We may have had to wait a little longer than we'd like, but iOS 15 beta 3 does bring some nice improvements. Apple is clearly tweaking the design of Safari and adding useful features to the browser. Other parts of the system are also getting an improvement.
- Safari improvements
- Quick search
- Transfer data
- Navigation- instructions
- Background sounds
- Focus enhancements
- Music widget
- Other
#1 Improvements in Safari
There is a lot to do with Safari in this beta period. Apple has changed the design considerably compared to iOS 14. In iOS 15 beta 3, the browser gets some fine-tuning again. Gradually we come to a better version of Safari. In beta 3 it is immediately noticeable that the browser works a lot smoother and crashes less. In addition, buttons and shapes have also been improved throughout the app. A nice change is that the address bar is now above your keyboard when you're typing.
New is the ability to hold your finger on the address bar at the bottom. You then get some quick actions, such as reloading the page and copying the link. This addition is nice, because Apple has done short work with the button bar at the bottom of the browser. This way you can reach your buttons a little faster.
Finally, Apple has returned the refresh button to the address bar. You can see that on both the iPad and the iPhone, but you have to hold an iPhone horizontally to see it. Apple may change this. At this point, you need to put a page on the “old” reloads way before the button appears, but we expect this to be just a bug.
#2 Safari Quick Search
A Safari function that we would like to mention separately is a very handy one: quick search within websites. We do not mean that you can search for a word on a page, because that has been possible for some time. No, we mean here that you can use the search engine within a website via the search bar of Safari. Let's explain.
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Suppose you visit iCulture.nl regularly and you want to use the search engine on our website to go to “iPhone 13” Search. Then from iOS 15 you can open the Safari search bar and enter the following: “iCulture iPhone 13”. As a suggestion you get “Search iculture.nl for iPhone 13”. Tap it and you will immediately be taken to the correct search page via our own search engine.
To activate this you only have to visit the website once. The website is then saved and you can use the function from any website. You manage the saved websites in the Settings app.
#3 Transfer data to new iPhone
The existence of the function was already known, but now there is actually a button for it in the Settings app: transfer data to another iPhone. This menu will guide you through the process of getting your new iPhone up and running. What exactly will happen when you use the feature is not fully known yet. At the moment the feature is not working.
This feature does include the ability to create an iCloud backup if you don't actually have enough storage. From iOS 15, Apple gives you temporary extra storage for free to back up and restore. Want to know more about improvements for iCloud in iOS 15? Check out our separate article.
#4 Spoken navigation instructions pause the car radio
Are you navigating with Apple Maps and listening to music through your car stereo? Then iOS 15 now offers the option to temporarily pause that audio when you receive spoken instructions. Your car must offer support for this. Apple does not disclose which cars those are. It is an interesting feature for those who listen to music through the car's FM and/or DAB radio.
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You can find the option under Settings > Maps > Spoken instructions. You can also set here whether podcasts and audiobooks should pause during spoken instructions and whether your iPhone screen should light up when new instructions are given.
#5 New active for background sounds in Shortcuts app
The background sounds on your iPhone and iPad will be easier to use from this beta. In addition to the Settings app, the Assignments app can now do something with it. This way you can make all kinds of automations for the background sounds. It is possible to automatically play background sounds and give your lamps a calm color when it is bedtime.
At the moment the settings are still written in English and you will have to search in English. Apple will undoubtedly translate this into Dutch before iOS 15 is available to the general public.
#6 Improvements for Focus
One of Apple's showpieces for iOS 15 is the Focus feature. This feature helps you focus on your tasks and allows multiple ‘focus’ Set up. In iOS 15 beta 3, Apple has made some minor improvements. For example, in the Settings app you will now find additional explanations about how others are informed about your current Focus status. Furthermore, all settings now also have their own icon, so that you can recognize them faster. Finally, iOS 15 beta 3 adds a search field in the list of contacts that are allowed to disturb you during a Focus.
#7 Newly designed Music widget
Lovers of the Music widget, take note: it has been redesigned when you're playing or pausing music. The widget now takes on the color of the album cover. It is therefore reminiscent of the Spotify widget. Unfortunately it is not (yet) possible to pause or fast forward your music from the widget. To do that, you need to open the Music app by tapping the widget.
Other improvements in iOS 15 beta 3
In addition to these improvements, Apple has also made some minor changes and additions. Technically, there are even more changes. Please refer to the release notes for iOS 15 beta 3.
- Split View: When you open Split View on the iPad, a small message appears at the top of your screen with additional explanation. Previously it was unclear what the intention is.
- Live text: Instead of “Text input from camera” you will now only see a Live Text icon when you open the text editor. This saves a lot of space, especially on smaller screens.
- Find my:In the Find My app, you will now find a plus sign above your list of objects, devices, and friends. Here you can quickly add an item.
- Notifications: If you swipe a notification in the Notification Center to the left, the “Options” and “Clear” buttons are now more clearly separated.
- Assignments: You can now stop creating a new assignment in the Assignments app while creating a new assignment, without leaving an empty assignment is left behind. That is not yet arranged in iOS 14.
- App Store: The App Store has a new splash screen with an explanation of new functions.
More about iOS 15
iOS 15 is the major update for the iPhone and iPod touch. If you want to know whether your iPhone is suitable for iOS 15, you will find the answer in our article. We expect the official iOS 15 release in September/October 2021. Find out what else was announced during the keynote in our WWDC 2021 recap! Or read our very extensive iOS 15 preview.