Lifehacker [Japan Version] Reprinted from the article published on August 21, 2021
Some of the great new features in iOS 15 and iPad OS 15 are only available on new devices.
To take advantage of this update feature, you need an iPhone or iPad model manufactured after 2018.
Some of the features updated this time require hardware support, which is only available on devices with at least the A12 Bionic chip.
We'll explain why and features that aren't available on older iPhone models.
Why iOS 15 has features that require an A12 Bionic chip
Some features of iOS 15 require a great deal of processing power, such as immersive navigation.
Some features require certain Apple chips to provide a smooth level of user experience.
iOS 15 requires at least the iPhone XS to use features optimized for Apple's A12 Bionic chip and later chips. For reference, the devices using the A12 Bionic chip are:
・ IPhone XS series (2018)
・ Phone XR XR (2018)
・ IPad Pro (2018)
・ IPad 6 (2018)
・ IPad Air 3 (2019)
・ IPad mini 5 (2019)
If you're using an iPhone or iPad manufactured after 2018, you should be able to take advantage of iOS 15-specific features.
So what exactly are the features of iOS 15 that can only be used on new devices?
I will introduce it below.
1. 1. Apple Maps: Immersive Augmented Reality Navigation
Apple Maps in iOS 15 enables immersive walking navigation with augmented reality (AR).
Simply scan the surrounding buildings and infrastructure with your device's camera to get detailed directions, including narrow turns and pedestrian crossings.
If you're traveling on foot with a compatible device, detailed navigation with AR will definitely help you get to your destination faster.
2. Apple Maps: Interactive 3D Globe
The "Maps" app, redesigned in iOS 15, features an interactive 3D globe that allows you to zoom and rotate in any direction to "discover the natural beauty of the planet." I can do it.
It's a useful feature for discovering new regions, but it requires an iPhone XS or later.
3. 3. Apple Maps: More detailed city maps
Apple Maps for iOS 15 provides more detailed maps for cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and London. All information, including roads, trees, buildings, and elevation, is displayed in more detail than ever before.
In addition, major landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge are now rendered as 3D objects. Detailed city maps are only displayed on devices with the A12 Bionic chip or later.
Four.Computer vision: live text
The best new feature in iOS 15 is "live text".
"Live Text" is a real-time OCR scanner that copies text from an image and pastes it elsewhere.
You can detect text from web images, your own photos, and the live video feed of the camera app.
As mentioned earlier, this great feature works in real time on compatible devices.
Five. "Photo" app: Visual Lookup function
With the iOS 15 Photos app, you can retrieve images to find out more about everything and situations that are recognized. This feature works with a variety of items such as books, pet breeds, popular art and landmarks.
6. FaceTime: Portrait mode
Similar to portrait photography in the camera app, you can now use portrait mode to blur the background and focus on your face during a FaceTime video call.
FaceTime's portrait mode hides the prominent background and gives you the best possible picture. However, you need an iPhone or iPad 2018 or later to use this feature.
7. 7. FaceTime: 3D audio
FaceTime has adopted a technology called "spatial audio" that allows you to hear sound from various directions. This, in Apple's words, enables "more natural, comfortable, and immersive" calls.
iOS 15 uses audio effects to spread the voices of participants so that they can hear the voices of the people on the screen from their respective positions.
8. Siri: Personalize your device on your device
Siri on iOS 15 has become more capable of learning about users through what they read. It also creates a personalized experience based on that information without sending any information about the user to the cloud.
For example, Siri learns the contacts that users often interact with and provides useful suggestions on the fly.
Siri's intelligence also improves the iPhone's autocorrect feature by learning new words entered by the user.
9. Siri: Allows voice processing on devices without connecting to the internet
In iOS 14 and earlier versions, Siri had to upload the user's voice to Apple's servers, analyze it, analyze it, and put it into plain text in order for Siri to understand the user's language.
In iOS 15, this voice-to-text conversion process is done offline by the device.
Performing voice processing on your device makes Siri run faster than voice recognition done by connecting to a server, which also improves privacy protection.
On the other hand, real-time voice conversion of text requires CPU power, so iPhone XS and later models are required.
Ten. Siri: Offline support
Siri on iOS 15 allows you to set timers and alarms, change settings, send messages, handle calls, and more without an internet connection.
It's a nice feature for people who often go to places where the radio waves of smartphones do not reach because there is no Wi-Fi.
11. 11. Universal control between iPhone / iPad / Mac
With Universal Control, you can share your keyboard, mouse, and trackpad between your Mac and iPad without any configuration. To use it on the iPad, you need a model with the A12 Bionic: iPad Pro, iPad Air 3, iPad 6, or iPad mini 5 or later.
12.Wallet: Unlock home, hotel, office and car doors as a digital key
Apple aims to make the Wallet app an alternative to physical wallets. iOS 15 will support HomeKit compatible digital keys for home, office, hotel, and car door locks.
This allows you to quickly and seamlessly unlock your home, office, hotel, or car doors.
The availability of this feature depends on the device and location.
Wallet digital key support is limited to iPhone XS and later and will not continue to be available on iPad. In addition, Apple states that the requirements for devices that take advantage of this feature may vary by hotel and workplace.
13. "Weather" app: new animated background
The more beautiful "weather" apps in iOS 15 use dynamic backgrounds with thousands of variations that accurately represent the position of the sun, clouds, precipitation, and more, according to Apple. .. You need an A12 Bionic chip or a later chip to display these animated backgrounds.
Other iOS 15 feature limitations
Even if you have a compatible iPhone or iPad, the above features are not always available. Also, iOS 15 features vary by region.
For example, health data sharing and blood glucose analysis are features that are only available in the United States for the time being.
Similarly, the map app's air quality indicators are currently limited to the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, France, and a few other regions, as well as the ability to notify you of precipitation one hour from now. Currently only available in the US, UK and Ireland.
The useful support documentation posted on Apple's website will be updated with the release of this update to reflect the availability of features in iOS 15 and iPad OS 15.
You may need an iCloud paid plan to take advantage of features such as HomeKit Secure Video.
Also, if you do not purchase a compatible smart home appliance, you will not be able to use features such as Siri built into iOS 15. Also, having Siri announce accurate time notifications is only possible with 2nd generation AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max.
The devices required for features such as adding physical keys to the Wallet app may vary by hotel and workplace. And best of all, the features introduced here will not be available until iOS 15 is open to the public in late 2021.
iOS 15 will be available to general users in the latter half of 2021, and the following functions will be available accordingly.
Hide MyEmail: The ability to generate a random email address that forwards emails to the user's personal inbox will be available in the late 2021 update.
-Wallet app digital key support: The ability of the Wallet app to replace physical keys is planned after the announcement of iOS 15.
· Add ID to Wallet: In late 2021, you will be able to add your driver's license and state ID to your wallet.
-Detailed city map: In the latter half of 2021, a more detailed map will appear in CarPlay.
App Privacy Report: iOS 15 will have a new section in Settings.
Let's upgrade even the old model iPhone
Last but not least, iOS 15 and iPad OS 15 are still in beta. At this time, features are subject to change and may change with each beta release.
A good example is Safari's interface. In response to negative user feedback, Apple has changed confusing tab settings in the third beta.
By the time iOS 15 is released, there will be several more beta versions available.
iOS 15 will be available in late 2021 and will probably precede the new iPhone in September.
Original Article: 13 Features in iOS 15 That Don't Work on Older iPhones by MakeUseOf
