Support for Switch Controllers (and Others)
Switch controllers are a new type of gamepad for the Switch, which you can use to play games. A switch controller works by using infrared technology to connect with your phone or tablet and then transmit signals that are used by the game you’re playing. Switch controllers are compatible with one another, and they allow you to play games on both your phone or tablet, as well as on a TV screen through an HDMI cable (or even just via Bluetooth). They also work with some systems like Xbox One S/X (though not officially).
Locked Folders in Photos
In iOS 16, you can create a locked folder in the Photos app to hide photos that you don’t want to share with other people.
Password Protection for Locked Folders and Albums
If you want to protect your locked folder or album from being viewed by anyone but yourself, just enter an alphanumeric password when creating it—and make sure it’s long enough!
Sharing Settings for Shared Albums and Folders
If someone shares an album or folder with you via AirDrop (or any other method), they’ll be able to share it back with themselves if they change their mind about putting something inside of it again later on down the road; however, this does not apply if someone sends out multiple copies at once over different channels like Mail attachments or Messages conversations where multiple recipients are involved simultaneously instead.
Photos Duplicate Detection
Photos will also be getting duplicate detection, which has been requested by users for a long time. This feature will help you find and remove duplicates in your library. It’s available on iOS 16, so get ready to spot the same photo twice (or more) in your albums!
Lock Screen Notification Layouts
The lock screen is the first thing you see when your iPhone or iPad is turned off, and it’s also where you’ll access all of your notifications. You can swipe left to go back to the Home screen, or right if there’s something that requires immediate attention. Notification layouts are one of IOS 16’s new features—the third-party apps can now design their own layouts for this area on their app icons and titles! This means that instead of having one standard layout like before (which was pretty boring), now each app will have its own unique experience based on its purpose and type (e.g., business vs personal).
Web Push Notifications
Web push notifications are a new way to get notifications from websites. You can manage web push notifications in Settings, Control Center and Safari.
More Offline Siri Functions
iOS 16 will also bring more offline Siri functions. You can now use your voice to do things like make phone calls, send messages and search the web without being connected to the internet. Siri will be able to play music from Spotify as well as Apple Music without having access to an internet connection; it’ll also be able to place calls from your contacts list and open apps like Mail or Maps on your iPhone or iPad when you’re in range of a Wi-Fi network (or even if you’re not).
Hang Up With Siri
In iOS 16, Siri can now hang up on you. To do so, just say “hang up” and it will hang up on the current call or all calls for that contact. To change this setting, go to Settings > Phone > iPhone Call Settings and toggle “Allow the Home button to turn off cellular network” to on.
Better Blurring on iPhone 13
iOS 16 is a free update for all current and new iPhones, including the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus. It’s also available to users of older models such as the iPhone 7 or 6S. The biggest feature in this release is the blurring of photos using three different methods: standard, continuous autofocus (CDAF) and phase detection auto focus (PDAF).
Remove More Apple Apps
Apple News, Stocks, and Voice Memos. You can remove these from your Home screen by dragging them to the Trash folder. You’ll also be able to delete them from the Settings app under “General.”
Haptic Keyboard Support
Haptic keyboard support is a new feature that allows you to feel the keys as you type. This means that if you’ve used an iPhone in the past, then you may be familiar with this feature. The haptic feedback on iOS 16 is much more refined than previous versions of iOS. The new haptic feedback comes in two forms: internal vibrations and external vibrations (also known as “vibration”). Internal vibration refers to how your device vibrates itself when making contact with another object—in this case, your fingers pressing down on its screen. External vibration refers to when other people are interacting with your device—for example, when someone else taps gently against it while holding it over their head or tapping lightly against its sides while standing above it at eye level (as opposed to reaching down).
iCloud+ Improvements
iCloud+ will be renamed to iCloud. iCloud+ will be turned on by default. The price of an Apple Music membership will increase from $9.99 to $11.99 per month, while the cost of a subscription to Apple TV Plus increases from $4.99 per month to $6.49 (a 75% increase). The name “iCloud” has been changed to simply “iTunes,” which may seem like an odd choice but makes sense given that most people use iTunes as their primary source for music and movies in general; however, it should also be noted that this change does not affect how you access your content—you can still log into iTunes through your iPhone or iPad if you prefer working with it rather than signing up for new services like Netflix or Hulu+.
Memoji Improvements
With iOS 16, you can now add more emojis to your Memoji. For example, you can use your own face or a photo of a friend to create a custom avatar that looks like them! You can also make your Memoji more fun by adding accessories like sunglasses and hats. You’ll be able to choose from a wider range of clothing options than before—and there’s no need for boring old polos anymore! Plus, if you’re feeling creative (or just want an excuse to try out some new hairstyles), there are now even more skin tones available for customization.
Verdict
iOS 16 is a solid update to the iOS ecosystem. It brings support for new devices like the Apple TV 4K and iPhone X, along with features that we’ve seen coming all year like switch controllers and more immersive notifications. iOS 16 also brings some welcome improvements to iMessage, making it easier than ever before to send GIFs or stickers through Messages while also providing better privacy settings when using FaceTime calls on an iPhone or iPad. While there are still some bugs in this release – like picture-in-picture being unreliable on iPads – overall iOS 16 is a great improvement over last year’s version of iOS! This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional. © 2022 Maina Wilson
