More iOS 16 Tidbits: New FaceTime Video Call UI, Redesigned Video Player, and More

Apple this week announced iOS 16, a major release filled with significant customization features for the Lock Screen, new features for Focus mode, the ability to edit and retract iMessages, and so much more.

ios 16 lock screen
While Apple showcased some of ‌iOS 16‌'s major features during its jam-packed WWDC keynote, there are dozens, if not hundreds, of smaller features and changes left for users to discover. Below, we've compiled a list of six changes and new features you may not have known about.

Transparent FaceTime Video Call UI

ios 16 transparent video call ui
During a FaceTime video call, Apple has updated the UI in ‌iOS 16‌ to be fully transparent, with buttons for camera, microphone, message, speaker, and SharePlay now larger and easier to tap.

iMessage Mention Suggestions Now Include Contact Images

ios 16 imessage mentions
When mentioning a contact on iMessage, mention suggestions now include a contact image in the Quick Tap bar. This can be particularly helpful in group chats where multiple people may share a first name.

Entirely Redesigned Video Player UI

ios 16 updated vidoe player ui
Apple has redesigned the stock video player UI in ‌iOS 16‌, making it cleaner by getting rid of unnecessary clutter while highlighting basic controls such as volume, play/pause, and Picture in Picture.

Redesigned Voice Messaging Experience in iMessage

ios 16 new audio recording imessage
Apple has redesigned the voice messaging experience on iMessage with ‌iOS 16‌, making it its own separate iMessage app that lives in the app bar.

The app lets users tap, hold, and record messages more quickly. Apple has replaced the previous hold and swipe-up gesture to record voice messages with a new Dictation button. On a related note, users can now skim through voice messages on ‌iOS 16‌.

Privacy Access History

ios 16 privacy access history
On ‌iOS 16‌ Apple is adding a neat trick that lets users check which apps have recently accessed their camera, microphone, location, and other sensitive sensors on their iPhone. The new view can be accessed by tapping on the top of Control Center shortly after an app has used access.

Related Roundups: iOS 16, iPadOS 16
Related Forum: iOS 16

Top Rated Comments

a104375 Avatar
11 months ago
I hate that the new video controls dim the screen and are needlessly in the middle. What was wrong with having them off to the side out of the main content area?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Reeneman Avatar
11 months ago
These are some very welcome small features :)
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Kylo83 Avatar
11 months ago

These are some very welcome small features :)
None will really change anything, we need the batt % number back at the top and the home bar gone that would make a big change
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BJMRamage Avatar
11 months ago

None will really change anything, we need the batt % number back at the top and the home bar gone that would make a big change
I'd even go as far as the Battery is shown but once it hits 20% you instead get a Percentage to better track things.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mousse Avatar
11 months ago

The native iOS video player STILL does not have a rotation button, or play videos in landscape by default. I had a jailbreak tweak for this literally over a decade ago. What gives?
That's because the average person records video in the vertical orientation. It's one of the few things that triggers me when I see the way most people record videos on their smartphones. Record in landscape orientation ya Philistines.?

Anyhow, I only use my iPhone for games. I used my android phone for watching videos because it's ten billion percent ('//www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlUBIM_6oUI') easier to get movies on and off via microSD. And the video players on Android are superior to those on iOS.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
trost Avatar
11 months ago

I hate that the new video controls dim the screen and are needlessly in the middle. What was wrong with having them off to the side out of the main content area?
I thought I was the only one! The new video controls would be fine if they didn’t have to dim the entire video to change volume or scrub video track..
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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