We highlight the areas that Apple should address in its next major yearly update, as we do each year. See our iOS 15 wishlist. Although Apple doesn’t make its decisions based solely on our opinions or has the time to implement them before the big conference, the productive discussions that result from these suggestions are an important part of improving the devices that have such a profound impact on our lives. Here are our top iOS 16 wishes.
Interactive widgets
Apple has completely redesigned widgets with iOS 14. They look great and feel more standard.
They also lost interactivity. While widgets can be visually updated with new information, tapping on them will open the app. You can no longer tap on widget buttons or sliders to do.
This is particularly frustrating for apps such as Apple Music, which have controls that work directly from the widget on Android but don’t do anything other than open the app on iOS.
There must be safeguards in place. You will need to ensure that interactive widgets don’t accidentally turn off your home alarm by tapping. There’s still plenty of space for widgets that have simple controls, so you can do useful tasks without having to jump into apps.
Always-on display
This is something we will continue to ask until Apple gives in. It’s not unreasonable that any iPhone with an OLED screen (which has been many models in the past several years) shouldn’t be able to display some useful information at all times. They have been a standard feature on Android phones for years.
It should at least be an option. It could be disabled by users who are particularly concerned about burn-in or battery life, but a well-designed always-on display would not pose any risk. Apple Watch is perhaps the most battery-sensitive device in its lineup, with an always-on display.
I want to be able to see the date, time, and weather and to get an idea of important notifications by simply looking at my phone at work. This is not too much to ask in 2022.
Lock screen improvements
Apple attempted to reduce notification overload by condensing the notifications into a “scheduled summary” with iOS 15. This is combined with the new focus modes, which hide notifications during certain activities. The goal is to keep you from being overwhelmed by attention-seeking applications so often.
Although it is a great idea, it takes too much time to set up. All apps must be opted-in. Users have to choose which apps should appear in the summary, their focus modes, and how they should behave. We have always been able to manage our notifications. However, everyone uses the defaults for all of it.
Apple should take a different approach when cleaning out the lock screen. If users want to see notifications, they can pull down the notification shading. Then they can give the lock screen a simple notification count. Tapping on the notification shade would also open it. All that space can be used for user data such as the weather and battery levels for connected devices (the Apple watches is below 20%). You can also use these icons to display information icons.
There are many ways to improve the lock screen’s functionality, but the basic clock and notification list feel a little outdated. Notifications are becoming weapons in an ever-evolving battle for our attention. I would like Apple to make me a bulletproof vest.
It would be great to have the option of changing the flashlight or camera shortcuts to a curated set of functions.
Redesign of App Library
App Library is a wonderful idea. The App Library was introduced in iOS 14. It allows you to remove less-used apps from different home screens. It’s a bit confusing. It is organized by type of application and automatically manages folders. However, it does not always place apps in the correct group.
Worse, folders are displayed in large, four-icon “quads”, where three apps are icons without labels that open the app when tap, while the fourth spot displays up to four smaller icons and opens the folder once tapped. The design is confusing.
A simple alphabetical list similar to the one you see when you tap the search bar at top of the App Library would be better. We should have the option to choose an alphabetical list as the default view. This is similar to what was done with Apple Watch.
The entire auto-folder structure needs to be rethought. It can move and shift, which makes it difficult to remember where things are. It’s got no labels. It’s unclear what will open an application and what will expand the folder. App Library tries to be easy, but it can become confusing.
HomeKit overhaul / new Home app
The Home app is somewhat antiquated and doesn’t have any information hierarchy. The top information and controls are selected automatically and cannot be edited. Every device is represented by an identical square.
Without experimentation, it’s not clear what happens when you tap one of these squares, and what happens when your long-presses on it.
It is time to rethink the Home app, which has different control types for different devices. It is not appropriate to represent and control a simple plug in the same way that smart lighting. This shouldn’t look the same as thermostats, which shouldn’t look the same as your HomePod.
It’s not an iOS 16 issue, but Apple must push manufacturers to include HomeKit support. If necessary, Apple can even pay them. Many smart home devices don’t support HomeKit, but only Alexa and Google Assistant. It would take many years for all new smart-home gadgets to support HomeKit.
More default app options
Since iOS 14, you can make your iPhone the default web browser or email app. It’s a good starting point, but it’s only a beginning.
Siri should be able to set default music and podcast app names so that when asking Siri for something to play, we don’t need to mention the name of the app every time (or hope it will remember). It’s the same with messaging. Let messaging apps be able to associate their user IDs to our system contacts, so that when I say “Hey Siri! Message mom!” it will use WhatsApp or Messages instead of Messages if I have changed my default.
Apple could offer more default app options than just email and web browsers. However, it should avoid those that may compromise security. All three are good choices: Weather, Calendar, and Maps.
Sideloading (ha!)
Apple’s App Store policies have been a topic of debate for many years and will not be ending anytime soon.
Apple uses Gatekeeper and certificate signature to protect apps from malicious code on the Mac. Apple requires that developers submit their apps to be notarized. Then, they can be distributed to the public in any way the developer wishes.
This could also work for iOS. Apps would need to be downloaded from the outside of the app store. Users would receive appropriate warnings. Apps would have to go through greater technical hurdles than on Macs. They will need to use the appropriate frameworks to access your location and other information to protect your iPhone privacy settings.
Apple should, in other words, notarize or allow the installation of any iPhone app that conforms to its technical, safety, and security rules. However, that should be kept separate from the content rules which define App Store distribution.
This is because our laws require it. So, Apple has no plans to allow sideloading in iOS 16. This is a wishlist and it’s unlikely to happen.
Siri enhancements (again!)
Apple has made some great improvements to Siri in iOS 15. It now supports offline processing which improves speed and privacy. It is now a bit smarter, more reliable, and can understand what is happening on the screen and respond to it.
It’s still far from being finished. There is not a day that goes by when I don’t ask my Google Assistant a question. I always get an answer and then I ask Siri. Siri is far too inept.
Siri is improving, but it’s not getting better enough fast.
2FA App Integration
You will receive a 2-factor authentication code via text message when you sign in to an app/website. It populates the keyboard suggestion with the code. Simply tap the button to enter the code in your app/website.
This is a great feature that saves you time and allows you to skip between the Messages app, trying to remember a series of numbers. It’s only available for SMS-based codes and it isn’t always the best option. Sim-jacking, number routing services, and other attacks could compromise your SMS-based messages.
Apple should provide a framework to allow one-time password code generation apps like Authy and Google Author. This will enable them to securely fill that same spot on their keyboard suggestions bar whenever an app or website requests a code.
Call screening
Here’s one more item from a reader. Google Assistant, which can be found on Pixel phones, can screen unknown calls and determine who is calling before you answer or send it to voicemail. It’s a wonderful feature, and Apple should make Siri do it.
Apple has an iOS 15 feature that allows you to silence unknown numbers. However, there are many times when we lose actual calls. We don’t need to worry anymore about Siri or a Call Screen-like function.
