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iOS 14 Features, All New or Disappointing?
Apple’s iOS 14 was released in September 2020 and offers many new features. However, are any of them actually useful to the general phone user? IOS 14 Features have been lauded as exciting updates, but are they anything more than window dressing?
What devices are compatible?
iOS updates have been growing in size and complexity over the years, and compatibility is becoming more challenging for older devices. The latest revision of iOS is available to anyone already running iOS 13. If your phone is the iPhone 6S or newer, then you can update to iOS 14. So any of the following devices will be able to grab the latest version:
• iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus, and iPhone SE (1st gen)
• iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
• iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X
• iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR
• iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone SE (2nd gen)
How to Download iOS 14
Most phones will automatically update the Operating System. Most of the time, you can wait overnight, and as-if-by-magic, your phone will be up-to-date with the new OS. However, sometimes the automatic process does not work, and at that point, you will need to update your phone manually. This update can be done either via the phone settings itself or via iTunes on your computer.
Updating To iOS 14 Via The Phone
1. Backup your phone using iCloud or iTunes on your computer.
2. Plug your phone into a charger.
3. Choose > Settings
4. Choose > General
5. Choose > Software Update
6. Choose > Download and Install
7. [to update now] Choose > Install
8. [to update overnight] Choose > Install Tonight or Remind Me Later
Updating to iOS 14 Via iTunes
1. Plug your phone into your computer using a USB Cable.
2. Open the iTunes application (it may open automatically).
3. Select the phone icon from the top of the iTunes screen
4. Choose > Check for Update
5. iTunes will offer to create a backup of your data and then allow you to Download and Install the update.
Updating to iOS 14 on Mac
1. On a Mac with macOS Catalina 10.15 or newer, open Finder.
2. On a Mac with macOS 10.14 or earlier, follow the instructions for iTunes above.
3. Plug your phone into your Mac using a USB cable.
4. Select your phone under Locations in Finder.
5. Choose > General or Settings, then choose Check for Update.
6. Choose > Download and Update.
7. If asked, enter your passcode.
iOS 14 Features – an Overview
Home Screen Widgets
iOS 14 adds Widgets to the home screen of your phone. These are handy little apps that are data-rich and let you customize your home screen with information such as the clock, weather, stocks, and maps. Widgets can be resized and repositioned to your taste. Once applied, App icons move out of the way automatically to make room.
App Library
App Library is a new view that allows you to organize all of your apps. Apps are automatically organized in the App Library, so you don’t have to keep all of the icons on your home screen. There is also a new list view that lets you sort applications based on usage and more.
Picture-in-Picture
Your iPhone can now show Picture-in-Picture, so you can carry on watching a video while you are checking your Twitter feed, or chat with a friend while watching a movie.
Siri
Siri has become more integrated to the whole operating system and appears as small notifications at the top of your phone, rather than taking up the whole screen. This means that Siri is now less intrusive and more akin to other core parts of the OS. As a result, Siri can also understand more and do more, including more accurate translations.
Messages
Messages on iOS 14 have now been upgraded in several ways. Firstly, you can now pin conversations to the top of your app, so those most important to you can always be at the top of your list. Secondly, there are now more styles for your Memoji to allow you to customize your character further. Lastly, Messaging Groups also get an upgrade with inline replies and the ability to @mention a person like other systems.
Maps
Apple Maps now features routes for cyclists (at least in a handful of major cities), giving routes with cycle lanes, quieter roads, and even avoiding steep inclines. If you have an electric vehicle, Maps also shows you charging stations along your route. Finally, playing catch-up with other Map apps, it now warns you about traffic cameras while driving.
Apple Car Play
With a compatible car, such as the 2021 BMW 5 Series, you are now able to unlock and start your car through your phone. As a result, car keys are one less thing to remember on the way out of the house!
App Clips
App Clips is a new feature that allows you to easily access applications quickly without having to download the full version from the Apple App Store. So, you can try new apps easily on the go without committing to the complete download.
Privacy
Apple has always promoted their focus on Privacy and protecting customer data. For iOS 14, they have improved this even further by requiring all apps to obtain permission before tracking you, for instance. You will also be able to share your approximate location, rather than your exact location for certain apps, and find out more about an app’s use of your camera and microphone. Lastly, the Safari web browser also improves by allowing you to see any ad trackers that are active when you browse the web.
Accessibility
Finally, hearing-impaired users will see a useful feature where you can set up the iPhone to listen out for specific sounds such as a fire alarm or warning siren. So, if the phone hears the noise, it will notify the user.
Fortress is fully compatible with IOS14 and available to download from the Appstore.
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