“iOS 13 brings new capabilities to the apps you use every day, with rich updates to Photos and Maps, and privacy-protecting features like Sign in with Apple, all the while delivering faster performance.”

Craig Federighi, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Software Engineering

Apple released the 13th major iteration of Apple’s mobile operating system in September to millions of customers worldwide. The brand-new OS delights users with many attractive features and updates. iOS 13 would be available for Apple iPhone X/XS/XS Max/XR, iPhone 5S, 6/6 Plus, 6s/6s Plus, 7/7 Plus, 8/8 Plus, and iPod Touch (7th generation). The new features and upgrade (over iOS 12) can have many positive impacts on apps and businesses.

At AgreeYa we offer end-to-end mobility solutions for businesses across a diverse range of industries. We have been enabling businesses to utilize the latest technologies for better business outcomes. In regards to this, we want to share some of the notable benefits, features, and updates that have gone into iOS 13. Here is a list of the things you wanted to know about the recently released iOS 13.

Key Features of iOS 13

1: Performance

Through the launch of iOS 13, Apple wants to deliver better performance to its users. Some of the performance enhancements in this version include:

• Face ID unlocking is 30% faster.
• A new app packaging feature to make sure app downloads are 50% smaller and updates are 60% smaller, meaning that downloads and updates will be much faster.
• App launch speed is now up to 2x faster than iOS 12 apps.

2: Dark Mode

This is one of the biggest changes to iOS UI. A system-wide dark mode is available for iPhone and iPad users, especially when using their device in low-light environments. The dark mode allows OLED devices to consume less power than when brighter elements are displayed, and it’s easier on the eyes too. Dark Mode is available to third-party app developers for integration into their own apps and can be scheduled to turn on automatically at sunset or at a certain time.

3: Reminders

The Reminders app has been completely rewritten and includes the ability for text detection (enabling detection of reminders, locations, and times) and automatically configures the reminder with the appropriate information. Besides, there’s the ability to tag people in a reminder and create outline style reminders for a more powerful task list.

4: Private Sign in With Apple

Apple is introducing a new, more private way to simply and quickly sign in to apps and websites. Instead of using a social account or filling out forms, verifying email addresses or choosing passwords, customers can simply use their Apple ID to authenticate, and Apple will protect users’ privacy by providing developers with a unique random ID. “Sign in with Apple” makes it easy for users to authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID and has two-factor authentication built-in for an added layer of security.

5: Maps

Apple has continued to invest in the development of their Maps Team, and the results are apparent in iOS 13. The new version includes highly detailed maps including outlines for buildings, parks, roads, and more. For now, these new maps are available for select cities and states only but will be rolled out shortly across the U.S. Additionally, iOS 13 brings new features to the Maps app, including Collections – enabling users to easily share favorite restaurants, travel destinations or places to shop with friends, and Favorites for navigating to frequent destinations, such as home, work, the gym or school, with a simple tap from the launch screen.

6: Privacy

Apple has continued on its stance of building an ultimate privacy-focused mobile OS. With the launch of iOS 13, Apple has focusing on aspects such as Location, Login, HomeKit, and Messages. The upgrades on these privacy aspects include:

• Location: When giving location access to your iOS apps, you have the option to allow the location just once per launch. Besides, a background tracking mechanism will alert you when any app continues using your location in the background without your knowledge.
• Login: Many apps now support single sign-on through Gmail or Facebook, giving those apps access to certain information that you may not want to share (including postal address, email address, name, and more). Apple has created its own single sign-on API which allows apps to include a Sign in with the Apple button. When you tap the button, you’ll authenticate with Face ID, and a new account will be created just for that app without revealing any information to the app. If an app requires information such as name or email address, then you can control what you share with it. When you share your email, a randomly generated email address will be created for use in the app that forwards to your iCloud account, and this address can be disabled or deleted at any time.
• HomeKit: HomeKit’s new features are designed to protect privacy and security inside of your home. Apple has added support for cameras this year through a feature called HomeKit Secure Video. This allows your compatible HomeKit security cameras to send video to your iPad or Mac inside your home for analysis and encryption. The encrypted video is uploaded to your iCloud account for secure storage — 10 days of storage will be included for free.
• Messages: iOS 13 allows the creation of iMessage profiles, complete with a Photo, Memoji, or Animoji profile picture. Whenever you message someone, this photo and your name will be shared so you’ll never be worried about – “Who’s texting me?”.

7: Camera and Photos

iOS has added many new features to its camera and photos, some of the important ones include:

• Photo & Video Editing : iOS 13 comes with new tools for editing the vibrancy, white balance, sharpening, definition, vignette, and noise reduction. You can also adjust the same features in the video apart from rotating video, applying filters, and other effects.
• New Photo Browser: There are so many photos on our devices that you don’t need. Apple has introduced machine learning to remove duplicates and de-clutter your photos. Utilizing Machine Learning, the OS also creates a new diary view of your life, using Live Photos to add life to your photo library and auto-play when scrolling through photos.

8: Siri

New Siri shortcuts are one of the most appealing upgrades in iOS 13. The Siri upgrade allows users to personalize their calls that cannot be attended. The OS will also send an instant message to convey why the call could not be taken. If you have Car Play integrated in your automobile, then you will find various messaging options as well as locational details. Other Siri features include:

• AirPods : When wearing AirPods, Siri can read your messages to you as soon as they arrive by announcing the message and letting you reply to them immediately through voice. Audio sharing is also available, letting two users tap their devices together to share audio from one device to multiple sets of AirPods.
• HomePod: HomePod now includes hand-off support to allow seamless transitioning of music, podcasts, or phone calls by syncing your iPhone to your HomePod. Siri can also play live audio from TuneIn, Radio.com, and more. Besides, HomeKit can now recognize who is talking and personalize the responses likewise.
• CarPlay: CarPlay is now available on more than 90% of cars sold across the US. This year, Apple is updating CarPlay with the biggest set of changes, including a new Dashboard that lets you see multiple views at once, including a map, calendar, music, and more. Besides, Siri also works with third-party apps on CarPlay through SiriKit.

Other updates available on iOS 13

• Single sign-on for enterprise accounts
• Multiple iCloud account support for work and personal accounts
• New Quick Path keyboard which allows you to swipe to type on the iOS keyboard
• Redesigned UI in the Photos app
• New share sheet containing sharing suggestions for commonly messaged people and shared-to apps
• The Music app displays time-synced lyrics while playing music
• Safari can change the text size
• Mail gets desktop-style text formatting and support for rich fonts
• A new fonts app lets you install and manage system-wide fonts available
• Notes have shared folders and more organization options
• Memoji includes additional accessories, skin tones, and makeup options to make the custom Emojis appear life-like
• Memoji sticker sets are created for each of your Memoji that can be used in messages, mail, and other third-party apps via the Emoji keyboard
• Ability to send unknown callers to voicemail
• Low data mode

At AgreeYa, we’re already making sure that our apps get all the major iOS 13 updates from day one. Which of these iOS 13 features would you like to implement in your apps?