26/12/2021
Seven useful features in iOS 15
The latest software update for the Apple iPhone, iOS 15, was released on Monday, September 20, 2021. Several new features have been added, and improvements have been made compared to iOS 14. Earlier this month, iOS 15.2, also known as the Release Candidate, was released. In this article, we’ll tell you about the most exciting new features!
First, it’s useful to know whether your (refurbished) iPhone is compatible with this new update. For iOS 15, you need an iPhone 6s or newer. This means the iPhone SE from 2016 can still be updated!
The tab bar in Safari is now at the bottom instead of at the top. This allows you to simply swipe left or right to switch between tabs! You can also swipe up to see all your open tabs immediately. You can now also create tab groups. These are synced across all your devices, so you can use them anywhere. Additionally, you can now easily add extensions to Safari! This means you can now add Adblocker and LastPass to Safari on your iPhone.
First, it’s useful to know whether your (refurbished) iPhone is compatible with this new update. For iOS 15, you need an iPhone 6s or newer. This means the iPhone SE from 2016 can still be updated!
Safari has become more user-friendly
The tab bar in Safari is now at the bottom instead of at the top. This allows you to simply swipe left or right to switch between tabs! You can also swipe up to see all your open tabs immediately. You can now also create tab groups. These are synced across all your devices, so you can use them anywhere. Additionally, you can now easily add extensions to Safari! This means you can now add Adblocker and LastPass to Safari on your iPhone.
New FaceTime features
The developers at Apple have given FaceTime a big update. Likely with the COVID-19 crisis in mind, they’ve added features that make it feel like you’re still together, even from a distance. You can now make FaceTime calls while also sharing your screen with SharePlay. This new feature allows you to watch a series, movie, or video together in sync. The video and audio are synchronized, so no one is left behind! Plus, you can keep talking as the volume is automatically adjusted when someone speaks. You can also share your entire screen while still being visible yourself. This way, you can show certain photos or teach someone something new!
Additionally, Portrait mode is now available in FaceTime, putting the focus on you while the background is blurred. Voice isolation also mutes background noise, so your voice is always heard clearly. These two features are only available on iPhones with the A12 Bionic chip or newer. This means the feature is available on the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone SE (2020), iPhone 11, iPhone 12, and iPhone 13.
Another very handy new feature is that you can now invite anyone to a FaceTime call. You simply share a unique weblink with all your friends, family, and colleagues. It’s no longer a requirement to own an Apple product! People with Android or Windows devices can now also join your FaceTime call! And, of course, the call is still secure and encrypted, just as you would expect from Apple!
Find My has received new improvements in iOS 15. For example, you now get an alert if your MacBook, AirTag, AirPods, or another device is far away from your iPhone. This new alert is called ‘Notify When Left Behind.’ This makes it much less likely that you’ll accidentally leave your belongings behind. You can now also locate devices that are turned off or erased in Find My. This is useful if your iPhone is stolen or nearly out of battery. This feature works on iPhone 11 or newer.
You can now significantly reduce the number of notifications you receive each day. You can set a specific time to receive a summary of all notifications for the day. The summary is automatically adjusted based on priority, with the most relevant notifications at the top.
Are you working on a school assignment or studying? Or are you working from home and have an important deadline? Then it can be helpful to isolate yourself from distractions without receiving notifications on your iPhone. With Focus, you can now create a list to receive only the notifications you want. Additionally, people will automatically see your Focus status in Messages and other communication apps.
You can now view privacy reports for apps to see how apps use the permissions you’ve granted. You can also see which third parties they’re contacting. In addition, you have more control over which data you want to share. There’s also a new update for ‘Mail Privacy Protection’: your IP address is now hidden, preventing senders from linking it to other online activities or determining your location. Senders also won’t know if or when you’ve opened their emails.
Photos, videos, and links shared with you via Messages now appear in ‘Shared with You’. You can respond to them directly without needing to go back to Messages.
Additionally, Portrait mode is now available in FaceTime, putting the focus on you while the background is blurred. Voice isolation also mutes background noise, so your voice is always heard clearly. These two features are only available on iPhones with the A12 Bionic chip or newer. This means the feature is available on the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone SE (2020), iPhone 11, iPhone 12, and iPhone 13.
Another very handy new feature is that you can now invite anyone to a FaceTime call. You simply share a unique weblink with all your friends, family, and colleagues. It’s no longer a requirement to own an Apple product! People with Android or Windows devices can now also join your FaceTime call! And, of course, the call is still secure and encrypted, just as you would expect from Apple!
Find My new features
Find My has received new improvements in iOS 15. For example, you now get an alert if your MacBook, AirTag, AirPods, or another device is far away from your iPhone. This new alert is called ‘Notify When Left Behind.’ This makes it much less likely that you’ll accidentally leave your belongings behind. You can now also locate devices that are turned off or erased in Find My. This is useful if your iPhone is stolen or nearly out of battery. This feature works on iPhone 11 or newer.
Revamped notification overview
You can now significantly reduce the number of notifications you receive each day. You can set a specific time to receive a summary of all notifications for the day. The summary is automatically adjusted based on priority, with the most relevant notifications at the top.
The new Focus feature helps you concentrate
Are you working on a school assignment or studying? Or are you working from home and have an important deadline? Then it can be helpful to isolate yourself from distractions without receiving notifications on your iPhone. With Focus, you can now create a list to receive only the notifications you want. Additionally, people will automatically see your Focus status in Messages and other communication apps.
Privacy controls for apps and mail
You can now view privacy reports for apps to see how apps use the permissions you’ve granted. You can also see which third parties they’re contacting. In addition, you have more control over which data you want to share. There’s also a new update for ‘Mail Privacy Protection’: your IP address is now hidden, preventing senders from linking it to other online activities or determining your location. Senders also won’t know if or when you’ve opened their emails.
‘Shared with You’ in Messages
Photos, videos, and links shared with you via Messages now appear in ‘Shared with You’. You can respond to them directly without needing to go back to Messages.