Though it has received a few significant updates over the course of the last several iOS updates, the Messages app on the iPhone still can’t compete with many of the most popular third-party apps on the App Store.
With iOS 10, Apple is going to make Messages one of the most feature-rich messaging apps available, while simultaneously opening Messages up to developers in order to allow them to put their own spin on the app.
SEE ALSO: 13 best new features coming to the iPhone and iPad in iOS 10
During Apple’s WWDC 2016 keynote, the company showed off several new features for one of the most used apps on the iPhone: Messages.
- The addition of rich links in text message threads will give users the ability to send a YouTube or Apple Music link that will play right from the thread.
- The Camera button will now open directly to the Camera.
- Emoji are 3x bigger than they were before.
- Emoji predictions will guess which emoji you need.
- “Emojifiable” words will be highlighted. With a click, you can turn them into emoji.
- Bubble effects let you change the tone of your message. You can make the text slam down into the thread, appear softly and then grow larger or even hide the message with invisible ink, which others can swipe away.
- Use Digital Touch, scribbles and handwriting to add a personal touch to a message.
- Full screen effects will light up the entire thread.
- iMessage apps, such as Stickers, are coming this fall when Apple opens the app up to developers. There’s even going to be an App Store just for iMessage.
As you can see, the iMessage experience is going to change dramatically this fall when iOS 10 rolls out to iPhone and iPad users around the world. Check back for our early look at the preview build later today.
Be sure to check out our WWDC 2016 hub for all the latest news from Apple’s big developer event.
