iOS 10 – Preview, release date and everything you need to know

The iOS 10 public beta is now live. Don’t jump on the bandwagon if it’s your going to update your main phone yet though, this is still a build in progress and many of your favourite apps might be buggy or not work at all.

Mobile Editor Max Parker provides his review of the iOS 10 developer build just before the public beta. He’ll be updating it with the beta changes.

IOS 10 BETA PREVIEW

iOS 10 is a big update for the iPhone and iPad, probably the biggest since the design overhaul we saw with iOS 7. Key changes include a new lockscreen (bye-bye “Slide to Unlock”) and a far greater emphasis on widgets and iMessage.

The new iOS appears to be a good step forward, but while it makes a decent number of changes in certain areas, it feels like the job is half finished – hopefully the final version will feel fuller.

WHAT’S NEW IN IOS 10 BETA 3?

As with any beta, there are a myriad of small changes that happen as we get closer and closer to final release. iOS 10 beta 3 is no exception. Here are a few of the slight tweaks:

• The option has been added to simply bypass the lock-screen with a thumb scan, rather than pressing the button
• A slightly changed keyboard sound
• Haptic feedback when the phone unlocks
• There’s a new ‘Siri App Support’ option in Settings, though this won’t be used until full release
• The speaker no longer cuts out when the phone vibrates
• Minor visual improvement in the Health app
• Keep reading for all the new features added in iOS 10

VISUAL CHANGES EVERYWHERE

Boot up iOS 10 and the visual changes are instantly noticeable. Gone is the once iconic “Slide to Unlock” message, replaced by “Press home to unlock”, and you can swipe left to enter a widget view and swipe right to quickly launch the camera.

Adding lockscreen widgets is nothing new, we’ve seen it appear and disappear with Android, but Apple has implemented it well here. With a glance I can see the weather, any upcoming calendar events, news and so on. These can be edited and expanded, and they’re far more useful than the iOS widgets of old.

Widgets are now visible on the lockscreen

Lockscreen notifications have been spruced up, too. They’re now rounded grey boxes – a theme that runs through iOS 10 – and 3D-Touching them brings up a useful quick-reply option.

3D Touch finally feels like it’s come of age in iOS 10, and I can find no good reason that Apple decided against adding it to the iPhone SE other than keeping the price down. It’s dotted across the OS and it no longer feels like something I need to remember to use, but actually want to use.

You can now clear all notifications by hard-pressing the “X”; doing the same to a folder lets you rename it. Plus, the row of shortcuts in the Control Center have added functionality. 3D pressing the torch alters the intensity of the beam, for example.

Apple spent what seemed like the entire Keynote talking up its new iMessage app, which is basically just Facebook

Messenger. I’m far more interested in the Home app.

A DEDICATED HOMEKIT APP MAKES SMART HOME MUCH EASIER

Apple’s HomeKit smart home standard finally seems to be taking off, and iOS 10 adds in a simple yet handy app to control devices like Nest and Hue bulbs. The biggest benefit here is that you’ll no longer have to dive into a myriad of different apps to control your home; Home lets you turn up the heat, switch off the lights and control a connected plug socket from a single app.

It also provides a quick overview of all the devices that are turned on – useful if you’re concerned you may have left something on while on holiday. As long as everything is HomeKit-compliant, of course.

IMESSAGE TURNS INTO MSN MESSENGER

I’m not quite sure where I stand regarding the new Messages app. Partly because it’s difficult to test when barely anyone I know is using the beta, and also because I normally just use WhatsApp. The new features added in iOS 10 range from useful additions, like easier video sharing, to the gimmicky changes, like bigger emojis and stickers. As a result it the new app feels like a bit of a mess.

You can now use handwriting recognition in iMessage

If I send “Happy Birthday” to someone, their conversation view will turn into an explosion of fireworks – that feels like an MSN Messenger feature circa 2002. In my opinion, it appears that Apple has thrown every possible feature at the Messages app in the hope that one of them sticks, but the only real addition needed was Android support – but that’s nowhere to be seen.

BOTH MUSIC AND PHOTOS GET MUCH-NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS

I’ve previously written a piece stating what I’d hoped Apple would do to drag it’s awful music-streaming service back into contention. And while Music has received a huge refresh in iOS 10, Apple didn’t really address the many missing features. Still, it’s a big upgrade and one that was much needed.

It’s faster, cleaner, easier to see which songs you have downloaded, and quicker to find playlists that you actually want to listen to. I’m on board with the new font scheme – a visual feature that jumps to the News app too – and the reliance on bold lettering, minimal text and high-resolution album art. It’s what Apple Music should have been from the start.

I love Google Photos. It’s easily the best photo cloud service around, and it seems Apple agrees since its latest Photos update plucks a number of Big G’s coolest features.

Photos now automatically groups together similar faces and cleverly combines photos taken together into slideshow albums, complete with music. Both are nice additions, although some of the algorithms aren’t quite as accurate as Google’s.

It’s still in beta, however, so these issues will likely be sorted in time. Right now, however, it struggles to differentiate between siblings, for example, and always adds in a few unrelated photos to albums. It remains a step in the right direction nonetheless.

SIRI OPENS UP

Siri seems to receive an update every year, but in iOS 10 it’s the most substantial yet. Third-party apps can now talk to the personal assistant; so you can ask her to order you an Uber and have your favourite food delivered by Deliveroo.

It’s a big change, but one that won’t be fully realised until iOS 10 hits the public and the relevant apps are updated.

BYE-BYE STOCKS

Finally! This wasn’t mentioned during the iOS 10 announcement, but soon after, the internet started to meltdown as folk came to the realisation that you’d finally be able to delete those useless Apple apps that you had hidden away in a folder somewhere.

Let me clarify here: you can’t get rid of every app – Settings (duh), Safari, Phone, Messages and Photos are here to stay, but pretty much everything else can be chopped.

Obviously, this is great news – hands-up if you ever actually used the Tips app?. However, you still can’t alter the default apps, so if you delete Mail then you won’t be able to have Gmail act as your one and only email client. If you click a link that tells the phone to open the Mail app, it will simply ask you to reinstall it.

Two steps forward, one step back.

APPLE IOS 10 – FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Apple barely mentioned the iPad when it spoke about iOS 10, and there aren’t a whole lot of updates for the tablet that haven’t come from the phone. You can now have two Safari tabs next to each other, which is handy, and if your iPad mainly stays on the sofa at home then you can use it as a hub to control your HomeKit-enabled tech.

These aside, Apple hasn’t altered much and to be honest, that’s the problem with iOS 10.

It’s a step forward, but those calling for more widespread changes will probably be disappointed. There’s no split-screen on the iPhone 6S Plus, which has far too much wasted space, and the multi-tasking view on the iPad is woefully frustrating and restrictive.

The static homescreen is as grid-like and boring as ever, and there’s still no file system that would prove ever so useful on the iPad Pro. Even more annoyingly there’s no multi-user support – one of the most requested features that Apple constantly ignores.

Would I have preferred to have seen these than a boatload of bigger emojis and iMessage tweaks? Of course, and I suspect many of you would have too.

IOS 10 RELEASE DATE: WHEN CAN I GET IOS 10 ON MY IPHONE OR IPAD?

The iOS 10 beta appeared on 7th July, however the full stable release will land when the iPhone 7 is released in September, at least if Apple follows history. The current public beta is just for iPhones at the moment, so you’ll have to wait if you want to update your iPad. If you want to try it on your iPhone now then hit the link below:

IOS 10 COMPATIBILITY: CAN I GET IOS 10 ON MY APPLE DEVICE?

The last two versions of iOS – iOS 8 and iOS 9 – have listed the iPhone 4S, iPad 2, and iPod touch 5th generation as their cut-off points for legacy support.

We wouldn’t be surprised to see that being bumped up to the iPhone 5, iPad 3, and iPod touch 6th generation for iOS 10, as Apple looks to move things on.

Why do we say to that? Recent versions of iOS have been designed to run fine on devices with just 512MB of RAM, but iOS 9 in particular has been optimised to run brilliantly on devices with 2GB of RAM or more such as the iPhone 6S, the iPad Air 2, and the iPad Pro.

In order to push its OS to the next level, Apple might well decide that 1GB of RAM is a necessary minimum. Which would also mean an end to support for the original iPad Mini, of course.

WHAT ARE THE NEW FEATURES OF IOS 10?

Apple has described iOS 10 as its “the biggest iOS release ever,” and it ran through a selection of 10 key new areas in considerable depth at its WWDC keynote.

Here are some of the main features we pulled out of that presentation, starting with the ones that we feel will be the most useful.

SMARTER LOCK SCREEN

Apple has improved the lock screen experience with iOS 10. You’ll now be able view your lock screen just by picking up your phone, as well as action notifications using 3D Touch. These features aren’t quite as revolutionary as Apple is making out, but it’s good they’re finally landing on iDevices.

3D TOUCH & WIDGETS

Talking of 3D Touch, Apple is filling out the usage of its big hardware addition of last year’s iPhone 6S. You’ll be able to press and hold firmly on app icons to bring up widgets – essentially providing you with key information without actually entering the apps.

SIRI

Apple and open source software aren’t normally found in the same sentence, but the Cupertino-based firm’s hand has been forced to a certain extent and it’s releasing the Siri API to the developer community. Some of the third-party integrations coming include Uber, WhatsApp, Skype and Slack. If you enjoy talking to your phone, this is actually kind of exciting.

PHOTOS

There’s a bunch of new AI functionality coming to Apple’s native Photos app, including new facial and location detection capabilities, more powerful search, and a new tab called Memories that will turn your photos into highlight-style reels based around things like location and people. We’ll have to see how this one pans out in the flesh – it sounds like a nicety rather a game-changer (and is more than a bit reminiscent of HTC’s Zoe), but let’s not poo-poo it before we’ve tried it.

MAPS

Maps, like Siri and Photos, is getting smarter and more open. Developers will be able to access the Maps API in iOS 10 and beyond, so we can look forward to things like native restaurant booking and ride hailing.

There’s some aesthetic tweaks, too, but more meaningfully there’s loads more predictive functionality – things like nearby dining suggestions. There’s also improved navigation, including traffic report integration, so Maps will now be able to offer you alternative routes when there’s loads of congestion – all of which is coming to CarPlay too.

As with many other areas of iOS 10, Apple is integrating third party services into Maps. You’ll be able to make dinner reservations with restaurants from directly within the Maps app, for example.

HOME

iOS will feature an all new native app called Home. Expanding on the HomeKit framework, it’ll be one-stop shop for all your connected and smart home gear. It’ll also feature in the Control Center, so you can access it from the lock screen.

MESSAGES

In iOS 10, Messages is getting a pretty substantial overhaul. You’ll be able to write messages in your own hand-writing, alter the way message bubbles look, send quick ‘Tapback’ responses, and even add animations.

Emoji are getting bigger (three times bigger) and easier to insert, with iOS recommending potential word replacements for you. Meanwhile, you’ll be able to slap virtual stickers all over your message threads.

But potentially the biggest addition of all will be iMessage apps. Apple is essentially turning the app into its own platform, with third party developers able to make their content accessible directly through the Messages app.

APPLE MUSIC

We knew this one was coming, but it was good to see confirmation that Apple is going back to the drawing board with Apple Music nonetheless.

Apple Music’s new approach looks a lot cleaner and simpler than before. Upon entering the app, for example, you’ll be taken straight to the Library section.

You’ll also be able to view lyrics while you’re listening to your music. Well, someone must have asked for it…

PHONE APP

Apple has made a couple of alterations to the iOS 10 Phone app. Chief among them is the way it transcribes your voicemail messages. It’ll also be able to detect when an incoming unknown caller is likely to be spam.

APPLE NEWS

There’s a chance you’re one of the ten people who actually use Apple News. If so, you’ll be interested in this one. It’s receiving an Apple Music-like design overhaul, with similar chunky titles. Subscriptions and breaking news notifications are also incoming.

APPLE PAY

Apple Pay is making its way to web purchases with iOS 10. There’ll be a new ‘Buy with Apple Pay’ button appearing on website checkout screens, which will mean you can authorise payments using the Touch ID fingerprint sensor.

Source: trustedreviews.com

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