iOS 14 will ship with a brand-new Home screen layout that allows users to arrange icons in a list, according to a new report. The view is expected to be customizable and will incorporate Siri Suggestions for making your most frequently used apps easier to access.
It could be the biggest change to the Home screen since the first version of iOS debuted with the original iPhone in 2007.
Apple typically previews its next upcoming version of iOS at the company’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference. However, the fate of this year’s WWDC is up in the air as the COVID-19 outbreak continues to spread. Even without an event, Apple should still be on track to release iOS 14 this fall. It’s shaping up to be an exciting release, based on leaked information seen so far.
The latest revelation indicates iOS 14 will bring big changes to the Home screen layout for the first time.
iOS 14’s new Home screen layout
“This new page will include a list of all application icons, making it easier for users to see all of their installed apps at once,” reports 9to5Mac. “Furthermore, the list view will include several different sorting options and other details. For instance, you’ll be able to filter applications such that you see all apps that currently have unread notifications.”
It’s thought you will also be able to sort apps by how recently they’ve been used. This would make finding favorite apps easier. Plus, it would identify least-used apps, making them easier to delete when freeing up system storage. Finally, there reportedly will be a list including Siri Suggestions based on things like time of day and location.
For example, your list when you’re in the office might include productivity and messaging apps toward the top. At home in the evening, you might see apps like YouTube and Reddit in the prime spots.
More for iOS 14
The new iOS app list view is said to be similar to that in watchOS. It’s designed to make it easier for users to locate apps they might have misplaced, or that they might have completely forgotten about.
This information comes from iOS 14 code seen by 9to5. It is supposedly something Apple is actually working on, rather than just random whispers. It’s the latest in a string of software leaks that also includes more advanced mouse support for iPad and big enhancements for watchOS 7. That doesn’t mean these features are guaranteed, however.
Apple constantly explores changes and improvements that might not make it into a final software release. We’ll have to wait and see what its iOS 14 preview brings.
