Apple‘s upcoming major software updates for the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple TV are almost here. During yesterday’s ‘Time Flies’ event, the tech giant announced that its iOS 14, iPadOS 14, as well as the latest watchOS and tvOS updates are set to launch today, Wednesday, September 16th.
By the time the event started, app developers hadn’t received the completed golden master (GM) builds of the new updates, so Apple’s release schedule seems pretty rushed. However, the new OS comes with lots of amazing features.
iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 Features
iOS 14 sports widgets to the iPhone Home screen for the first time, collects all the apps into a new App Library and adds picture-in-picture mode, which has already been implemented on iPads. There’s also a new Translation app that makes everything easier.
In the meantime, iPadOS 14 won’t have the widget option on the Home screen, but it does add to what you can do with the Apple Pencil. The new Scribble function of iPadOS 14 allows you to ‘write by hand in any text field across iPadOS, and your words automatically convert to text.’ In addition, more of Apple’s native applications are including sidebars and expanded menus to benefit from the iPad’s larger screen.
Both updates come with enhancements to Messages, with features such as pinned conversations, mentions, and inline replies, as well as cycling directions in Maps, compressed notifications for incoming calls, privacy improvements, a revamped Music app, and much more.
WatchOS 7 Features
The operating system for watchOS had gone through eight developer beta cycles and five public beta versions before it launched. Now, the watchOS 7 update builds upon the basic tracking offered bedtime, with a sleep tracking system that provides more data about how the user sleeps.
Moreover, it includes new methods of working out, such as dancing, core training, functional strength training, and cooldowns. The new Chronograph Pro watch interface also adds tachymeter, which is used to calculate speed based on the time to travel a determined distance, and much more.
