The iPhone and iPad are getting a bunch of new features thanks to a software update today.
Apple is releasing iOS 16.1, which adds to the functionality that arrived with the iPhone 14 range last month, and iPadOS 16, which arrives ahead of the launch of new tablets this week.
Starting with iPhone, here are the top new features you can expect when you download the update.
Shared photo libraries
This feature comes just in time for any family going on a mid-term getaway, allowing you to set up a shared photo library with up to five other people.
It builds on the idea of existing shared photo albums, with more options to let everyone add, edit, like, caption and delete images.
You can also add previous photos to the new library, rather than having to start from scratch, and a toggle in the camera app will let you send a new snapshot directly to it if you want.
Net energy load
Here’s one for the climate-conscious: a switch that will selectively charge your phone based on the availability of low-carbon electricity.
Apple says the idea is that charging time will be optimized based on when the grid is using cleaner energy sources, though initially it will only work if you’re in the US.
One thing to note is that this new feature will be enabled by default when you receive the update; if you don’t want to commit, you might want to turn it off in settings.
Fitness without a watch
Apple offers a £9.99-a-month subscription service called Fitness+, which offers workout and meditation routines.
Until now, you needed an Apple Watch to actually use it, but now all you need is an iPhone.
While you won’t get the same real-time feedback without the wearable, like calories burned and heart rate, stretching and meditating with videos on your phone will work just fine.
Live activities have been expanded
You may have noticed big changes to your iPhone’s lock screen when iOS 16 launched last month, with Live Activities among the additions.
These are widgets that aim to provide real-time updates of certain apps on the lock screen, rather than sending a series of separate notifications.
Today’s update makes these more accessible to non-Apple apps, so expect to see more options, from live sports scores to a widget that shows how close your driver is to Uber.
On the iPad, the new features like shared photo libraries are the same, but there are some tweaks.
Image: The updates arrive the same week as the new standard and Pro iPad models. Images: Apple
stage manager
This brings improved multitasking to the iPad, making it more of a laptop experience. Applications can be resized, overlapped and moved around, just like on a traditional desktop.
You can connect your iPad to an external display if you have one of the newer Air or Pro models, again, just like you can with a laptop.
Weather application
It sounds incredible, but in all this time the iPad has never had a built-in weather app like the iPhone.
That finally changes today, bringing almost the same design as the phone.
Improved writing
If you have an Apple Pencil, the Notes app will now try to improve your handwriting.
If you enable the option, the application will make the typed words appear straighter and neater.
And a number of the latest iPhone additions
The iPadOS 16 update is primarily based on iOS 16 and thus includes many of the new features that iPhone users have been enjoying since last month.
This includes the ability to edit and delete text in the Messages app, improved focus modes to filter notifications from certain apps, and a redesigned podcast app.