As we inch closer to the public launch of iOS 14 this fall, Apple has begun speeding up its beta releases.
Apple today released iOS 14 beta 6 and iPadOS 14 beta 6 to registered developers (via MacRumors), one week after the previous beta release came out. It's rolling out over the air, meaning if you're registered with Apple as a developer you can get it by going into Settings > General > Software Update. It's also available through Apple's Developer Center on the web.
Public testers in the Apple Beta Software Program ought to get this new update in the coming days. If you're not currently enrolled in the Apple Beta Software Program, you can sign up for free right here.
The update to iOS 14 is a big one, bringing several new features and other improvements. Those include the ability to place widgets on your home screen, marking one of the biggest changes to the iOS home screen since the first iPhone was released.
Apple is also adding App Library, a new home screen that'll show all of the apps you've got installed in automatically-sorted folders as well as in an alphabetical list. App Clips is another new app-focused feature that'll let you quickly access a certain feature of an app by scanning a code, letting you use it without downloading the full app. This could come in handy for things like parking meter apps.
iOS 14 will bring smaller, less intrusive notifications for incoming calls, meaning your whole screen won't be taken over if someone calls you. Siri is getting a similar treatment, shrinking down to a small ball at the bottom of your screen with answers that look like a notification at the top.
Other new features of iOS 14 include Messages improvements like pinned conversations and @mentions in group chats, a new Translate app with support for 11 languages, cycling directions in Apple Maps, and picture-in-picture that'll let you watch videos or conduct FaceTime calls while you're doing other things on your phone.
Also rolling out today is watchOS 7 beta 6 (via MacRumors). This update is also launching to the public this fall and bringing with it features like native sleep tracking ,watch face sharing, and automatic hand-washing detection that'll show you a 20-second timer when your Apple Watch detects that you're washing your hands.
