Interesting new iOS 14 features you might not know about

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Yesterday Apple announced iOS 14, a major new release, as part of its WWDC 2020 keynote. As usual, the company spent a big part of the event discussing its new mobile operating system and its major new features, which includes things like updated widgets, new Messages, Maps, and Safari apps, Translate, updated Siri, improved CarPlay and App Clips.


That's a sizable list of major new features to discuss in one event where Apple also had to talk about other things. So what Apple mentioned during its WWDC keynotes is usually just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all the new features in its major new OS releases. And this year arguably has the longest list of changes hidden away in the 'All New Features' page on the company's website.

So we went through the 191 new features listed on Apple's website to pick the ones that Apple missed out on mentioning during the keynote but are seriously worth your attention. For some of you, the features listed below might even be more important than what was mentioned during the keynote. If you're already an iOS user or someone on Android who is thinking of jumping fence, you're going to want to read this.

The following features have been listed in no particular order.


Widget stacks: Apple discussed at length its new design for widgets in iOS 14. It also showed the new Smart Stack widget, which stacks relevant widgets in one place so you can flip through them and also changes based on the time of the day. However, what Apple didn't mention is that you can create your own custom widget stack. Just place your favorite widgets one on top of another to create a stack on your homescreen. Then you can just flip through them without wasting additional space on your homescreen for multiple widgets.

App Library: Apple discussed most of the App Library features in the keynote but it's worth pointing out that all new apps that are downloaded will now directly go into the App Library. Alternatively, you can also choose to have them appear on the homescreen if you prefer the current method.


Safari improvements: Apple brought up Safari when talking about macOS Big Sur but didn't mention that some of the changes also apply to Safari on iOS 14. Safari on iOS 14 also supports the text translation feature for non-native web pages. It also includes the web privacy report function and supports password monitoring to check if your passwords were involved in a data breach. Lastly, Safari on iOS 14 also features the new JavaScript engine for 2x faster JS performance than Chrome on Android 10.

Power reserve for Car Keys: One of the thoughts I had while watching Apple's cool Car Keys demo was how do you unlock your car if your iPhone's battery dies and you didn't bring your key. The answer to that is power reserve, which enables you to still use your iPhone as your car key for up to five hours after the battery on the phone is dead. Pretty cool.

Headphone Accommodations: This is a new accessibility feature for those hard at hearing. It adjusts the frequency response and amplifies softer sounds to make them easier to hear. It works with AirPods Pro, AirPods, EarPods, Powerbeats, Powerbeats Pro, and Beats Solo Pro. It's also compatible with the Transparency mode on the AirPods Pro and helps amplify the softer sounds and quieter voices in your surroundings.


AirPods features: Along with spatial audio and automatic device switching that Apple discussed during the keynote, AirPods are also getting battery notifications, which will alert the user if the AirPods need to be charged before they get on a call or start a movie. Apple has also introduced a new AirPods Pro Motion API, which gives developers access to orientation, user acceleration, and rotational rates for AirPods Pro — ideal for fitness apps, games, and more.


Privacy features: Along with privacy information on the App Store, app tracking controls and approximate locations, you can now also give apps access to only selected items when an app asks

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