iOS 15: release date and new in the Apple operating system

2020 and 2021 turned out to be a difficult year not only for the townsfolk, but also for equipment manufacturers. Remote work, restrictions on mass events and business meetings have greatly affected the consumer high-tech market. Despite this, Apple has worked hard to show the world the new products, including iOS 15 for iPhone and iPad.

For the first time, the new system was officially shown at the WorldWide Developers Conference (WWDC), which was held online on June 7, 2021. Then users were told about key system updates and warned about the imminent start of closed testing.

IOS 15 release date

In 2021, the official update to the current version of the iPhone and iPad operating system took place in the fall. The firmware began to automatically download to users’ devices on September 20 – this day can be called the full release date of iOS 15. It is curious that a week earlier, Apple unexpectedly released the iOS 14.8 update. The company explained what they did for the safety of users.

Which devices will iOS 15 run on?

Apple is trying to keep support for fairly old smartphone models in the new OS to the last. The new iOS operating system will work with the iPhone SE and iPhone 6S, which came out already 6 years ago.

List of smartphones supporting iOS 15

• iPhone SE (2017)
• iPhone 6S
• 6S iPhone Plus
• iPhone 7
• 7 iPhone Plus
• iPhone 8
• 8 iPhone Plus
• iPhone X
• iPhone XS
• iPhone XS Max
• iPhone XR
• iPhone 11
• iPhone 11 Pro
• iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone SE (2020)
• iPhone 12mini
• iPhone 12
• iPhone 12 Pro
• iPhone 12 Pro Max
  

Also, the new operating system will predictably work with all models of the upcoming iPhone 13.

What’s new in iOS 15

As with the previous version of the operating system, Apple is not preparing global changes in iOS 15. The system has been brought up to modern requirements and made more convenient for everyday use.

Changing default programs

Developers from Google have long given their users to choose any application as an alternative to built-in dialers, email clients and calendars. Such functions reached the Cupertino conservatives only with the release of the previous version of iOS – they were allowed to use only browsers, email clients and music players from third-party developers. In iOS 15, calendars and instant messengers have been added to the list of third-party programs to replace Apple’s native ones. A trifle, but nice.

Updated Facetime with presentations

With the advent of covid, the requirements for collaboration software will never be the same again. For example, in the super popular Zoom or Microsoft Teams, you can easily enable screen sharing for all interlocutors. The current Facetime, with its meager functionality, looked frankly backward against the background of these applications. In iOS 15, from the useless built-in Facetime, they created an application that works with all operating systems.

Yes, now both Android and Windows users will be able to launch Facetime – the application works there through the web version. Online meetings themselves can now be scheduled and shared with participants in advance. Externally, and in terms of functionality, Facetime is now also more like Zoom. While the application is running, the avatars of all conference participants are shown in small frames, where the conference creator can display them on the main screen or, conversely, turn off their microphone.

To improve sound quality, Apple began using machine learning algorithms. The Facetime user will be able to choose whether his interlocutors will hear only his voice, or the microphone will “cling” extraneous noise in the background.

With the Share Play feature in iOS, you can share content via Facetime. It is allowed to watch pictures and videos together, as well as listen to music. Another interesting feature of Share Play is the ability to show the screen of the device to the interlocutors. Surely it will come in handy when setting up complex functions.

In general, the concept of the development of the new Facetime is quite logical. Apple has always been hostile to the departure of users to third-party services and will try to make “native” applications as convenient and simple as possible for everyday work. Perhaps in the next versions the program will receive updates that will make it completely unique.

Judging by the information announced at the conference, the official release of the new Apple operating system is scheduled for at least September 2021.

Messages

In iOS 15, developers from Apple began to compete with giants like Whatsapp or Telegram at the expense of Messages. In iOS 15, the app received updates that made it more convenient.

For example, photos and videos sent by the user in iOS are collected in a separate collage. You can save them directly from there to your iPhone. All photos and videos received by the owner of the smartphone are sent to a separate folder “Sent to you”. Of course, there was an update for Memoji – new hairstyles and accessories were added to virtual avatars.

Focusing

This iOS 15 feature reimagines the familiar Do Not Disturb mode. Users will be allowed to choose apps from which they will receive notifications according to their activities. For example, during working hours you will not be disturbed by group calls in Whatsapp, but sound notifications from new mail or a message in Telegram will remain. Lists of applications and notifications from them are customizable. Also, other users of Apple devices will see your status in iMessage – such a hello to the ICQ service from developers from 2021.

Notifications

In iOS 15, the notification system has also changed slightly. Contact images have appeared on the lock screen in order to make it easier to determine who the message came from. For the same purpose, application icons on the lock screen have been enlarged.

The system began to group notifications according to their importance. Useless messages from games will be sent to the very bottom of the list, but the weather forecast or important city news will be a priority for iOS 15 – they will be shown first.

The notification summary in iOS 15 can be set to a specific time to prevent messages from distracting the user too often.

Online text

The American company introduced a new feature in iOS 15, which is designed to digitize text from photos or images downloaded from the network. Already, Online Text works even with handwritten script written in Latin or Chinese characters. It is not yet known when Online Text will fully work with the alphabet.

Perhaps the most useful new system will be when working with foreign text. It will allow you to translate unfamiliar phrases that have fallen into the lens of an iPhone or iPad camera directly on the fly. Also, online text is useful for students who often photograph handwritten lectures and notes.

The machine learning-based text recognition system also works inside iOS 15 itself. For example, algorithms will recognize a photographed pie recipe and show it when a user types in the search query “Recipe” in a Spotlight search.

Health

The system for monitoring and storing data about the well-being of the Apple user has received useful updates. With iOS 15, you can share collected smart device metrics with your loved ones. So, at any time you can track the heart rate of an elderly relative. Apple assures that the transmitted data is reliably protected from theft.

Also, the application will create daily collections about user activity. Notifications inform you about changes in sleep time or physical activity.

Maps

Apple experts have digitized maps of large cities in detail (there are no maps, alas, at the moment) and created their exact 3D copies. iOS 15 will make it much more convenient for users to move around the area, especially for drivers who need not to miss the exit from the freeway.

As with Android, Apple’s smartphones will be able to guide a lost user through notifications right in the phone’s camera.

Safari

The Safari browser built into the system has also received cosmetic updates. In iOS 15, the search and site address bar has moved to the bottom of the app. The browser began to understand gestures – you can switch between tabs with swipes, and moving your finger up shows all open pages. The tabs themselves can be divided into different categories – work, entertainment, home.

Those who do not like the new browser design can return the site address input panel to its original place in the settings. Gesture control will not work.

Crab

Apple’s voice assistant has become more independent. In iOS 15, all its calculations take place directly on the smartphone, so the data about the questions and the voice of the speaker does not go to the Internet. The update is small, but will please users who care about data privacy.

AirPods

Apple branded headphones have received some interesting updates. So, they will be able to work in hearing aid mode. The microphone picks up the sounds around and amplifies them in the speaker.

Also, users will receive notifications if the Airpods case is too far from the smartphone. The headphones themselves can make sounds to make them easier to find.

Widgets on the lock screen

The increase in application icons to the size of full-fledged widgets was considered one of the most interesting features of iOS 14. In the next version of the operating system, this feature was given a logical continuation – now it will be possible to use widgets on the screen of a locked phone. Owners of modern iPhones will not need to fully unlock the device in order to view the calendar or find out how many steps they took in a day.

How to install iOS 15

For ordinary users, all the latest iOS updates arrive “by air” – after September 20, the smartphone itself will notify the owner that the new OS is ready to be installed.

It is likely that the device may cancel the update due to lack of space in the iPhone’s memory. Make sure that your phone has at least 2-3 gigabytes of free space. After that, try to enable the update manually: in the main phone settings, select the “Software update” item.

You can also update your iPhone through the iTunes app. There you should also select the “iPhone software update” item.

iPadOS 15, MacOS 12, watchOS 8, tvOS 15

In addition to the updated operating system for smartphones, Apple also introduced fresh platforms for all their other devices – iPad, computers, Apple Watch and Apple TV.

iPadOS 15

The system has recently “grown” from iOS – as a separate development, it began to be presented only in 2019. In version 15, it represents a symbiosis of iOS and the “big” macOS system. In Cupertino, they are clearly hinting at using the tablet in “laptop mode” with an external keyboard connected.

In September 2021, Apple introduced the next generation of iPad and iPad mini – and these devices went on sale with iPadOS 15 already preinstalled.

As with “standard” iOS 15, iPad users are getting the major innovations of the latest operating system.

Multitasking

When entering the multi-application function, the user will be able to choose what he wants to open in multitasking mode. Slide Over and Split View modes are supported. Some applications in iPadOS 15 can even be opened in the middle of the tablet screen. For the convenience of switching between programs, Apple has updated the application bar at the bottom of the screen. There, for example, you can now create separate sets of applications that will run in multitasking mode.

Widgets

In iPadOS 15, widgets can be placed directly on the desktop next to app icons. Some, like notes or the weather forecast, are larger than they were in iPadOS 14.

Apple singled out the Game Center widget separately – now notifications will appear there about what your friends are playing right now.

MacOS 12

The new system for Apple computers is named after the California city of Monterey. MacOS updates include new Wallet, Weather, Notification Center apps, and a completely reimagined Facetime. The system received the Universal Control function – mice and keyboards became universal for all Apple devices. The developers also claim that the operation of security and energy saving systems has been improved.

Watch 8

Apple’s smartwatch has received an update along with the iPhone and iPad. The latest version of watchOS 8 is compatible with Apple Watch Series 3, Series 4, Series 5, Series 6, Series 7 and Apple Watch SE models.

Photo on the dial

In the new version of the operating system, users were allowed to install photos on the watch face. The watch also selects memorable pictures for the owner and periodically shows them.

“Breath”

Meditation lovers will appreciate the new “mindfulness mode” that has appeared in the “Breath” function. The clock will offer you to take a short break for emotional relief. At this point, the user is prompted to completely relax and do breathing exercises, and the Apple Watch will monitor the heart rate.

Training

Smart watches from Apple in the mode of sports activity will monitor the position of the user in space. In case of a sharp fall, a notification will appear on the device screen, which will offer to call for medical help.

TvOS 15

Apple’s “television” system will continue its gradual development. The OS plans to add the Fitness application and train the local Siri in new commands. There are also rumors that Apple will develop a special “child” skin for tvOS 15 in order to protect minors from adult content. tvOS 15 users will be able to share content with their friends via the Share Play feature.

Video from the presentation

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