#446 - iOS 14’s best HIDDEN features!

Jun 26, 2020

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This week: we bring you a huge list of great iOS 14 features Apple DID NOT mention on-stage at WWDC 20, and there’s a lot to love. Plus: why iOS 14's new Home screen widgets aren't as powerful as you might think, and get ready to log into websites with Face ID or Touch ID.

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On the show this week

@erfon / @lkahney / @lewiswallace

This week's stories

iOS 14's new Home screen widgets aren't as powerful as you might think

Widgets in iOS 14 currently offer little more than a tiny snippet of useful information. They can display weather conditions, upcoming appointments, items on your to-do list, and what you’re listening to. But Apple doesn’t make them (or allow them to be) interactive like Google does.

macOS Big Sur

One of the most significant redesigns since Yosemite 6 years ago. Almost everything has changed.
macOS now looks a lot like iOS
All-new sounds. Trash sound different. Move files sounds different.
Translucent menu bar with new icons
All-new icons for drives and folders
Dock has been redesigned with a note iOS-type feel
Icons for Apple’s apps are now square, like their iOS counterparts
Message notifications now give much more information
The icons used in open folders look those those in iOS
Popup menus are translucent and have new buttons
New control toggle in the menu bar that brings up icons for Wi-Fi-, Bluetooth, brightness and sound, just like the control panel on your iPhone or iPad
Maps and messages now look and feel just like the iPhone versions.

iOS 14 hidden features

Double or triple tap back to activate shortcut
Widget stacks let you use the same space for up to 10 different widgets. You can swipe through them.
Smart stack widget uses on device AI to show the right widget based on factors like time, location, and activity.
Battery notification lets you know when you need to charge your AirPods, or when your Apple Watch has been charged
Hide home screen pages you’re not using
Picture in picture will let you watch a video while using another app, but you can also use it for FaceTime, so you can see your caller while doing something else
- And just like on the iPad, you can move the picture off screen but still hear the audio.
You probably remember you can have pinned conversations in messages. But did you know can have up to nine pinned conversations and they will sync across Messages in iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.
- In group messages conversations, people can now @ your name to speak directly to you, and you can set your notifications to only ping when so