Forget iOS 13 – Here Are All the Features We Want in iOS 14!
Credit: Max Ganch
Apple announced iOS 13 earlier this year, and it's expected to be available to download this September. It brings many new features and capabilities, including a universal Dark Mode, better privacy and security, a Google-Street-View-like update to maps, a fully digital voice for Siri, new Memoji/Animoji and Memoji/Animoji Stickers, a new Reminders app, and much, much more! There's even a dedicated operating system for iPad called iPadOS.
Despite all these new features, a few things are missing, and we hope to see them next year. Continue reading to browse our iOS 14 wishlist for 2020.
New Home Screen with Better Widgets
People have been asking for a home screen redesign for years. But now, it's definitely long overdue. The grid seems dated and doesn't take full advantage of the display. Also, for those who prefer the current layout, Apple could offer multiple layout options.
And wouldn't it be great if we could toggle various features to show up as an app on the Home screen? I'm looking at you Heart Rate Monitor, Screen Time, and Keychain.
More Intelligent, Expandable Siri
I own one HomePod and five Echos. I wish I had purchased all HomePods (I also wish Apple had a HomePod mini) because Siri is awesome. But as awesome as Siri is, we're going into 2020 and she's still rather limited.
I'd like to see Apple add true contextual conversing, the ability to screen calls, and third-party Siri apps similar to Alexa skills. While Siri’s new voice in iOS 13 sounds excellent, Apple needs to focus on improving its virtual assistant as a whole.
Speaking of Siri improvements, it seems like there should be an option to type inquires rather than speaking them. Currently, you can accomplish this in the Accessibility settings, but it disables the ability to talk to Siri. Why can't we have both?
Combined Phone, FaceTime, and Contacts App
This might be a personal thing, but I just don't understand why these are separate apps. Contacts can be found within the Phone app, and you can initiate a FaceTime call as well. These extra apps take up space and removing them impacts some of the phone's features.
Cross-Platform iMessage, FaceTime, and AirDrop
I've been asking for this for a while now. I know there are some significant perks to Apple's walled-garden; but, these features make it harder to interact with people using other phones. I don't see this changing for several reasons. But it would be pretty great.
A Better TV Experience
Apple’s been hard at work when it comes to movies and TV. But, its service isn't all that different from the others. I'd like to see an option to integrate your live TV service into the TV app and view a channels guide. That being said, Apple’s focusing on TV, so we’ll give it time and see what they come up with.
A More Versatile Home App
There's a lot to love about HomeKit; but, one of the things that can make or break home automation is voice commands. Currently, you can only give one name to a device and only have accessories in one group. There are some workarounds, but if Apple gave us more flexibility for programming our home devices, it would lead to a better user experience.
A More Robust Shortcuts App with Health Automations
The Shortcuts app is fun, but many Shortcuts don't accomplish much that can't already be done with a few taps or by asking Siri. Apple should open up Shortcuts to more possibilities; including Health app integration. For example, a tooth brushing Shortcut that you can quickly run with a tap, or with Siri, to easily log the duration.
CarKit
This is something that still needs to happen. We have HomeKit that lets us control our homes, but what about our cars? A dedicated Car app would allow users to check vehicle status, start their vehicles, and more, without resulting to the many clunky interfaces offered by vehicle manufacturers.
CarPlay with Apple Pay
CarPlay has come a long way; but, it's not available in many cars wirelessly because of vehicle hardware limitations. Adding a Pay with CarPlay feature would be great for drive-thrus (such as Starbucks), so you can leave your phone connected. Just a first-world thought.
Improved Movie Purchases
This one’s simple. Offer an option to buy a rented movie after viewing, minus the rental cost. Genius!
Multiple Users in iPadOS
tvOS is finally getting multiple users, and now that iPad has its own OS, it would be a great addition to be able to have multiple users sharing an iPad, especially in a family, school, or work situation.
Always-On Information
For iPhones that offer an OLED like the XS and XS Max, it would be great to have an Always-On display option for features such as the date and time, similar to Samsung phones.
Live Multitasking Windows
When viewing the app selector, you receive a snapshot of each app. A live view would allow you to see if someone in Messages is typing or if a website has loaded without actually opening the app. It's a simple change, but it would make iOS feel more robust.
Flashlight Options.. Hey, We Can Dream, Right?
Silly final request, but additional flashlight options such as strobe and SOS are welcome! In conclusion, iOS is always getting better, and iOS 13 is the best yet. As a business, Apple has to make a ton of considerations when implementing new features, and often the things we want most don't make the cut. But, here's hoping we at least see some of these changes in the future.
What features are you looking forward to most in iOS 13? What features do you want to see in the future? Let us know in the comments or on social media. We love to hear from you. Thanks for reading!