iOS 13: NEW FEATURES, PUBLIC BETA, RELEASE, iPad OS, CHANGES AND MANY MORE

The next version of Apple’s iOS mobile software has been revealed, bringing with it the long-rumoured “dark mode” feature and an overdue update for the camera app.

Unveiled at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in San Jose on Monday, iOS 13 brings a handful of new features along with a continued push towards greater user privacy. 

The software will also launch on iPads, albeit in a slightly different form. For the very first time, Apple is altering the tablet release of the mobile software, which will be called iPadOS, to try to deliver a more computer-like experience.  

Here’s a round-up of what’s new on iOS 13:

Release 

The new mobile system will release shortly after the introduction of this year’s new iPhones in September.

What are the new features on iOS 13?

The most noticeable visual difference between iOS 13 and its predecessor is that the new system comes with “dark mode”. 

The setting, which first appeared on macOS last year, lets users swap out the lightly coloured menu bars with a dark grey tone, making the screen easier to look at in low light conditions. 

Apple’s “Memoji” feature, with which you can animate a cartoon version of yourself by changing facial expression, has been improved on the new software. Users can now create their own stickers and emojis, which they can send to friends and family members through the Messages app, says Apple news site 9to5Mac.

Apple continues its focus on user security and anonymity with iOS 13. The company’s new private sign in, for example, lets customers “simply use their Apple ID to authenticate” an online profile, as opposed to “using a social account or filling out forms, verifying email addresses or choosing passwords”, the tech site says. Apple then protects their privacy by providing developers with a unique random ID. 

Another key change is that iOS will no longer be identical on iPhones and iPads. Apple will instead release a tweaked version of iOS for its tablets called iPadOS, which comes with “improved file management and a new version of Safari” for a more desktop-like experience, says Cnet.

Usability improvements 

Apple has worked on updating a number of its existing features to improve the software’s overall usability. 

For instance, the camera app has been given a much-needed makeover in iOS 13. To keep up with the complex apps on rival phones and tablets, Apple has added some new adjustability options for taking photos and recording video, says PC Magazine.

Users can adjust where the light source is when taking pictures in portrait mode and apply filters to videos, the magazine says. There’s also the option to rotate videos, a feature that has been in high demand among fans in recent years. 

Maps has also been updated to include a new “look-around” feature, which is essentially Apple’s answer to Google Street View. 

The software’s base performance and efficiency have been improved, too. The Face ID security feature will unlock iPhone handsets 30?ster than before, while the size of app updates have been reduced by roughly 60%.

When does the public beta start?

A public beta, where iPhone owners can preview the software before its release to help iron out any bugs and glitches, isn’t expected to arrive until July, saysTech Radar.

The tech news site warns that the beta software “can still be rough and never includes all of the features implemented in the final version”. Therefore, it’s best to make a copy of your iPhone or iPad’s software before downloading the beta version of iOS 13. 

What are the compatible devices? 

It’s been a while since Apple dropped software support for older devices. Unfortunately for some iPhone owners, this year’s iOS release will only be available on the company’s newer models. 

According to CNet, Apple won’t be releasing iOS 13 on devices that are older than the iPhone 6S, meaning 2014’s iPhone 6 and 6 Plus will not be compatible with the new software. 

Three of the company’s iPads will not be able to run iOS 13, now known as iPadOS on tablets, the tech site says. These include the original iPad Air from 2013, plus the iPad Mini 2 and Mini 3.  

With this in mind, the iOS 13 compatibility list for iPhones is as follows: 

• iPhone 6S and 6S Plus
• iPhone 7 and 7 Plus 
• iPhone 8 and 8 Plus
• iPhone X 
• iPhone XS; XS Max and XR
• Iphone 2019 Range

Meanwhile, the iPads that will support iPadOS are: 

• iPad Pro 12.9in first and second generation
• iPad Pro 10.5in
• iPad Pro 9.7in 
• iPad Pro 11in
• iPad Air 2 
• iPad Air 3 
• iPad fifth generation
• iPad sixth generation 
• iPad Mini 4

Finally, these are devices that won’t be compatible with the new iOS update: 

• iPhone 5S (and older)
• iPhone SE
• iPhone 6/6 Plus
• iPad Mini 2
• iPad Mini 3

iPad Air (2013)

THE WEEK