iOS 14 Public Beta Hands-On: What’s New?
Apple recently released its iOS 14 Public Beta. Here are my initial thoughts about what this new update has added.
Recently, Apple released the iOS 14 Public Beta to everyone, and in this review, I will be going over the general changes to Apple’s smartphone operating system. This update is much more functionality based, unlike the previous versions where they simply added new applications.
Home Screen
The most notable change is the home screen. You are now able to grab widgets from the sidebar and drag them into the home screen. However, there are currently no third-party widgets, but they will likely be slowly added as time goes on and app developers create widgets for different apps.
The sidebar has also received a revamp, with the widgets being more rounded and spaced out.
Finally, we have an app library! All the apps are sorted into predetermined groups. However, if you want to search in alphabetical order, you can just swipe up once you are at the top of the library to open a list of all apps on your phone in alphabetical order.
Messages
You are now able to pin messages to the top of the app. This will help ensure that you don’t lose certain conversations in a sea of chats. The contacts screen has also received a revamp. Finally, you can set a photo or an emoji as a group chat “logo.” You also now have Mentions, which allow you to chat with a specific person by typing their name. You can also chat in certain threads separate from the main chat.
App Store
The App Store has received a new and revamped design, with Apple opting for a box-like style.
Camera
The camera app has received a redesign. First, you can hold the photo button to record a video, and swipe up from the button to take a burst. Next, you can record/take a photo in different aspect ratios. Finally, the menus have been moved around to make the whole screen look cleaner.
Conclusion
Overall, iOS 14 is a very design-focused update. However, this is a great thing because it allows Apple to stay competent in the world of rapidly evolving UIs like Android developed by other companies. If you want to get the beta, there is a warning that your phone might start to crash because of bugs. Also, some games, such as Fortnite, are currently unstable on iOS 14.
