Ideally, when one enables call recording we would
simply hear ‘call recording enabled’ followed by regular
unobtrusive beeps, neither of which would actually
be captured as part of the recording. Recordings can
go into Voice Memos where they would be designated
with a phone icon, and could be auto-transcribed (see
improved dictation, above).- Thoroughly integrate Shazam
Apple bought Shazam in 2018 but hasn’t done a whole
lot with it besides remove ads. Technically, you’re using
Shazam technology when you ask Siri to identify a song,
but Apple could go a lot further.
First, build Shazam right into Apple Music. Make
an easy-to-hit ‘identify this song’ button both in the
iPhone/iPad and Apple Watch interface. Keep a custom
default playlist for identified songs that makes a note of
the date, time, and location.
And steal a page from Google’s Pixel phones and
enable on-device, constant song identification. It would
be an opt-in option, of course, but when enabled would
show a small bar with the currently playing song on the
lock screen and notification shade. Tap it to hop directly
to that song in Apple Music. - Let users change app defaults
It’s beyond time to allow users to choose their default
apps for certain actions. When I tap on an address, I
should be able to hop right into Google Maps or Waze
if I want to, rather than Apple Maps. Links should be
able to open in the browser of my choice, not just Safari
(they all have to use Safari’s page rendering, anyway).
Ideally,whenoneenablescallrecordingwewould
simplyhear‘callrecordingenabled’followedbyregular
unobtrusivebeeps,neitherofwhichwouldactually
becapturedaspartoftherecording.Recordingscan
gointoVoiceMemoswheretheywouldbedesignated
withaphoneicon,andcouldbeauto-transcribed(see
improveddictation,above).
- ThoroughlyintegrateShazam
AppleboughtShazamin 2018 buthasn’tdoneawhole
lotwithitbesidesremoveads.Technically,you’reusing
ShazamtechnologywhenyouaskSiritoidentifyasong,
butApplecouldgoalotfurther.
First,buildShazamrightintoAppleMusic.Make
aneasy-to-hit‘identifythissong’buttonbothinthe
iPhone/iPadandAppleWatchinterface.Keepacustom
defaultplaylistforidentifiedsongsthatmakesanoteof
thedate,time,andlocation.
AndstealapagefromGoogle’sPixelphonesand
enableon-device,constantsongidentification.Itwould
beanopt-inoption,ofcourse,butwhenenabledwould
showasmallbarwiththecurrentlyplayingsongonthe
lockscreenandnotificationshade.Tapittohopdirectly
tothatsonginAppleMusic.
10.Letuserschangeappdefaults
It’sbeyondtimetoallowuserstochoosetheirdefault
appsforcertainactions.WhenItaponanaddress,I
shouldbeabletohoprightintoGoogleMapsorWaze
ifIwantto,ratherthanAppleMaps.Linksshouldbe
abletoopeninthebrowserofmychoice,notjustSafari
(theyallhavetouseSafari’spagerendering,anyway).