Apple is today releasing both its iOS 16.1 and iPadOS 16, adding new features including fitness functions and shared photo libraries plus one long-anticipated addition.
Apple’s iPhones and iPads are getting new features following a new software update.
Apple is today releasing iOS 16.1 to upgrade functionality for the iPhone 14 range which came out last month. A week ahead of the official launch of its new tablets, Apple has also released the iPadOS 16.
Here are the main new features that you should expect to see when you download the new update for the iPhone.
Shared Photo libraries
This new feature will allow you to create a photo library that you can share with up to five people. Families planning vacations with lots of pictures on the menu will surely enjoy this new addition.
The feature builds upon existing shared photo albums and expands the idea to allow others to add photos, edit, tag favourites, caption, and even delete photos.
You can create a new library and photos from the past so you don’t have to start from scratch. The toggle button in the camera app connects it to your library so new pictures can be sent right away if you want. You can also easily switch between your library and shared library.
Clean energy charging
For everyone who is climate-conscious and wants to reduce their carbon footprint here is a toggle that will charge your phone using available lower carbon emission electricity.
According to Apple, the clean energy charging design means that if you are connected to a power grid using cleaner energy sources, the phone’s charging time will be optimised. This feature is initially available only in the US.
Once you do the update this feature will be turned on by default and can be turned off in the settings if you don’t want to use it.
Fitness without the watch
Apple has a fitness program for workouts and meditation schedules through its Fitness+ service which people subscribe to for £9.99 per month but this was only available for people with an Apple Watch. Now, if you have an iPhone you can equally access the Fitness service.
Without the watch, though you won’t be able to get the same real-time feedback available on the wearable such as heart rate and burned calories you will still be able to enjoy stretching and meditating along with videos that you can access on your phone.
Live activities expanded
When the iOS 16 was launched last month, it had a new addition for live activities that appeared on the iPhone’s lock screen, you probably noticed this.
These widgets were added to offer updates from selected Apple apps in real-time on the lock screen instead of sending you several separate notifications.
With today’s update, non-Apple apps will also appear on the lock screen giving a wide range of widgets featuring notifications from live game updates to updates on how far your Uber ride is.
Battery Percentage indicator
For people who have been looking forward Apple to bringing back the percentage indicator, they are in luck. The battery percentage indicator has been off on iPhones since 2017 to the annoyance of some but users can find the indicator at the top of their screen once they download the update but this is only available to selected models.
Dictation
If you like using the Dictation feature to input text or edit text, the iOS 16.1 update has upgraded the feature so you can use both your voice and keyboard to input text or edit text.
Grammar commands such as comma question marks or periods can automatically be added during dictation, emoji’s can also be added using voice input.
The iPad features also include the shared photo library but expect to see customized stuff changes as well.
Here are some new features to see on the iPad 16
Stage manager
The iPad has been given an extra laptop-like experience with the improved multitasking feature. Just like when you’re using a desktop, you can now resize, overlap, and move apps around the iPad’s screen. This will enable quick navigation between tasks.
If you also bought the newer Air or Pro models, these can also be connected to an external display just like we do with laptops.
Weather app.
Unbelievable as it may sound; Apple did not have an in-built weather application for its iPads like it is with the iPhone until now.
The same weather app available on the iPhone will finally be available on the iPad following the recent upgrade.
Improved handwriting
Be prepared to see improved and neater handwritten notes. The notes app will work at making your handwriting better if you have an Apple Pencil.
The feature should be turned on and if you do, the app will turn all your written words into neat and straighter notes.
You can also use the Apple pencil or finger to insert boxes, arrows or other shapes in the drawing area. And for the first time, you can also add screenshots to quick notes.
Notes can be locked using your iCloud password.
And a raft of the iPhone’s latest additions
The updates to the iPadOS 16 are mainly founded on the iOS 16 so most of the features that are new to the iPad have been available on the latest iPhone series phones since last month.
Users have enjoyed being able to edit and delete messages that were already sent in the messaging app, they have also been using the podcast app that was redesigned plus using the Focus modes that have been improved for a better filtering experience.
The new updates mean that you can now upgrade your iPhone 14 experience and be ready to enjoy using the iPad once they come out with the updates. The new updates are compatible with iPhone 8, newer models, and other iPhones which will be able to run the iOS 16.1
