What is it like to update to iOS 14?

On September 17, Apple officially released the iOS 14 system update, and the editor was the first to experience it.

Compared with iOS 13, the most obvious changes in the new system are the addition of desktop widgets, APP resource library, picture-in-picture, and a more compact interface. Most of them were exposed as early as June, but the operation method is still somewhat different after 3 months of optimization.

1. Desktop widgets

What can widgets do? Extract the key information of the APP so that users can see it at a glance on the device.

A widget is not an APP, but a full-time information display window. For example, a weather widget displays local weather conditions, a map widget displays the user's location, a calendar widget displays the date and itinerary, and a stock market widget displays the rise and fall of multiple stocks.

Add an action:

• Press and hold the home screen, tap +, tap a widget in the pop-up widget center, select its size, and finally add it.
• Widgets are limited to three sizes: large, medium and small. The larger the size, the more information is displayed. If the widgets make the screen too crowded, you can choose smart stacking and just swipe to browse through them daily.

2. APP Resource Library

If you think of an APP as a book, the "App Resource Library" is a categorized library where all APPs are classified according to their respective functional characteristics. For example, WeChat, Xiaohongshu, and Weibo all belong to the "Social" folder.

The apps in the folder can be opened directly in the "App Library" interface, instead of the usual "two-step method" of first entering the folder and then opening the app.

Use Operation:

• Slide the home screen to the last page and enter the "App Resource Library", where all apps are automatically classified by function. To quickly find your target app, you can enter the function folder or search directly in the search box. Even if your phone has hundreds of apps installed, you can reach your target in 3 seconds.

3. Picture-in-Picture

Picture-in-picture is a more flexible split-screen mode that occupies a small area of ​​the screen to play videos, allowing you to watch videos while taking notes/chatting/playing games.

After trying, the editor found that Bilibili and Youku can still retain the picture-in-picture after jumping out of the APP; iQiyi's picture-in-picture is only limited to use within the APP, and once you switch to the home screen or other APPs, the picture-in-picture disappears; as for Tencent Video, the editor has not yet found the picture-in-picture enable button.

Use Operation:

• Open the video app, click on the video you want to play, look for the picture-in-picture button, and click it to display a small video window. You can drag the small window to any position on the screen, or even hide it in the sidebar while still keeping the audio.

4. Independent translator, supports translation in 11 languages

After updating to iOS 14, the system comes with an independent translation APP that supports voice/text translation, horizontal/vertical screen display, and downloading the language pack in advance allows offline work.

5. Privacy protection tips to prevent sneak shots/recording

When any APP turns on the camera or microphone, there will be a flashing light in the upper right corner of the screen. At this time, pull down the notification bar to know which APP is doing "good things".

PS: The editor has experienced it for a whole day and has not found any light prompts. It is possible that third-party software has been deterred by iOS 14 and its rogue behavior has been restrained.

6. More compact user interface

Incoming mobile phone calls and FaceTime calls no longer take up the full screen, but are instead pinned to the top as banners.

7. Apple version of applet

App Clips is known as the Apple version of mini-programs. Its core function is to allow users to use the functions of apps without downloading them. This feature has attracted much attention at the developer conference, but in practice, it is not so easy to use. The current usage scenarios are very limited, and I believe it will be gradually improved in future versions.

8. Memo shape recognition

Pause at the end of your doodle instead of letting go immediately, and you will find that the hand-drawn figures become standard and neat, and drawing a perfect circle freehand is no longer a problem.

Less than a week after its release, the adoption rate of iOS 14 has reached 25% (iOS 13 was only 20% in the same period last year). Judging from the current experience, it is worth this data. Users who are eager to use it are advised to wait a little longer to leave enough time for bug fixes so that they can enjoy a more perfect update experience.

iOS 14 upgrade list

• iPhone 11
• iPhone 11 Pro
• iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone XS
• iPhone XS Max
• iPhone XR
• iPhone X
• iPhone 8
• iPhone 8 Plus
• iPhone 7
• iPhone 7 Plus
• iPhone 6s
• iPhone 6s Plus
• iPhone SE (1st generation)
• iPhone SE (2nd generation)
• iPod touch (7th generation)