Move to iCloud

For the longest time, iPhone users have been asking Apple for a way to change the default system apps to third-party alternatives. Apple might just give users this feature in iOS 14 thanks to the ongoing pressure from various regulators. The company has been taking unfair advantage of its position to push its own apps and services compared to third-party services. By allowing users to change the default apps, the company could level the playing field for all. As per a report from Bloomberg in February, Apple could allow users to change the default mail and browser app in iOS 14. It is also considering allowing users to change the default music player for Siri to Spotify or Pandora. The ability to change the default apps in iOS 14 is easily going to be a major usability improvement, that is if Apple gets around to implementing it.

iOS 13 was a buggy and messy release from Apple. The company had to release multiple updates within weeks of the initial iOS 13 release to fix a number of bugs with the OS. It took Apple over 10+ releases of iOS 13 to fix some major bugs and ensure that the OS does not have any stability issues. Even now though, iOS 13 has quite a few bugs lingering around. With iOS 14, Apple has reportedly changed its internal development approach. The move should help Apple ensure that it does not end up shipping iOS 14 with broken and buggy features like it did with iOS 13. However, this change in approach was before COVID-19 outbreak forced Apple employees to work from home. While coronavirus is likely to have slowed down iOS 14 development inside Apple, let’s still hope that the company is able to deliver a stable and bug-free OS this time.

Apple tends to focus a lot on health and wellbeing. With iOS 14, the company is  reportedly going to debut a new Fitness app  for iPhone and Apple Watch that will offer users guided workouts. Apple already has a Health app that acts as a central repository for important vitals, but this will be different since it will offer guided workouts similar to what Fitbit Coach does. The original report claimed that the app would be available as a free download and while it does not have any IAPs, that could change before its release.

The way Siri sounds is currently completely down to Apple, but MacRumors reports that Apple is exploring the ability for developers to use custom voice synthesizers to change it. This feature would apparently be provided through a new framework called VoiceProvider, and could land as part of iOS 14. It could allow for the addition of languages and dialects that Apple doesn't currently support, as well, potentially, as allowing for custom Siri voices.

Apple is rumored to offer improved categorization of wallpapers in iOS 14. Additionally, it will also allow third-party wallpaper apps to integrate and offer their wallpaper collections right in the Wallpaper settings of the OS. This means one would have access to a wide variety of wallpapers and can switch between them easily without having to hunt for them manually. There will also be a Collections feature where users would be able to populate and collate their favorite wallpapers. There are also rumors of Apple allowing users to change the wallpaper in CarPlay in iOS 14.

Code found in a  leaked internal build of iOS 14  points to Apple working on  adding widgets support on the Home screen  which has been internally codenamed “Avacado.” Just like icons, one would be able to move the widgets freely on the home screen and they could exist alongside app icons. There’s a possibility though that Apple does not end up including widgets on the home screen in iOS 14 and push its release back by another year.