iOS 14

iOS 14
Name	iOS 14
Developer	Apple Inc.
Initial release	September 16, 2020
Latest release	iOS 14.8.1 (example placeholder)
Supported devices	iPhone 6s and later
Kernel type	XNU
License	Proprietary

iOS 14 iOS 14 is a mobile operating system release developed by Apple Inc. for the iPhone line, introduced during a 2020 keynote by Tim Cook and unveiled alongside iPadOS 14 and watchOS 7. It followed predecessors from the iOS series and competed in the market with releases from Google's Android ecosystem and influenced trends observed at events like the Worldwide Developers Conference and industry coverage by outlets such as The Verge, TechCrunch, and Wired.

Overview

iOS 14 introduced platform-level changes that affected interactions across the App Store, Safari, Apple Maps, and Messages while aligning with corporate initiatives at Apple Inc. and regulatory scrutiny involving institutions like the European Commission and the United States Department of Justice. Major themes included widget integration inspired by design patterns seen in products by Microsoft and Google, efficiency gains reminiscent of prior Apple releases under executives such as Phil Schiller and engineering leadership comparable to teams working on macOS Big Sur.

New features

The update debuted a redesigned Home Screen workflow featuring widgets and an App Library inspired by curation systems at companies like Amazon and Netflix. Picture-in-picture video playback brought multitasking improvements similar to features in iPadOS and rival implementations from Samsung's One UI and Google's Pixel devices. The release added compact call and Siri interfaces paralleling user interface trends seen in products like Facebook's mobile apps and services from Microsoft. Translation features integrated on-device machine learning influenced by research from groups like OpenAI, DeepMind, and academic labs at MIT and Stanford University.

Design and user interface

Design refinements followed Apple's Human Interface Guidelines and built upon aesthetic shifts in iOS 13 and contemporaneous desktop design in macOS Big Sur. The Home Screen's widget system allowed various sizes, echoing approaches by Android developers at Google and third-party launchers from companies like Nova Launcher authors and designers associated with Material Design. Compact notifications and an updated compact Siri preserved continuity with gestures and visual language established by designers formerly at IDEO and consultants who worked with brands such as Nike and Airbnb.

App updates and APIs

iOS 14 expanded APIs for developers distributing apps via the App Store and using frameworks like Swift and SwiftUI, enabling new widgets, App Clips (lightweight app experiences), and updated ARKit capabilities for augmented reality use cases similar to projects presented at conferences such as SIGGRAPH and CES. Background processing and location APIs changed in ways that affected apps from companies like Facebook, Google, Uber, and fitness apps integrated with HealthKit and partner devices from Fitbit and Garmin. The release also interacted with developer tooling from Xcode and libraries maintained by organizations like the Linux Foundation and Apache Software Foundation.

Privacy and security

Privacy enhancements included more transparent permission prompts and an App Store privacy information section paralleling transparency moves advocated by groups such as Electronic Frontier Foundation and regulations like the California Consumer Privacy Act and discussions around General Data Protection Regulation. Security patches addressed vulnerabilities reported by researchers affiliated with institutions such as Google Project Zero and university teams at Carnegie Mellon University and University of Oxford. The platform's stance influenced debates involving corporations like Epic Games and policy inquiries led by legislators in the United States House of Representatives and the European Parliament.

Release history and compatibility

iOS 14's public rollout followed beta testing cycles involving Apple Developer previews and the public beta program, mirroring release workflows used for prior versions distributed by Apple Inc. and coordinated with carriers such as Verizon Communications, AT&T, and T-Mobile US. Compatibility spanned older devices back to the iPhone 6s and models contemporaneous with carriers and manufacturers like Qualcomm and Intel, affecting handset ecosystems alongside releases from competitors including Samsung Electronics and OnePlus.

Reception and impact

The update received coverage and critique from technology press including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Bloomberg L.P., and reviewers at CNET and Engadget, with attention to user-facing changes like widgets and App Clips as well as controversies over tracking and antitrust implications involving companies such as Facebook and Google. Its features influenced subsequent mobile OS design decisions across vendors like Google and Samsung Electronics, developer strategies at studios like Electronic Arts and Activision Blizzard, and policy discussions at bodies including the Federal Trade Commission and the United States Department of Justice.

Category:Apple software