iOS 10: Rumored iPhone & iPad features in the cards for WWDC 2016

As we approach Apple’s WWDC 2016 developer conference scheduled for June 13-17, there are more than a few reported in-development features and fixes that are likely candidates for stage time. An Apple Music revamp, Apple Pay updates, improvements for the App Store, and new features for HomeKit, Siri, and Apple News are just a few possibilities for Apple’s event next month. Below we roundup those features and much more as we take a look at the most likely new iPhone and iPad features in the works for iOS 10:

Apps |

One long requested feature rumored for iOS 10: the ability to hide Apple’s stock apps from your Home screen. But hopefully some improvements to its apps will mean you won’t want to. For HomeKit, Apple is reportedly finally planning to launch a standalone app to give a location other than Siri and third-party apps to manage accessories using the platform. And Apple is said to be working on a way to offer paid subscription content through its News app introduced last year with iOS 9. An expansion for News is also a possibility as it’s so far only had a soft launch in US, Australia, and the UK.

• iTunes metadata suggests ability to hide stock apps on iPhone and iPad coming soon
• Report: Apple developing support for paid, subscription content in its News app
• Report: Apple’s standalone HomeKit app could finally arrive in iOS 10

App Store |

As far as App Store improvements go, Apple’s Phil Schiller, who recently took over App Store responsibilities on top of being VP of Worldwide Marketing, gave some hope that the company is looking into the long-standing issues there, particularly with search and discovery features. A separate report claimed Apple plans to revamp browsing on the App Store, possibly with paid search results.

• iTunes metadata suggests ability to hide stock apps on iPhone and iPad coming soon
• Report: Apple to revamp App Store browsing, perhaps with paid search results
• Apple will require iOS App Store apps to support IPv6-only networks from June 1
• Phil Schiller responds to developer complaints about App Store algorithms broken since at least 2013

Apple Music & iTunes |

A highlight for iOS 10 is bound to be the overhaul of Apple Music that we detailed earlier this month. As Mark noted at the time, Apple is currently developing a new, mostly black and white UI for the service that despite a few criticisms from users and press managed to hit 13 million paying subscribers in its first year of availability. But that figure was from April, so it’s very possible Apple could hit or pass the 15 million mark by WWDC in June and have an update on subscriber stats on stage.

• Apple Music’s iOS 10 overhaul detailed: black & white UI, ‘huge artwork’, lyrics integration
• Apple will unveil ‘more intuitive’ version of Apple Music at WWDC in June 
• Apple Music Connect social network to be demoted in iOS 10 overhaul
• Two Apple engineers traveled to a customer’s house to troubleshoot iTunes deletion bug

Siri |

We reported earlier this year that Apple was planning to bring Siri to Mac as a flagship feature of OS X 10.12, and with a recent report claiming Apple is also planning a Siri SDK for WWDC next month, it sounds like much needed Siri improvements could be a focus of the event. That report claimed the upcoming SDK would allow all app developers to tap into Siri functionality, and added that Apple has been working on Amazon Echo-like hardware for Siri —  a standalone Wi-Fi speaker with voice-controlled assistant features built-in — since back in 2015 when Amazon first debuted its similar Echo product.

In addition, Apple has already confirmed that it’s planning to bring Siri Remote functionality to its iOS Remote app sometime this year, including the features that first debuted with its new remote for the fourth-gen Apple TV last year.

• Apple plans to bring Siri Remote features to the iOS Remote app in 2016
• Report: Apple planning Siri SDK for WWDC as it builds Amazon Echo/Google Home hardware competitor

iCloud | Security |

Following the FBI unlocking controversy earlier this year, one report claimed that Apple was working on stronger iCloud backup encryption and iPhone security features. Tim Cook mentioned the fight with FBI on stage at its last event, and WWDC is a likely venue to show off the new and improved security features alongside an iOS 10 debut.

• Apple working on stronger iCloud backup encryption and iPhone security to counter FBI unlock requests

Apple Pay & Touch ID |

A person-to-person payments feature and ATM withdrawal support for Apple Pay, as well as further expansion of the payments service to more countries, are a few projects Apple is reportedly working on and readying for a launch this year. That makes WWDC the likely stage for an announcement, and we also had one report claim Apple has an OS X 10.12 feature in the works that allows users to unlock their Mac’s using an iPhone’s Touch ID fingerprint sensor.

• Apple in talks to launch person-to-person Apple Pay mobile payments system in 2016
• Bank of America & Wells Fargo said to be working on Apple Pay support for ATM withdrawals
• Apple applies for patent for person-to-person payments, secured by Touch ID
• Apple Pay could be coming to France this year as China launch rumored for this week
• Report: OS X 10.12 to feature support for unlocking Macs with iPhone’s Touch ID

Opinion | Concept |

And we end with our own thoughts on the upcoming release including feature requests for iOS 10 features, discussion about the rumored features, and a concept from the community.

• Feature Request: How Apple could improve its built-in apps with iOS 10
• Happy Hour Podcast 066 | iPhone 7 + iOS 10 rumors, Siri vs Viv, and Apple Music changes
• Apple Music Feature Request: Give the iOS app Smart Playlist functionality via Siri
• Opinion: Rumored iOS 10 HomeKit app is welcomed, but alternatives have a healthy head start
• Feature Request: How Apple could improve its built-in apps with iOS 10
• Opinion: The top 10 Android features Apple’s iOS 10 should steal
• Opinion: Apple badly needs to fix App Store search, but not by paid placements
• Apple Music Feature Request: Give the iOS app Smart Playlist functionality via Siri
• iOS 10 concept video shows off realistic iOS wishes

Check out our recent roundup of Everything Apple could announce at WWDC 2016.