Apple has announced some new features in iOS 16. However, there are a few features that will not be available in the first version.
When Apple announces a new generation of iOS, many new features are introduced. However, some of them do not make it into the first major version but are added in later updates, as was the case with iOS 16. Last year, SharePlay, digital IDs in the Wallet app and Universal Control were among the features of iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 that were not available in the first version and were only distributed to users after several months. Below you will find a list of the announced iOS 16 features that will be added in later updates.
iOS 16: Release on September 12th
- Live Activity: Live Activity helps you stay updated in real time, right on your lock screen.
- Live Activity API: Follow a sports game in progress or track the progress of your ride or order with just a glance. The new developer API lets you pull live activity from your favorite third-party apps.
- Game Center SharePlay support: Games that use Game Center multiplayer support have SharePlay integration. You can automatically launch the game with friends via a FaceTime call.
- Game Center Contacts Integration: Contacts displays your friends' Game Center profiles. Tap through to see what they're playing and what they're accomplishing in games.
- Support for Matter: The new smart home connectivity standard that enables compatible accessories to work together seamlessly across platforms. With Matter, users can choose from even more compatible smart home accessories and control them with the Home app and Siri on Apple devices.
- Updated Home app architecture: Improvements to the underlying architecture of the Home app to enable faster, more reliable performance and improved efficiency, especially for homes with lots of accessories and multiple control devices.
- Freeform App: A new digital whiteboard app with a flexible canvas for creating diagrams, collating key data and brainstorming, with real-time collaboration features and comprehensive multimedia support.
- iCloud Shared Library: A new option in the Photos app that lets users create a shared photo library and invite anyone with an Apple ID to view, add to, and edit it, including favorite images and add captions. There are no restrictions and everyone has the same permissions, making it ideal for families.
- Key sharing: The ability to securely share keys in Apple Wallet across messaging apps and mail.
- Easy shortcut setup for iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X: Siri can launch shortcuts from installed apps without a setup process (available immediately and without delay for newer devices).
Shared iCloud Library is the last feature to be delayed following Apple's "Far Out" event mid-week. All other delays were already known during the first preview of iOS 16 at WWDC. Apple says all of these features will appear in an update to iOS 16 later this year, but has not yet given a more specific timeframe for any of these features. After months of beta testing, iOS 16.0 will be officially available for download on all compatible iPhones starting Monday, September 12. Whether your device is compatible with the new software is compatible, you can find out here. (Photo by yalcin.sonat / Bigstockphoto)
- iOS 16: All new features in the weather app
- iOS 16: All new features in the Photos and Camera app
- iOS 16: All the new features in Spotlight search
- iOS 16: All new security and privacy features
- iOS 16: All new features in the Health & Fitness app
- iOS 16: All the new features in Live Text
- iOS 16: All the new features in Notes and Reminders
- iOS 16: All the new features in the Mail app
- iOS 16: All the new features in Apple Music
- iOS 16: All the new features in Focus
- iOS 16 “Shared iCloud Photo Library”: Everything you need to know