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Everything you need to know about iOS 10 (Psssst, Apple opens Siri to developers)

Apple previewed iOS 10 at the 2016 edition of the company’s worldwide developer conference (WWDC16) in San Francisco, California, on Monday. What is new? What’s changing? Here are the answers you are looking for:

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Siri is open for development

In iOS 10, Siri can be extended into major new areas, and for the first time, developers can build on the intelligence Siri offers. This also lets users interact directly with apps using just their voice.

Apple is launching SiriKit to helps developers design their apps to work with Siri for messaging, phone calls, photo search, ride booking, personal payments and workouts, or use Siri to control CarPlay apps, access climate controls or adjust radio settings within automakers’ apps.

Messages gets revamped

Messages, the most frequently used iOS app, now includes animations, such as balloons, confetti or fireworks that can take over an entire screen, an invisible ink feature that shows the content of a message only after a friend swipes over it, and handwritten notes.

Other additions include automatic suggestions, the Tapback functionality that lets users respond with a tap, and rich links let users see content inline and play media without leaving the conversation.

Apple is also opening up Messages to developers, creating new ways for users to communicate in a message thread. Some of the things that can be done include adding stickers to be peeled and pasted into conversations, the ability to personalize GIFs or edit photos, and send payments or schedule dinner or a movie.

Maps are redesigned

Maps in iOS 10 gets a redesign, that Apple says makes it simpler and more intuitive to use. Now open to developers with new extensions, apps like OpenTable can integrate bookings right into Maps, and services like Uber and Lyft lets users book a ride, without leaving the Maps app.

Maps also gets smarter with intelligence capabilities that proactively delivers directions to where users may be most likely wanting to go next; based on their routine or appointments on the calendar.

Once a route is planned, Maps can search along the route for gas stations, restaurants, coffee shops, and provides an estimate of how the stop impacts the length of a trip.

Photos gets Memories

A new Memories feature in Photos automatically creates curated collections of occasions like a first birthday party, wedding or family vacation, from your iPhone pictures. Apple is using Computer Vision for on-device facial, object and scene recognition, combining it with location information to group images into albums. (Yes, Google Photos did it first.)
This functionality is coming to macOS as well.

Home App for Home automation

IOS 10 comes with a Home app deeply integrated into iOS. The app lets users set up, manage, and control their smart home from one place. For example, accessories can be managed individually or grouped into scenes, so they work together with a single command and can be controlled by using Siri. They can be managed remotely or set up for home automation with Apple TV, and can respond with automatic triggers set by time of day, location or action, as well.

Support for HomeKit continues to expand globally, says Apple, with nearly 100 home automation products adopting HomeKit this year; bringing support for thermostats, lights, window shades, door locks, and video cameras.

Later this year, home builders, including Brookfield Residential, KB Home, Lennar Homes and R&F Properties, will begin integrating many of these HomeKit devices into new homes.

New design for Apple Music and News

Apple Music has a new design. The Library, For You, Browse and Radio tabs have been redesigned, and a Search tab has been added.

IOS 10 features a redesigned News app, organized into distinct sections, support for breaking news notifications and paid subscriptions.

Here are some other new iOS 10 features:

  • Siri intelligence brings new QuickType features, including contextual predictions to surface relevant information based on location, calendar availability or contacts.
  • Predictive typing supports multiple languages without switching keyboards.
  • Phone adds integration for third-party VoIP calls, voicemail transcription and a new caller ID extension for spam alerts.
  • Built-in app updates include Safari split-view for iPad, Notes collaboration and Live Photos editing.
  • Apple Pay can now be used to make purchases on participating websites using Safari, in addition to paying in-stores and within apps.
  • Bedtime Alarm in the Clock app lets users set a regular sleep schedule and receive bedtime reminders.
  • The Raise to Wake functionality automatically wakes the screen as users raise their iPhones, making it easier to view notifications, right from the Lock screen.
  • Notifications, Today view and Control Center are accessible with just a swipe or a press.  and deeper 3D Touch integration with iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus makes interacting with apps easier.

Privacy in iOS 10

IOS 10 uses on-device intelligence to identify people, objects and scenes in Photos, and power QuickType suggestions. Services like Siri, Maps and News send data to Apple’s servers, but this data is not used to build user profiles says Apple.

Starting with iOS 10, Apple is using technology called Differential Privacy to help discover the usage patterns of a large number of users without compromising individual privacy. What this means, is that Apple will be trying to maximize the accuracy of queries from its statistical databases, while minimizing the chances of identifying individual records.

In iOS 10, this technology will help improve QuickType and emoji suggestions, Spotlight deep link suggestions, and Lookup Hints in Notes, says Apple.

Availability

The developer preview of iOS 10 is available to iOS Developer Program members at developer.apple.com starting today, and a public beta program will be available to iOS users in July at beta.apple.com.

iOS 10 will be available this fall as a free software update for iPhone 5 and later, all iPad Air and iPad Pro models, iPad 4th generation, iPad mini 2 and later, and iPod touch 6th generation.

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