iOS 14.2 functions
In the fall, usually in October, Apple releases the first major additional iOSupdate after the first version comes out in September. This year is no different, although the numbering seems to be going differently. Instead of iOS 14.1, it is iOS 14.2. Nevertheless, you can expect new features in iOS 14.2 because Apple has some interesting improvements in store. They mainly relate to music and the Control Panel.
# 1 Shazam in Control Center
There is now an even faster way to start Shazam. You can now put a Shazam button in Control Center, even without needing the app. As soon as you tap it, turn on the music recognition. You listen in the background iPhone then to music and as soon as a song is recognized, a notification will appear at the top of the screen. You can expand the result, after which the album cover will be shown in large format. With a shortcut you can listen to the song right away Apple Music.
# Recognition via earplugs
Also new is the possibility to have music recognized via your earbuds, like you AirPods. On Android the Shazam app has previously been given the option to recognize music that is played through your earbuds or headphones, but on iOS that was not possible. Now you can with the new music recognition in the Control Center. Individual apps do not have access to this data, but now that the function is built in as standard, you can. Once you start listening to music, all you have to do is turn on the music recognition in the Control Center. You can see which song you are listening to via a notification. This is especially useful when listening to the radio, where it is not always visible which song it is.
# 3 Music controls in Control Panel
The music controls in the Control Panel have also been updated. If you open the Control Panel and hold down the block at the top right with the music controls, you will immediately see the changes. The cover of a recently played song appears in a large screen, but you also see suggestions here if nothing is playing for a while. Normally you can switch to other devices (such as a Apple TV or HomePod) by scrolling, but now tap the round Control Other Speakers & TV’s button. You will then see an overview of all suitable devices in the area. The interface has been renewed for all these devices.
# 4 New AirPlay menu
It AirPlaymenu, for example from apps, has also been redesigned. It now appears as a pop-up menu on the screen. All devices are classified into cups, such as Headphones (AirPods, wireless headphones) and Speakers and TVs (Apple TV, HomePod, AirPlay 2speakers). You will also see a button at the bottom Control Other Speakers & TV’s, which switches to the interface similar to the new music controls in the Control Center.
# 5 Human detection in Magnifier app
If you put the magnifying glass on you iPhone ever used, you have from iOS 14 a separate Magnifier app. There is now also an option for this People Detection Bee. As soon as you enable this, look around you with the camera. The Magnifying Glass app recognizes people and tells you the distance between you and the person. This certainly comes in handy now, especially if you want to keep a distance of five feet. The function is mainly designed for people with a visual impairment.
# 6 Other improvements
A few other minor tweaks have been discovered:
- Watch-app: Of Apple Watchapp on the iPhone has a custom icon. The strap is now a solo loop, so there is no more closure.
- Improve hand washing: Via Settings> Privacy> Analysis and improvements you will now find an option Improve Handwashing. You use it to share anonymous movement and audio data to use the hand-washing function of the Apple Watch to improve.
- Music icon on lock screen: Now when you play a song or radio station via the Music app, you will see a small icon of the Music app in the lower right corner of the album cover or station logo. You then know that the radio station is not coming from another radio app.
- Music lock screen controls: You can now browse a song directly on the lock screen.
We expect iOS 14.2 sometime in October. The iOS 14.2 beta is now available to developers.
