WWDC 2020: With iOS 14, Apple doubles down on customisations, privacy

Apple at its first-ever virtual developer conference ‘WWDC 2020’ introduced iOS 14, the new iteration of its mobile operating system for iPhone users. The latest update brings a wide range of new features with a special emphasis on improving the user experience and privacy.

The developer preview of iOS 14 is available to Apple Developer Program members from today. A public beta will be rolled out to iOS users next month

One of the biggest highlights of the iOS 14 is the new Home Screen pages which now feature improved widgets and a new App Library that automatically sorts apps for users. The Home Screen pages show widgets with more contextual information from an application.

Safari

Apple is making browsing more secure with the latest iOS 14 update. The browser now comes with a Privacy Report which helps users keep a track on cross-site trackers. There is also a focus on better password security management. The browser will also alert you about saved passwords that may have been part of data breaches.

Privacy

Apple is making it mandatory for apps to seek explicit permission from users before tracking them. App Stores will also show more privacy information for end-users. Apple is giving users option to upgrade their existing accounts “Sign in with Apple” for more privacy.

App Clips

Apple has launched a new platform called “App Clip” for easier access to applications. Users can try out these apps by scanning Apple’s App Clip code or using NFC tags. Users can also scan QR codes to try these applications.

Messages

Apple has also improved Messages. The company now allows users to pin a conversation to the top. For group users, Apple allows users to set “mention” for notifications. There are new memoji options as well.

Translate

Apple’s new iOS update brings real-time language translation for voice and text. For now, the platform supports 11 different languages.

Siri

Siri has also received a new redesign. The digital assistant can now send audio messages to your contacts as well. You can now use Siri for dictation on messages, notes and other key native apps.

Digital CarKey

Apple now lets you unlock car through your iPhone. Called Digital Car Keys, the technology uses Ultra-Wideband technology using U1 chip. Users can share these digital car keys through Messages. Apple also gives you the option to completely disable it through iCloud.