WASHINGTON — Almost a month since its release, many phone users remain unaware of new features — and potential drawbacks — in Apple’s latest mobile operating system, iOS 10.
Some of the most dramatic improvements are the built-in Messages app.
Hoping to emulate some of the excitement surrounding Snapchat, iOS 10 users can draw on a photo with their finger, by clicking on the Markup tab.
In addition, by turning the phone on its side, the screen becomes a whiteboard, so messages scrawled with a finger are sent as a graphic.
New animations can provide drama as the text messages are delivered, including confetti and balloons flowing across the phone screen.
Other features make it easier to control a media player, accessible with an additional swipe from Control Center.
A timesaving feature is voicemail transcription. Rather than listening to a recorded voicemail, iOS 10 offers a typed transcription — while prone to mistakes, the typed version usually enables a user to get the gist of the message with a glance.
iOS 10 offers a feature that helps colorblind users see colors on phone more vividly. With color filters, the phone substitutes easier-to-see colors, which make them jump out to users that have a hard time distinguishing between hues.
The Do Not Disturb feature prevents audible rings and notifications. However, iOS offers peace of mind to parents who always want their children to be able to contact them. A few clicks in the person’s contact will enable “Emergency Bypass.”
As is often the case, a new version of iOS comes with reports — some true, some not — of excessive battery drain.
Tips for longer battery life include disabling the Raise to Wake feature, which turns the phone on, every time the user picks it up.
Another way to save batteries is to reduce the number of widgets on the Lock screen. The widgets enable you to quickly see what’s ahead for the day, but disabling the feature will conserve juice.
While the animations involved in the rejuvenated Messages app are vivid, they also chew up battery life. By enabling Reduce Motion, the animations disappear, saving power.
