New iOS features and other announcements from Apple WWDC 2019
Apple announced many new features for iPads, iPhones and more at its Worldwide Developer Conference this week.
While announcements such as iOS 13’s dark mode and the $999 price tag for the Pro Stand desktop display stand garnered attention, there were plenty of announcements regarding new iOS features that could interest enterprise users.
Apple iOS 13
Security and privacy features
There are several new security and privacy features in iOS 13. First, end users and IT have more granular control over location sharing. A user or IT pro can permit one-time location permission for mobile apps and require the application to request permission to track user location for any additional uses of the app.
This new iOS feature can prevent unwanted location tracking for apps that users don’t run often. Further, it can limit the damage that malicious apps can inflict by restricting its access to location data. Additionally, Apple added protections to prevent apps from scanning for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth data to determine users’ location.
To simplify in-app authentication, Apple introduced Sign in with Apple. Apple provides IT with an API to integrate this authentication method with applications that require some sort of login. Sign in with Apple gives users the option to generate a login based on FaceID rather than a social media or email account.
If a user wants to hide his or her email from the application, Sign in with Apple generates a random email to serve as the login credential and forwards any emails from the application from the dummy account to the user’s real account. Sign in with Apple also helps users manage mobile app email notifications with the option to turn off the forwarding process from the dummy email account that Sign in with Apple created.
Other new iOS features
With iOS 13, users will be able to include attachments as part of calendar events. This could help users access relevant data quickly to prepare for meetings or interviews. Apple also introduced an update for Siri in iOS 13 to help simplify the UX. Siri now suggests automations based on behavior patterns that users can design and implement through the Shortcuts app.
Other UX additions include Voice Control for macOS and iOS, which allows users to control their devices exclusively with voice input. Users can now choose “swipe to type” as a method for keyboard inputs as well.
iPad news
Tablet-exclusive OS
Apple announced a new OS exclusive to iPad tablets, known as iPadOS. This OS could present mobile admins with additional hoops to jump through, but Apple’s tablets will have a range of new hardware and software-enabled features that will present new use cases.
For example, users will be able to perform file sharing over the iCloud drive with iPadOS. New iPads will also support thumb drives and SD cards as well. These two features allow users to take large amounts of data from a thumb drive, edit it in an iPadOS-friendly application and upload it to iCloud storage with the new file drag-and-drop feature.
The UX of iPadOS also offers split screen multitasking features that can run an application while users navigate the home screen. While the iPad still has some shortcomings compared to full desktops such as smaller screen size, reliance on hardware add-ons for a keyboard and limited application selection, iPadOS makes Apple tablets a more viable workstation — especially for workers who travel or work remotely.
macOS integration
Apple announced the latest macOS version, macOS 10.15 Catalina. The SideCar feature of macOS Catalina allows users to connect their iPads to interact with the main desktop as a second screen. Users can extend their display to the iPad or even use the iPad as a drawing tablet for a desktop application such as Adobe Illustrator.