Many people were thrown into wonder as Apple released information about the new iOS 10 Beta program for those with the iPhone. There are many new features added to the phone, as well as updates to old ones, such as iTunes, Music and Photos. Professionals have reviewed it, nit-picked it, pulled it apart and talked about every little thing new about the program. I, on the other hand, am very much not a professional. I am not biased, I have no experience with electronics at all. But, I am a verging-on-adulthood teenager who spends most of the waking day glued to her cellphone, and I am here to provide a review from someone who is not a professional. A review in words that the common folk without a technology degree can understand. Here are some of the new features of the iPhone iOS 10, and my opinions of them.
1. A second page of the lock screen.
If you are completely updated without the beta program, you'll know that there is the one, basic lockscreen. Now, however, they've added a screen where you can see the time, weather, appointments in your calendar, news and frequently used apps. I really appreciate this new feature, because sometimes I just want to check up on things without completely unlocking my phone all the way.
2. A sleep tracker and alarm in one--built in.
I have downloaded many a sleep analysis apps in my day. I'm not a great sleeper, and I like to see what parts of the night are best for me for sleep. The difference between the new Apple program and other apps is the bedtime. It'll set an alarm to tell you to go to sleep and an alarm to tell you when to wake up, and I find that beneficial when you're trying to get a certain amount of sleep at night.
3. Handwritten messages in iMessage.
This is one of the cooler features of the iOS update, in my opinion. You can turn your phone to landscape mode and write a message in your own handwriting. It's a much more personal message then just a text, and you can send anything that you want. It's such an interesting new concept, and I'm sure it'll get even better with the actual release.
4. New music library lay out.
This is one part of the beta that I'm really not terribly sure about. I like the aesthetic quality of it, the simplicity of the look. I have found, however, that the navigation is confusing. The alphabetizing is difficult to figure out, and sometimes when you click on one link (i.e. Albums) it shows you another. This will most likely be fixed in a later beta, or the actual release.
5. Sending messages with effects.
This new addition actually seemed very interesting to me! It's a way to put emphasis on things or even make it so that the person has to press and hold to see it. It's an aspect to texting that has never been breeched before, and it provides a new dimension to texting that will help cover up the communication errors of the past. Now, a message that could be conveyed in different ways will be able to be given meaning by the sender.
Overall, I think that the iOS 10 update is going to be a great one. There are still some glitches and confusions that are in the beta, but I'm sure these will be solved by the time the actual update comes out. I would highly recommend this update, and I can't wait to see what else Apple has in store.
