Apple Announces iOS 13 For iPhones, First Ever iPadOS For iPad And iPad Pro
As expected, Apple has delivered Dark Mode with iOS 13, which is displayed throughout the user interface. All of Apple's built-in apps -- including News, Messages, Notes, Photos, etc. -- have been updated to natively support Dark Mode. When it comes to third-party apps, it will be up to each individual app developer to support Dark Mode. However, we have the feeling that many of the most popular apps will jump on the bandwagon right away and should be available when iOS 13 launches in the Fall.
Apple is rebuilding its Maps engine from the ground-up, and has overhauled the entire interface and has higher definition imagery that will be rolled out across all of the United States by the end of 2019. Apple has also introduced a new feature called Look Around, which is basically a higher-resolution, smoother navigating version of Google Maps' Street View.
Apple took at dig at both Google and Facebook, which have their Sign in with Google and Sign in with Facebook buttons. According to Federighi, these easy-to-use buttons can share a lot of your private information behind the scenes, which is a no-no at Apple. Instead, it is rolling out Sign in with Apple, which developers can integrate into their apps. It uses Face ID for authentication and won't reveal your personal information. You can also choose to keep your email address private. Apps will get a randomized email address from you, which will then forward to your "real" email address. You can turn this feature off if you wish, but it seems too cool to disable.
Messages has been updated with a more personal touch, allowing you to dispense with the typical phone numbers that you see when someone messages you, and instead shows your name and a photo (or a Memoji). Speaking of Memoji, you can now accessorize your avatar with teeth options (gaps, braces, grilles, etc.), piercings (nose, ears, mouth, tongue) and even add AirPods to your ears (if you're into that kind of thing).
If you have AirPods, Siri will be able to instantly read your incoming Messages (first- or third-party) and allows you to respond right away. Apple is also enabling Hand-off between your iPhone and an HomePod. For example, if your listing to some tunes on you iPhone when you walk through the door at home, you can simply bring your phone close to the HomePod and the music will automatically hop on over.
Apple CarPlay is getting its biggest update yet, with side-by-side viewing of Maps and other apps like your Pandora or Apple Music. Siri also now integrates with third-party apps.
Apple also made the surprise announcement that the iPad is getting its "own" operating system, which will be called iPadOS. By getting its own separate OS release, Apple is finally acknowledging that the larger screen real estate of the tablet form-factor needs a more full-featured operating system.
There are now home screen widgets (finally) that you can drag around at your discretion. You can now do multi-window multitasking (i.e. you can have two Notes windows open) and Expose has been brought over from macOS. The Files app has been enhanced with File Preview, Quick View, Metadata and iCloud Drive folder sharing. And this is a big one; Apple is finally allowing you to plug in a USB thumb drive (something that should have been possible a long time ago). You can also import images directly from your camera into any compatible app.
You're also get a desktop-optimized Safari experience on the iPad, which means that you'll no longer get served a mobile version of a website on your iPad. Instead, you'll always get a desktop site optimized for touch. Safari also gains a new Download Manager as well.
When it comes to editing, Apple has implemented a three-finger swipe to undo gestures, which replaces the awkward shake to undo in previous versions of iOS. There's are also three-finger pinch to copy and three-ginger spread to paste gestures. And for those that use an Apple Pencil, latency has been reduced from 20ms down to 9ms.
The first developer betas for iOS 13 and iPadOS are available to download today, while the first public betas will go live in July. iOS 13 and iPadOS will make their official debut this Fall as a software update for all eligible iPhones and iPads.