iOS 15: is Apple working on status notifications and widgets for the iPad?
23/4/2021
Translation: Eva Francis
In the future, your iPhone might automatically notify your contacts if you’re busy working or exercising. It might also be possible soon to create widgets on your iPad. That’s if the latest rumours regarding new features for iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 are true.
With iOS 15, Apple will probably introduce a new feature. Specifically, one that allows displaying various status messages, which you’re able to update easily via the lock screen or the control centre. This is reported by the tech blog GSMArena.
Presumably, this new feature will also be compatible with Siri to quickly, giving users a quick way to update their status. Such a status could be «driving», «working», «sleeping» or any other category of your choice.
Automatic answers
Depending on the status, you’re said to be able to choose how your device notifies you about incoming messages – with or without sound alert. In addition, the report suggests that it will be possible to send automatic replies to messages depending on the current status. This indicates that the auto-reply feature will be improved. At the moment, the auto-reply feature is only active while driving.
More innovations are said to be planned in relation with iMessage, as GSMArena also reports. iMessage is supposed to become more like a social network. At the same time, Apple's Messenger is competing more with WhatsApp. However, the tech blog suspects that this new feature will not be included in the iOS 15 release.
Widgets for iPadOS
As for iPadOS 15, it will probably support widgets for the home screen. This would mean that iPads would have this function, too. As with the iPhone, you will probably be able to place them anywhere on the home screen.
Finally, both iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 are said to get new privacy features, including a new menu that shows you which apps are silently collecting data about you.
We’ll have to wait until the beginning of June to find out if these reports are true. At their developer conference WWDC, which starts on 7 June, Apple will present innovations for iOS 15 and iPadOS 15. After this, developers have about half a year to adapt their apps to the new Apple features. The final versions of the operating systems traditionally appear with the new iPhones in autumn.
Richard Müller
Teamleader Editorial
Richard.Mueller@digitecgalaxus.chI'm a journalist with over 20 years of experience in various positions, mostly in online journalism. The tool I rely on for my work? A laptop – preferably connected to the Internet. In fact, I also enjoy taking apart laptops and PCs, repairing and refitting them. Why? Because it's fun!