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Apple offers first look at iOS 14 at WWDC

Apple unpacked a number of new features in iOS 14 at the WWDC event on Monday, including a completely redesigned Widgets system, an App Library and a picture-in-picture mode.

Apple used the online-only conference to give users a first look at what they can expect to interact with when the new mobile operating system launches later this year.

The preview of iOS 14 showed big changes for Apple, especially on the design front, which is arguably the biggest departure for the company since iOS 7.

The new-look home screen centres on Widgets, which have made the move from the Today View and can now be customised and added alongside general app icons.

Apple will also introduce a ‘Smart Stack’ widget that serves up personalised apps to users depending on the time of the day.

This means that a calendar widget, for example, could be shown in the morning at the top of the screen before changing to news and health-related data later in the day.

The new App Library also automatically organises apps into relevant groups such as ‘social’, ‘entertainment’ and ‘creativity’.

This builds on the standard folder system that allows users to group together their apps as they see fit.

Another welcome addition is the picture-in-picture mode that enables users to watch a video while browsing websites or navigating the home screen.

Perhaps the most requested feature that has made the cut this time is a less obtrusive system for incoming calls.

Currently, these calls take up the entire screen, which can be frustrating for users completing important tasks.

iOS 14 will finally present calls via a compact banner at the top of the screen.

Apple has done the same for Siri, its smart assistant that used to hog iPhone screens – it will now use a subtle design in the lower part of the screen.

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About the author

Chris

I've been a passionate evangelist for Apple and the Macintosh throughout my working life, my first love was a Quadra 605 working with a small creative agency in the south of Norfolk UK in the mid 1990's, I later progressed to other roles in other Macintosh dominated industries, first as a Senior graphic designer at a small printing company and then a production manager at Guardian Media Group. As the publishing and printing sector wained I moved into Internet Marketing and in 2006 co-founded blurtit.com which grew to become one the top 200 visited sites in the US (according to Quantcast), at its peak receiving over 15 million visits per month. For the last ten years I have worked as an Affiliate and Consultant to many different business and start ups, my key skill set being online marketing, on page monetisation, landing page optimisation and traffic generation, if you would like to hire me or discuss your current project please reach out to me here.

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