Apple has made impressive strides with its iOS and iPadOS updates over the years, delivering rich customization options, enhanced apps, and radically improved system-wide functionality. However, there’s always room for improvement, and we will soon see what Cupertino has in store for its phones and tablets at WWDC 2023.
Considering the constant pressure from Google’s Android operating system, the race to improve and enhance is never-ending. Apple's iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 were fantastic improvements over the previous year’s OS rollouts, and we have no doubt that version 17 will further enhance the ecosystem. Still, we hope the following five features make their way into the upcoming mobile OSes.
1. RCS Compatibility in iMessages
Apple uses a proprietary messaging service, iMessage, that lets you send text messages to other people. Many wonderful features are attached to the app, including Live Text, Visual Look Up, and the ability to edit messages. However, these functions are rendered useless when interacting with Android phones and tablets, as the mobile devices powered by Google's OS don't support iMessage's many unique capabilities.
Android uses Chat, a Rich Communications Services (RCS) protocol. It is leaps and bounds above the functionality of basic SMS and offers convenient and accessible content-sharing functionality that's on par with Apple's iMessage. However, Apple does not support the protocol, which means your fancy Android Chat messages are received as bare-bones SMS messages.
Google has steadily improved its RCS protocol over the years, such as adding end-to-end encryption that keeps your communications secure and private. Hopefully, Apple will decide to play nice with RCS and announces compatibility with it during WWDC 2023.
2. The Ability to Set a Default Map App
Apple Maps has enjoyed years of refinements, and it even edges out Google Maps in some areas. For instance, the app's cleaner visuals and interface make it an excellent navigation tool compared to Google Maps and its information overload. That said, that same information surplus makes Google Maps the go-to tool for finding businesses and restaurants.
However, there is no way to set a default Map app on an iOS or iPadOS device. Some apps, such as Chrome or Safari, prefer to open one map app or the other, but you can’t select your preference from the system settings. We would like to have this an option in the future.
3. Improved Support for Multiple Users and Child Accounts on iPadOS
The iPad is a technological marvel, but it has a few limitations. The most glaring one is iPad’s single-user focus. You can use multiple Apple IDs on a singular iPad, but you can’t create multiple profiles; the primary account is the one that retains control over Apps, Safari bookmarks, iTunes purchases, and other features. Multiple users can download their preferred apps, but this clutters the iPad and makes upgrading to a new device a headache. For example, you can use workarounds to make sharing easier by using multiple email apps to keep inboxes separate. However, we would like to see fully realized sharing on iPads with the upcoming iPadOS 17 update.
This extends to child accounts and age restrictions, too. Setting restrictions on your iPad disables age-inappropriate apps and content for everyone using the tablet. You have undoubtedly encountered situations where you need to disable restrictions to download content for yourself and then re-enable these restrictions when handing the tablet off to your child. It’s cumbersome and impractical. Improved and intuitive age restriction for child accounts would be a tremendous OS improvement.
4. The Ability to Sideload Apps in iOS and iPadOS
The App Store is convenient for downloading and installing apps to your iPhone or iPad. However, you're limited to just the App Store; if an app's not there, Apple won’t let you install it. This is contrary to Google’s approach, where you are encouraged to use the Google Play store but aren't restricted to it. If you have a Samsung phone, you have even more options, since you can also utilize the Galaxy Store for purchases.
This process of downloading apps from alternate or unofficial resources is called sideloading. Unfortunately, Apple has kept a tight leash on this functionality, which is why you can effectively sideload Fortnite on an Android device, but not on an Apple phone or tablet. With iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, we hope to see Apple loosen its grip and let you download whatever apps you desire.
5. Improved Photos and Camera Functionality
When it comes to photos, Apple and Google have exchanged punches in the form of cutting-edge image functionality. Android has its Magic Eraser tech that lets you delete subjects and clean up photos right on your device. Meanwhile, Apple has Live Text and Visual Look Up that help you identify text and subjects in photographs for additional context. However, there's an upcoming Android feature that's sure to make iPhone users envious.
During this year's Google I/O conference, Google revealed that Android would get Magic Editor, a powerful AI tool that can not only delete objects but also reposition them. It lets you make major photo edits without third-party or professional tools. We would love to see iOS and iPadOS include enhanced photo-editing features like this in the future so that we can tidy up problem photos.
For more, check out everything else we expect to see at WWDC 2023, and make sure to tune in to PCMag for firsthand coverage from the event.