X

iOS 10 beta's best parts

If you download iOS 10's public beta, here's what to look for.

Scott Stein
I started with CNET reviewing laptops in 2009. Now I explore wearable tech, VR/AR, tablets, gaming and future/emerging trends in our changing world. Other obsessions include magic, immersive theater, puzzles, board games, cooking, improv and the New York Jets. My background includes an MFA in theater which I apply to thinking about immersive experiences of the future.
Scott Stein
ios-10-public-beta-01.jpg
1 of 28 Sarah Tew/CNET

Those Control Center buttons now support 3D Touch. Not all of them. Flashlight does, though.

ios-10-public-beta-01.jpg
2 of 28 Sarah Tew/CNET

3D Touch in Control Center

So does Camera.

ios-10-public-beta-01.jpg
3 of 28 Sarah Tew/CNET

Control Center has extra panes

Music now gets an extra part of Control Center, but it doesn't really do all that much that's new.

ios-10-public-beta-01.jpg
4 of 28 Sarah Tew/CNET

Apple Music redesign

Speaking of which, Apple Music has a whole new look. The fonts have changed, the layout seems cleaner.

ios-10-public-beta-01.jpg
5 of 28 Sarah Tew/CNET

Apple Music redesign

Albums are more clearly labeled, but is it any easier to find things? Yes and no.

ios-10-public-beta-01.jpg
6 of 28 Sarah Tew/CNET

Apple Music redesign

It's a little easier finding recommended music versus the stuff in your own library.

ios-10-public-beta-01.jpg
7 of 28 Sarah Tew/CNET

Home app

A new app allows HomeKit accessories and appliances to directly hook into a centralized hub.

ios-10-public-beta-01.jpg
8 of 28 Sarah Tew/CNET

New wallpaper

Yes, that's new wallpaper. Everyone loves new wallpaper, right?

ios-10-public-beta-01.jpg
9 of 28 Sarah Tew/CNET

Bedtime

One of my favorite new iOS 10 features is an extra part of the Clock app that sets waking and sleep cycles, with new gentler alarm music tones.

ios-10-public-beta-01.jpg
10 of 28 Sarah Tew/CNET

Apple News

News has a design similar to Apple Music, but it still feels pretty similar to how it was before.

ios-10-public-beta-01.jpg
11 of 28 Sarah Tew/CNET

Notifications and Raise to Wake

Notifications now look more bubbly, and you can see them right away by lifting the iPhone and not pressing a single button.

ios-10-public-beta-01.jpg
12 of 28 Sarah Tew/CNET

Widgets are off to the side, now

Widgets are found by left-swiping from the notifications pane. Some feel a bit too large for the screen space.

ios-10-public-beta-01.jpg
13 of 28 Sarah Tew/CNET

Apps with 3D Touch widgets

Apps can now show widgets just by pressing in on them. Right now, it's just Apple's apps.

ios-10-public-beta-01.jpg
14 of 28 Sarah Tew/CNET

Delete Apple apps

Finally, you can "remove" (or hide) core Apple apps -- even iTunes. But some are still fixed, such as Health and the App Store.

ios-10-public-beta-01.jpg
15 of 28 Sarah Tew/CNET

New Maps app

Apple Maps looks redesigned, and mostly that means it looks better while driving.

ios-10-public-beta-01.jpg
16 of 28 Sarah Tew/CNET

Apple Health

Health has four new panes for things like Mindfulness and Nutrition. It's trying to be more cleanly laid-out and friendly as opposed to the weird, clinical thing it was before.

ios-10-public-beta-01.jpg
17 of 28 Sarah Tew/CNET

Messages

Messages has many odd novelties now. For example, messages can be sent with varying levels of intensity or style.

ios-10-public-beta-01.jpg
18 of 28 Sarah Tew/CNET

Messages

You can add several effects to messages: meet lasers.

ios-10-public-beta-01.jpg
19 of 28 Sarah Tew/CNET

Messages

Fireworks, anyone?

ios-10-public-beta-01.jpg
20 of 28 Sarah Tew/CNET

Messages

Confetti just landed on this conversation.

ios-10-public-beta-01.jpg
21 of 28 Sarah Tew/CNET

Messages

Balloons! You can only pick one of these per message, and you can't combine with text styles.

ios-10-public-beta-01.jpg
22 of 28 Sarah Tew/CNET

Messages

Meet the new text-to-emoji keyboard translator.

ios-10-public-beta-01.jpg
23 of 28 Sarah Tew/CNET

Messages

If you can discover how, you can scribble doodles to a friend like you can on Apple Watch.

ios-10-public-beta-01.jpg
24 of 28 Sarah Tew/CNET

Messages

Or send a simulated heartbeat.

ios-10-public-beta-01.jpg
25 of 28 Sarah Tew/CNET

Messages

Some of the few available stickers you can send in Messages. This classic Mac sticker pack is the best.

ios-10-public-beta-01.jpg
26 of 28 Sarah Tew/CNET

Messages

I'm doodling on a 10-second video clip just because I can.

ios-10-public-beta-01.jpg
27 of 28 Sarah Tew/CNET

Memories in Photos

Memories is a new feature, scanning the photos in your iCloud library and curating them into collections locally on your device.

ios-10-public-beta-01.jpg
28 of 28 Sarah Tew/CNET

Memories in Photos

It's like what Facebook and Google do already, organizing by faces, places and days, and even making slideshow videos.

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos