The latest version of iOS is upon us.
Apple just released the public beta for iOS 10, which is due out this fall.
There's a ton of new stuff in iOS 10, especially when it comes to the Messages app. We've already gone hands-on with iOS 10, but we figured now would be a good time to show off some of its best new features.
And really, what better way to show it off than with GIFs?
Here are some of our favorite features.
1. New lock screen
The lock screen on iOS 10 is getting a fresh look. First, your screen will light up when you lift it to your face, meaning no more pressing the side button to see it.
Second, Notifications will appear on your screen in an easy-to-see fashion. Swipe to the right to see your Today view widgets. Swipe to the left? Easy access to the camera.
2. 3D Touch on Control Center shortcuts
Control Center is an easy way to access your flashlight, camera, calculator and timer. Now, 3D Touch works on those items too. If you have an iPhone 6S or iPhone 6S Plus, hard press on those icons to get more information about what to access.
On the flashlight, you can select your brightness. You can quickly set the timer for an hour, 20 minutes, five minutes or one minute. With the calculator, you can copy the last result. And a 3D Touch gesture on the camera icon opens up the same options as the app icon, including one-tap access to selfie, slo-mo video recording, video recording or simply taking a photo.
3. New notifications look and rich notifications
Notifications has a whole new look in iOS 10. The bubbles are slightly larger (they kind of look like notifications on the Mac) and are separated.
The Today view is still a swipe to the right —- that's where your widgets live — but now the notifications can do more.
In the past, you could reply (by swiping down to quick-reply) to a text or message from a notification if it arrived immediately, but not if it came in later. Now, a long press on a notification will bring up the quick-reply window, so you can reply without having to open the Messages app.
If you want to clear all your notifications, just 3D Touch the "X" on the right hand corner of Notification Center and press "Clear All Notifications."
4. Messages: Stickers
There's a ton of stuff in the Messages app. One of the big additions is the fact that there are iMessage apps. The most exciting might be sticker packs.
5. Messages: Invisible Ink and other effects
If you want to send a message or image with a disappearing effect, you can now add that. Do a long press on the "send" arrow in Messages to select a number of different screen and background effects.
Our favorite is invisible ink, which blurs a message until the user hovers over the image with his or her finger.
6. Messages: Handwriting
Turn your iPhone to landscape mode in Messages and you can write out a message with your fingertip. Turn it back to portrait to send. This is a great way to send something with your own personal touch.
7. Messages: Digital Touch
Like the Apple Watch, you can send drawings, heartbeats and other taps using Digital Touch. Tap on the side arrow next to the Message bubble and select the icon that has fingers on a heart. This is your Digital Touch window, where you can do lots of cool stuff.
8. Messages: Image Search
One of the other apps in messages is built-in image search. Need to find that perfect cat GIF or meme to send a friend? Just search and insert. I'm partial to sending Taylor Swift GIFs, myself.
9. Messages: Emoji replacement and Emoji predictions
If you have the predictive keyboard up in iOS 10, emoji will now show up when you type a word that has a related emoji. This feature is actually accessible in any app. And it's awesome.
A cool feature that's exclusive to the Messages app is called emoji replacement. Type your message and then switch to the emoji keyboard. iOS will highlight each word that can be replaced with an emoji. If there are multiple emoji to choose from, you can select which one you want. Tapping the emoji again will return it to a word.
Sadly, typing "dick" or "peen" does not come up with the eggplant. Don't worry, I've already filed a bug report with Apple.
10. Messages: React to photos or texts
You can now react to a post in iMessage with a heart, thumbs up, thumbs down, haha, a pair of exclamation points or a question mark. Just long-press on a message or photo and you can add a reaction. Everyone in your group will then see the reaction.
Now Karissa knows how much I love sending her Taylor Swift GIFs.
11. New Widgets
New Today view widgets for iOS 10 let you do a 3D Touch gesture on app icons, preview those widgets and then choose to add them to your Today view. Some of the widgets include upcoming calendar appointments, recently played tracks on Apple Music and Memories from the Photos app.
12. New look for Maps
Maps has a new look. It now offers you easy access to recent searches and places you go the most Also, when you select a destination, you can quickly see your direction options whether you're driving, walking or taking public transit.
This fall, iOS 10 will go even further and offer you the ability to call an Uber or Lyft directly from the app.
13. Redesigned Apple Music
Apple Music is getting a major design overhaul in iOS 10. It's simpler to navigate, provides easier access to the downloaded content on your phone and has simplified finding what's new and what you might want to hear.
Oh, and Connect is still around, but it's buried at the bottom for "For You." RIP Apple Music Connect.
14. Spotlight Everywhere
A longstanding iOS feature has been the ability to search spotlight by dragging down from the top of one of your home screen pages. It's a great way to find stuff.
Now you can do that in any app thanks to a new search bar at the top of Notification Center.
Spotlight will also give you search suggestions based on what you're looking for, including news articles and weather.
15. Delete stock apps
Do you hate how the default Mail app takes up an icon on your home screen? Are you incensed that the Stock app is still a thing?
Good news: you can now remove most stock apps from your home screen.
Deleting the apps doesn't remove all parts from your system. And if you remove an app like Maps and another app needs it to function, you'll be prompted to reinstall it again. But at least now you can get rid of that "extras" folder on your iPhone.
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