More Apple iOS 14 features get leaked

Apple decided to transform this year’s WWDC event into an online-only stream, so there will supposedly be no behind-the-scenes previews for select media representatives. However, this does not seem to be the case, as TechCrunch’s former reporter Josh Constine already got hold of some insider info on upcoming iOS 14 features that build on what 9to5Mac reported back in March, revealing additional information on the Gobi AR app, plus new features for the Find My application.

Constine first reveals the Gobi app icon, then shows a new circular QR code format that uses colored cones of various sizes instead of dot matrices. One of the new QR codes is labeled “Cosmic”, but there still are regular QR codes that lead to products like Mac Pro, Apple watch, the Star Wars: Rogue One movie in the iTunes store or a Starbucks Card. Gobi may also allow users to compare and inspect products as the app code references a link called www.apple.com/retail-compare along with a 3D rendering of an Apple Watch that can be interacted with. Other possible features included with Gobi refer to discount codes for specific Starbucks locations and augmented reality decorations for cafes.

The Find My app will be introducing audio and haptic feedback cues in order to facilitate the discovery of missing devices. Constine explains that “you’ll hear encouraging sounds when you face the right direction so the lost gadget is ‘Ahead’ of you, when you’re ‘Nearby’, or come within ‘Arms Reach’, while discouraging tones hint that you’re headed off course.”

Judging by these new features, Apple seems to be focusing on popularizing the AR phenomenon with the introduction of more AR features for dining, shopping and device retrieval. Constine points out that we should expect more camera-triggered commerce from Apple, and, once this becomes the norm, “there could be opportunities for developers to build more niche or exciting ways to augment our lives.”