iOS 13: Changes and Upgrades that Technology, Marketing, and Product Teams Should be Aware Of
When it comes to doing business in the world today, there’s no such thing as an isolated ecosystem. Most industries and industrial sectors are connected to each other in some way or another. Among the industries and sectors that seriously overlap with others, the tech sector is most certainly up there. Whether you’re talking about education, medicine, and health, travel, finance, or even manufacture, technology plays a key role.
Why Operating Systems like iOS 13 Matter
If you are someone who is involved in the design, development, and deployment of digital products such as games, applications, programs, and other forms of software, understanding operating systems is important. The reason this is so is that the function of your products is directly related to if or not they are compatible with a given operating system and its features.
Further, understanding the capabilities of any operating system is what allows individuals to optimize the use of the same, making most of the features available. Whether you’re someone developing an enterprise app, a company working to build app or software, or someone involved in marketing over the digital platform, staying updated is crucial. Here are some things you need to know relating to functional changes and features introduced in iOS 13.
Changes in Privacy
As most Apple users (and many Android users) already know, there are two reasons that iOS users remain loyal despite the generally higher costs of apple devices. The first is Apple’s claim of offering users superior technology. This, however, is often disputed by competitors who are constantly reinventing their own technology in an effort to compete.
The second claim, albeit the more consistent one, is Apple’s claim to better device security and privacy. This claim is a little harder to dispute and is backed up by things like Apple’s closed eco-system development style. In any case, one of the areas that Apple has kept in check yet again is user privacy.
When it comes to privacy changes, here’s what marketers, developers, and tech teams need to know.
Changes in Bluetooth Access
The level of Bluetooth access granted by Apple has changed with the introduction of iOS 13. In contrast to what was previously, a free access system, Bluetooth access on iOS 13 devices is now restricted. Where apps and software could once access the devices Bluetooth service, search for and sync with other devices, and exchange information, without any explicit user permission, this is no longer possible.
Any kind of Bluetooth access has to first be authorized by the device user. Furthermore, apps need to seek individual permission for access as trust for one app does not necessarily translate to trust for another.
What are the Implications?
What this means is that when it comes to applications, the use of Bluetooth to perform necessary functions needs to be curved. This also applies to software development kits that apps may use. For those that absolutely must integrate Bluetooth related features in their app designs, it is important to make certain that well timed and adequately worded permission prompts are programmed in. Using Bluetooth features as freely as you once would for apps and programs developed for iOS 13 is not recommended.
Changes in GPS Tracking
As most of you may remember, GPS services to help apps with location related features used to be accessible depending on a single permission prompt. Once permission was granted to a given app, the app in question proceeded to receive full access to user GPS locations from that point on. This is not the case with iOS 13.
When it comes to location permissions relating to GPS services for iOS 13, app permissions granted are a one-time arrangement. This means that access once given may be automatically revoked and not granted again. Apart from this iOS 13 is also programmed to alert users when location tracking is being used by apps giving them data which includes the times they were being tracked, the exact location, and the number of time such tracking was being undertaken. With the hundred and one privacy concerns as well as the general paranoia associated with unauthorized surveillance today, you can imagine how such updates could serve to rattle users.
What are the Implications?
The first thing this means is that those relying on location tracking to gather important market and customer data, may not be able to blindly rely on the same as they would before. This is because a large number of users are expected to seriously limit the GPS access that is allowed to apps and other programs.
Once again, if location tracking is vital for certain processes, the advisable thing to do would be to carefully word and time a permission seeking notification. Maybe tell users a little bit about why their location data is important and assure them that accumulated information won’t be abused in any way. Apart from this, if your location access requirements are limited to when the app is actively being used, state as much in the notifications you program and time them accordingly.
Apple ID Sign-ins
When it comes to promoting privacy or Apple’s privacy-first eco-system as it is known, Apple’s new sign in feature plays an extremely important role. To make a long story short, as opposed to filling in complicated information forms or going through long drawn registration or verification processes, Apple users need only use their Apple IDs to access various websites, online portals, and services.
What are the Implications?
In case you’re under the impression that this is simply another sign in facilitation service (like those offered by Google, Facebook, or other platforms), you’re mistaken. The sign in with Apple service is actually quite different. What makes Apple’s new sign in feature different is the fact that signing in using an Apple ID protects user information. When it comes to professional marketers, product analysts and designers, and tech organizations, this means that valuable user data will not be openly accessible.
As opposed to offering user information like email addresses and so on, apple offers cover information, ensuring that user information remains invisible.
Silencing Unknown Callers
Personally, from a user perspective, we think this particular feature is absolutely brilliant. The feature allows for the filtering of calls from unknown sources. Basically, calls from any numbers that are not saved in the device and hence not recognized by the OS are automatically blocked and routed to voicemail or get listed as missed calls. No notifications, no alerts, no ringing.
It’s quite obvious why this feature is among the many recent user favorites.
What are the Implications?
The negative implications here are most pertinent for marketers and companies that rely on phone based outreach and communication with clients. Though the OS is meant to provide some flexibility for numbers that may not be saved but are still traceable within user data, the efficiency of such functions is still questionable.
Our advice here would be to look into more efficient alternatives to call-based communication such as more powerful in-app communication tools for instance.
In Conclusion
There are other small changes that have been introduced by Apple to their new iOS 13 that sets its functionality apart from previous iOS versions. That said, then it comes to market professionals, tech companies, and product creators or developers, the changes listed in this blog are the ones that will likely need to be worked around the most!
