Apple has launched its newest operating system for iPhone, iOS 15, with a series of new features including better translation software, a fresh look for notifications, more privacy controls, tools to avoid distractions and major updates to maps for improved navigation.
The National looks at the top seven features of iOS 15 and explores what users can expect from the Cupertino-based company's latest update.
Staying focused
Based on a user's settings, the new operating system will filter notifications to help cut distractions. For instance, the “work” Focus can be set during office hours to only allow notifications from colleagues, clients and apps that are used for work.
Focus uses on-device intelligence - based on machine learning and artificial intelligence - to suggest which notifications from people and apps are allowed. A status will be displayed to contacts and supported third-party communication apps like Slack, so they know not to interrupt.
“Users will even receive suggestions to turn on a Focus based on factors like time of day or location … when Focus is set on one Apple device, it automatically applies to all of a user’s Apple devices,” the company said.
Text recognition in photos
The new OS introduces “Live Text”, which recognises text in photos and lets users respond appropriately. For example, a snapshot of a storefront may reveal a phone number, giving an option to call that business.
The “Camera” app can also recognise and copy text in the moment, such as the Wi-Fi password displayed at an airport lounge. With “Visual Look Up”, users can learn more about various things such as popular art, landmarks, books, plants and animal breeds.
New look for notifications
With iOS 15, Apple has redesigned notifications. Users can temporarily mute any app or messaging thread for an hour or for the day. It also lets users add contact photos for people and larger icons for apps that make them easier to identify.
Users can also access the notifications summary each day at a scheduled time. Using the on-device intelligence, the summary is arranged by priority, with the most relevant notifications rising to the top based on how a user interacts with apps.
However, time-sensitive notifications, messages and phone calls will be delivered immediately to ensure users will not miss timely alerts.
Adding more to navigation and weather alerts
The iOS 15 has added new features to “Apple Maps” that offer more details about neighbourhoods, buildings and landmarks and now features a new night-time mode with a moonlit glow. It offers a new three-dimensional driving view with road details that help users identify turn lanes, medians, crosswalks and sidewalks.
Initially, enhanced maps are available in Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco, with the company adding more cities in the coming months.
The “Weather” app now includes full-screen maps, graphical displays of weather data and layouts that change based on conditions.
More natural FaceTime calls
Voices in “FaceTime”, which lets Apple users make video calls to one another, will sound as if they are coming from where the person is positioned on the screen while the new voice isolation feature will use machine learning to eliminate background noise and prioritise the user’s voice.
To ensure more lifelike calls, the portrait mode will blur a user’s background and puts them at the focus.
New keys and state IDs coming to Apple Wallet
Apple introduced digital car keys to let users unlock and start their cars using their iPhones last year.
With iOS 15, users can access even more places with a tap of their screen, with new home, hotel and office keys in the “Wallet".
“Digital car keys get even better with support for ultra wideband technology … iPhone can also be used to unlock a user’s home, office or even a hotel room,” Apple said.
“Users will be able to add eligible state IDs and driver’s licences to Wallet on iPhone as this option becomes available in their state in the future,” it added.
To ensure user privacy and security, the keys in the Wallet are encrypted and stored in Secure Element, the same hardware technology used to protect Apple Pay.
Pricing and availability
iOS 15, which was announced at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June, was launched on Monday. It is a free software update that is available for iPhone 6 and later models.
The biog
Prefers vegetables and fish to meat and would choose salad over pizza
Walks daily as part of regular exercise routine
France is her favourite country to visit
Has written books and manuals on women’s education, first aid and health for the family
Family: Husband, three sons and a daughter
Fathiya Nadhari's instructions to her children was to give back to the country
The children worked as young volunteers in social, education and health campaigns
Her motto is to never stop working for the country
TICKETS
Tickets start at Dh100 for adults, while children can enter free on the opening day. For more information, visit www.mubadalawtc.com.
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RACE CARD
6.30pm: Baniyas Group 2 (PA) Dh 97,500 (Dirt) 1,400m.
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Tickets start at Dh100 for adults, while children can enter free on the opening day. For more information, visit www.mubadalawtc.com.
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
The five pillars of Islam
Jeff Buckley: From Hallelujah To The Last Goodbye
By Dave Lory with Jim Irvin
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Name: Colm McLoughlin
Country: Galway, Ireland
Job: Executive vice chairman and chief executive of Dubai Duty Free
Favourite golf course: Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club
Favourite part of Dubai: Palm Jumeirah
Asian Cup 2019
Quarter-final
UAE v Australia, Friday, 8pm, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
MATCH INFO
World Cup qualifier
Thailand 2 (Dangda 26', Panya 51')
UAE 1 (Mabkhout 45 2')
AL%20BOOM
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Company Profile
Company name: Yeepeey
Started: Soft launch in November, 2020
Founders: Sagar Chandiramani, Jatin Sharma and Monish Chandiramani
Based: Dubai
Industry: E-grocery
Initial investment: $150,000
Future plan: Raise $1.5m and enter Saudi Arabia next year
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6 UNDERGROUND
Director: Michael Bay
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Adria Arjona, Dave Franco
2.5 / 5 stars
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Neymar's bio
Total club appearances 411
Total goals scored 241
Appearances for Barca 186
Goals scored for Barca 105
TOURNAMENT INFO
Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier
Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi
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