38 16 - 29 October 2019Is 13 lucky for some? David Crookes looks atthe be st new features in the latest version ofApple’s mobile operating systemSo, another iOS update then?
Yes, it ’s that time ofyear again.With iOS
13 (bit.ly/ios486), Apple has freshened up
its operating system for the iPhone and
iPodTouch (the iPad now has the
separate iPadOS), bringing a host of new
features, afew tweaks and a boostto
device performance. Most of these
additions will helpstrengthen iOS’s
position in an Android-dominated
industry but there have been some
teething troubles and frustrations,
particularly with small changes madeto
long-established processes.Does iOS 13 look different?
Not immediately. The familiar grid of
iconsremains, as does the dock, but
there are freshwallpapers and a new
darkcolour scheme.This Dark Mode can
be turned on and off in the Settings and
can even be scheduledto activate at a
particular time of the day. Third-party
app developers are also being allowed
access to the mode so all apps should
one day have a Dark Mode that can be
controlledby the user.How different does it feel?
That depends on howyou use iOS. Most
notably, 3DTouch has beenreplacedby
HapticTouch –you no longer have to
press hard on an
iconto view
contextual
menus because
a long-press will
do the trick.This
speeds up the
process and
should make
you more likely
to use the icon
shortcuts, such
as quickly
taking a selfie
without opening the Camera app. Apps
now open more quickly andFace ID
unlocks 30%faster than before.So why are some users
frustrated?
As we reported last issue, it didn’t take
longfor usersto realise that iOS 13
was buggy when it launched on19 September.At times, appswould
crash, therewere problems with AirDrop
and mobile signals, and the Camera app
was very slow. Applewas madeaware of
these issues androlled out iOS 13.1a
week la ter (complete with initially
missingfeatures such as sharingyour
estimated time of arrival in Maps). But
some minor alterationsremain unpopular.
The Mail app,for instance, reduces the
number of icons displayed on an open
emailto two, withReply nowcontaining
options that usedto have theirown
buttons – and with theTrash iconrather
too closefor comfort.Has Siri improved?
Yes, Siri now has a more natural sounding
voice and is more intelligent, so whether
you’re browsing theweb in Safari,
listeningto a podcast or lookingat Apple
Maps, Siri will offer personalised
suggestions. It also givesreminders when
you’re chattingto someone in Messages,
ensuring plans are notforgotten, and if
you use AirPods, then Siri canread
incoming messages directlyto your ears.
Siri shortcuts can be addedtoUse icon shortcutsto
performcommon tasks
such as taking a selfieFAQEverything you need to know about the mostinteresting new technology trends and eventsOur guide to iOS 13
The Camera app in iOS 13
has been improved in line
with the new iPhonerangeSome iPhone users aren’t
keen on changesto the Mail
app in iOS 13You can schedule the Dark
Mode in iOS 13to turn onat
a particular timeof day