Apple and Google announced interface changes and new features for smartphone software. Check the details and when updates will reach devices.
Every year Apple and Google demonstrate new versions of their mobile operating systems, the iOS and Android, respectively. The iPhone maker announced its news last Tuesday (7) at its global developer conference (WWDC). Google, meanwhile, made its presentation on May 18, during Google I/O. Check out all the news on iOS 15 and Android 12:
iOS 15
The new version of the iPhone system is already available in the developer test version, but Apple said that the stable version will only be released in the autumn of the Northern Hemisphere, that is, between September and December (see the end of the report which phones will be compatible).
New notifications
iOS 15 notifications have been redesigned: they will now display photos of the sender and larger app icons. The system will also have a collection of notifications that it considers to be of low urgency. It is delivered once in the morning or at night – messaging services will continue to alert you in real time.
Focus
Focus mode is Apple’s attempt to reduce distractions according to the time of day. It will work as a kind of “use profile”: it will be possible to configure the working mode and the personal mode, for example.
When switching between profiles, the phone will block notifications from certain apps and prioritize others.
The home screen can also be custom-configured, with applications working on the front page during office hours, for example.
iOS will automatically suggest Focus mode based on personal, work and sleep times. The selected usage profile can be synced across all Apple devices.
Facetime
FaceTime, Apple’s video calling service, will become more open: Windows or Android users will be able to join calls. Until now, the tool was restricted to those who owned the company’s products.
Users of iPhone or other Apple devices will be able to send the call link to other participants, as already happens with tools like Google Meet and Zoom. FaceTime will also have options to improve audio quality and to blur the background of the image.
Apple’s call service also gained SharePlay, which will allow you to watch series and videos simultaneously with friends who also have an iPhone (or iPad or Mac). Anyone watching can pause, fast forward, or rewind and the other participant will be synced.
live text
iOS 15 gained artificial intelligence features that resemble that of Google Lens, a competitor’s app. When accessing the photos on the camera roll, you can tap and hold on an object to get information such as the breed of a dog or the location of an establishment. This feature will also allow you to copy handwritten text from the photo.
Other news
- The Safari browser will release a new look;
- The Notes app will allow you to create hashtags for categories and tag other users;
- The Photos app has a new interface and integration with Apple Music to automatically create videos with collages;
- The email application will gain privacy protection to hide your IP address and location, as well as blocking services that notify you if the user has opened a message;
- The Apple Maps app will have a redesigned interface with a new night mode; App Privacy Report, which will show how each app accessed information, data and sensors such as camera and microphone; Siri, the system’s voice assistant, will process all the information locally, which Apple says will make it more agile;
- iCloud has gained an “inheritance” feature, in which it will be possible to define a contact who may request access to your data.
Android 12
Android 12 has already released its trial version, but for now, it is only available for some phones. Google expects the system to reach its stable version in the third quarter of 2021.
However, most users will take longer to receive the update. That’s because it’s up to each manufacturer to define when their smartphones will receive the new generation of the operating system (see at the end of the report which phones already support Android 12).
New look
Android 12 gained a new visual language, considered by Google as the biggest change since the creation of the system. The pattern, dubbed “Material You”, is more colorful and customizable, according to the company.
Among the new features is the automatic change in button colors to make them more like the wallpaper on the home screen. The platform identifies the predominant colors of the image and then uses similar tones on its screens.
The change may be seen in areas such as notifications screen, lock screen, volume controls and widgets.
New notifications screen
Google said that the Android 12 notifications area has been modified to help users complete their tasks faster.
The screen will make it easier to access settings such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. When one of them is selected, the system will open a quick window to make the adjustments, without having to open the settings. In addition, quick access buttons can be customized.
Privacy Features
The system gained a list to indicate which apps have access to permissions such as microphone, camera and location.
The Privacy Panel, as it is called, will tell you what each service can access and how often they use that information. Also, the section will allow you to remove permissions to apps.
The platform will also display an icon at the top right of the screen, which will appear when the camera or microphone is in use. The goal is to ensure that you know when components are active to prevent recordings without your knowledge.
Those who prefer can disable system-wide components and release them when they need to be used by applications. In this case, apps must ask for permission every time they need to use a microphone or camera.
Other news:
Google Assistant can be activated by pressing and holding the power button;
On supported sites, Google Assistant can perform the entire process of changing passwords for users in Chrome;
Google Lens will allow you to search for products that appear in screenshots;
Google Maps will show traffic information in neighborhoods, not just specific establishments;
The smartphone can be used to unlock cars with Android Auto.
Cell phones that will receive iOS 15 and Android 12
According to Apple, iOS 15 will be released for the following devices:
iPhone 6s and 6s Plus;
iPhone SE and SE 2nd generation;
iPhone 7 and 7 Plus;
iPhone 8 and 8 Plus;
iPhone X;
iPhone XR
iPhone XS and XS Max;
iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max;
iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max.
The availability of Android 12 will be defined by each manufacturer. But, Google said that the test version of the system is already available on these phones:
Asus Zenfone 8;
Google Pixel 3, 3 XL, 3rd, 3rd XL, 4th, 4th XL, 4th, 4th (5G) and 5;
OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro;
Oppo Find X3 Pro;
Realme GT;
Aquos Sense 5G;
Tecno Camon 17;
TCL 20 Pro 5G;
Live iQOO7 Legend;
Xiaomi Mi 11, Mi 11 Ultra, Mi 11i and Mi 11x Pro;
ZTE Axon 30 Ultra 5G.