enhancing focus when working or on household time.
SEE: One Apple platform in 2021: The year iPad and Mac begin to converge (TechRepublic)
Focus mode
Focus mode enables you to create an area to concentrate on (for work, for private, exercises, and many others.). Making a Focus mode enables you to specify which apps, Residence Screens and contacts you should have entry to whereas in that mode. When swapping between modes, any irrelevant apps or contacts will likely be ignored.
Stay Textual content lets you use the digital camera to seize textual content out of real-world environments. Wish to dial a cellphone quantity on a enterprise card? Use the digital camera, then faucet the cellphone quantity to dial it.
Picture: AppleFocuses created on one gadget will likely be synced by way of iCloud to extra gadgets so you may simply share focuses from iPhone with iPad and Mac. Study extra on this TechRepublic tutorial: iOS 15: How one can enhance your work-life stability with Focus modes.
On-device Intelligence
Apple is constant to enhance the on-device machine studying and information processing by way of their new iOS 15 on-device intelligence options under.
Stay Textual content
This function permits customers to simply preview a photograph (or use the digital camera pointed at textual content) and choose textual content instantly from the photograph and even dial cellphone numbers with out typing the quantity instantly into your iPhone. Textual content from pictures is robotically OCRed and may be pasted into emails, chats or another apps that help pasting plain textual content. At launch, this function will help the next languages robotically: English, Chinese language, French, Italian, German, Portuguese and Spanish.
Highlight
Highlight’s new wealthy information views will allow you to do plenty of contact looking or fundamental net searches with out ever leaving your Residence Display screen.
Picture: AppleSpotlight is getting extra upgrades that are available in two areas: Picture search is now attainable, because of the Stay Textual content function, to look by way of pictures containing particular folks, scenes or textual content within the photograph. As well as, wealthy outcomes are actually returned for contacts you search and embrace the flexibility to provoke a name with the context, textual content them or see appointments, notes and information that point out them.
Picture Reminiscences
Images is an app that persistently sees enhancements because of on-device machine studying. In iOS 15, Picture Reminiscences has acquired a major enchancment. This function will sew collectively related pictures and movies to create a video with a music chosen from Apple Music that matches the event and beat of the music to the motion within the video. You may edit the fashion of the video and new music will robotically be chosen to match the styling.
Exploring the world
Apple is making an enormous push to make the digital pockets even higher by permitting you to ditch your driver’s license in case your state helps it.
Picture: ApplePockets
Apple launched Automobile Keys in Pockets as part of iOS 14; nonetheless this function is way improved and expanded in iOS 15. Automobile Keys, resort keys and passes can now be added into the Pockets app. Persevering with on Apple’s purpose to digitize the complete bodily pockets, additionally it is partnering with particular states to assist you to scan your driver’s license into the Pockets app and use the digital license for all the pieces. The TSA is even on board and would be the first to take part on this program.
Initially, the Driver’s License help in Pockets is proscribed to those U.S. states:
- Arizona
- Connecticut
- Georgia
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Oklahoma
- Utah
For extra data on the safety and privateness of this function, read Apple’s detailed explanation of how it works when rolled out nationwide.
Climate
Apple bought Darkish Sky a little bit over a 12 months in the past, and it’s bringing lots of these climate options over into the default Climate app in iOS 15. A brand new design will function a structure that modifications primarily based on present exterior situations, and new climate information that’s positive to make any climate nerd blissful.
Picture: AppleMaps
Apple is drastically enhancing the Maps app in iOS 15 by including new “Metropolis Experiences” into maps. For choose cities, essential landmarks will likely be included as digitized 3D fashions, and new information will supply details about business districts, highway colours and labels. As well as, a brand new evening time mode will enable exploring cities in a moonlit setting.
Picture: AppleThere are new driving instructions that add and enhance highway particulars, and can now embrace data on the highway you’re touring, resembling bike lane data, taxi lanes and extra. It will enable drivers to extra safely journey with assistance from GPS.
Transit riders can now pin their favourite traces and get notification on watchOS when it’s time to disembark when approaching the vacation spot.
Lastly, Maps provides a brand new augmented actuality view to pick out cities. Use the digital camera to scan buildings and get strolling instructions overlaid in a digital camera view in supported cities. At launch, this will likely be out there in London, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia and San Diego, and extra will likely be added later this 12 months.
Privateness
Privateness Experiences in iOS 15 will assist you to preserve a test on apps and what they’re doing along with your information.
Picture: AppleApple continued its stance on making iOS probably the most safe cell working system on the earth with iOS 15 modifications primarily based round privateness. These new options embrace Privateness stories, Mail and Siri.
In Mail, Apple is enabling the person to dam pixel monitoring and can obfuscate the IP deal with in order that senders can’t monitor your electronic mail studying.
For Siri, Apple will start doing the speech recognition for Siri on gadget by default, which implies that your voice is not going to be despatched to Apple’s servers in any respect so as to be transcribed for Siri. That is additionally a velocity profit as a result of it implies that requests can usually be processed faster.
Apple is introducing a brand new Privateness Report function for apps that may be accessed to see how effectively sure apps are behaving relating to your privateness. The report will element the permissions you’ve granted them, which third-party domains they contact, and the way not too long ago they made contact.
SEE: iOS 15: How one can allow Mail Privateness Safety (TechRepublic)
Different notable iOS 15 options
- Memoji options new clothes, glasses, headwear and eye shade customizations that customers can choose from.
- Maps will function editorial-curated guides for cities and locations to go to when touring.
- Safari has been fully redesigned with tabs which can be swipeable, a brand new good search area, and the flexibility to put in third-party net extensions similar to on macOS.
- Pockets now helps workplace keys for company badges and the flexibility to archive passes that aren’t in present use.
- Images features a new Data panel that shows data such because the digital camera, lens and shutter velocity, the file dimension, or who despatched a Shared with You photograph in Messages. You can even edit the date taken or location, add a caption, and find out about gadgets detected by Visible Look Up.
- Well being app enables you to simply share your information with others, see Lab data from well being suppliers, and examine well being tendencies.
- Safe paste implies that apps gained’t see what you’ve copied till you particularly give them entry.
- Siri now has offline help for a lot of duties, together with Timers & Alarms, Cellphone, Messaging, Sharing, App Launch, Management Audio Playback and Settings.
- Apple ID can now take part in Apple’s Digital Legacy program to permit members of the family or family members the flexibility to entry your information after you die. As well as, should you get locked out of your Apple ID, you may specify trusted contacts who can provide you a code to immediately get entry again to your locked out account.
- VoiceOver now helps the flexibility to discover photographs and get particulars about folks, objects, textual content and tables inside photographs.
- The App Library function now enables you to simply reorder Residence Screens.
- Apple Pay has redesigned the cost stream display screen to permit customers the flexibility to enter issues like coupon codes or extra data that the service provider permits.
- Digital camera features a new panorama mode that has improved geometric distortion and higher captures shifting topics whereas additionally lowering picture noise and banding.
- CarPlay can now announce messages and notifications.
- FindMy can be utilized to seek out supported fashions of AirPods in the identical means that customers can discover AirTag gadgets.
- Apple has introduced again the magnifying loupe for textual content entry when urgent and holding on the cursor
- The Software program Replace part of the Settings app will now assist you to keep on the earlier main model and nonetheless obtain safety updates, or transfer to the most recent main model for function and safety updates.
- Non permanent iCloud storage lets you use iCloud to switch to a brand new gadget even should you don’t have sufficient free house in iCloud. Apple will grant you free storage for this course of.
- Extra system widgets together with ones for Mail, App Retailer, sleep information, Recreation Middle, Discover My and Contacts.
- The flexibility to tag and higher arrange reminders utilizing the Reminders software constructed into iOS.
- The flexibility to tag notes and use QuickNotes on iPadOS to extra simply add a notice utilizing your Apple Pencil.
SEE: Getting began with iOS improvement (free PDF) (TechRepublic)
iOS 15.4 brings new performance to present iPhones
iOS 15.4 brings myriad new options to iOS and present iPhones. This launch debuted the week of March 14, 2022, and launched the next new (and extremely anticipated) options:
- Faucet to pay performance that permits supported third-party apps to obtain contactless funds utilizing the built-in NFC {hardware} on the gadget. This can be a massive deal for iPhone customers who settle for funds by way of Sq. and different POS techniques and can now have the ability to settle for funds with out carrying round extra {hardware} gadgets.
- Masks-friendly Face ID function lets customers go for a decrease safety model of FaceID that may work with masks enabled to unlock the gadget, carry out Apple Pay options, and enter passwords and different biometric-enabled safety checks. This function is proscribed to iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 as a result of Face ID digital camera system modifications wanted to carry out this extra authentication kind.
- Apple additionally introduced extra AirTag safety features to forestall the gadgets from getting used as instruments to stalk customers.
- A brand new fifth Siri voice is out there for customers within the US to select from that may be a nonbinary, LGBTQ+ voice that may be enabled within the Settings app.
How do you obtain and set up iOS 15?
iOS 15 may be downloaded and put in over the air on any iOS 15 appropriate gadget by going to Settings | Common | Software program Replace and choosing Set up iOS 15 within the banner that seems on the backside of the Software program Replace part.
Alternatively, you may replace it by way of any Home windows or Mac laptop by plugging in your gadget and following the directions in these Apple help paperwork:
Updating iOS using a Mac running the latest version of macOS (macOS Catalina or later)
Updating your iPhone using a Mac running macOS Mojave or earlier, or Windows
What’s the discharge historical past of iOS 15?
June 7, 2021: Apple unveils iOS 15 to builders at WWDC and releases a beta for builders to obtain and start creating apps.
June 30, 2021: Apple begins the general public beta of iOS and iPadOS 15.
Sept. 20, 2021: Apple makes iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 out there for obtain. Within the launch model of iOS 15, notably lacking is Share Play, Legacy Contacts (for with the ability to transition your person information over to another person on the time of a demise), App Privateness Report, 3D Maps navigation in CarPlay, and one of the vital anticipated options: Common Management (with iPadOS) to permit for controlling iPadOS gadgets utilizing a Mac when aspect by aspect. Apple notes these options will likely be coming in a future iOS 15 replace.
October 1, 2021: iOS 15.0.1 is launched with a bug repair for Apple Watch unlocking when utilizing an iPhone 13.
October 25, 2021: iOS 15.1 is launched and provides the much-anticipated SharePlay performance and the Stay Textual content function to the Digital camera app. It additionally added bug fixes and enhancements round points with the Images app.
November 17, 2021: iOS 15.1.1 mounted a difficulty the place calls would drop randomly on iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 fashions.
December 13, 2021: Apple releases iOS 15.2 and provides myriad new options, together with App Privateness Report, Apple Music Voice Plan, help for Legacy Contacts in iCloud, Discover My Battery Reserve, Conceal My E mail in iCloud+, Communication Security options for teenagers and youngsters in iMessage and a Macro Mode Toggle for supported iPhone 13 gadgets.
January 26, 2022: iOS 15.3 brings safety patches to forestall a zero day lively vulnerability in Safari/WebKit.
February 10, 2022: iOS 15.3.1 mounted a difficulty that will trigger exterior Braille shows to cease responding, mounted a difficulty the place PDF scrolling in Safari was uneven, and glued extra Safety scripting vulnerabilities.
Week of March 14, 2022: Apple hasn’t given a selected launch date for iOS 15.4 apart from “subsequent week.” When this date is confirmed, we are going to replace this text. iOS 15.4 added an Apple Card widget for the Residence Display screen, the flexibility to simply accept contactless funds utilizing the NFC chip on the gadget in supported apps, new emoji help and the flexibility to unlock your gadget with a masks (supported on iPhone 12 and iPhone 13).
