Latest news with #polls
TechCrunch
a day ago
- TechCrunch
Apple is bringing polls to Messages in iOS 26
Apple announced at WWDC 2025 on Monday that it's bringing polls to Messages in its upcoming iOS 26 update. The feature has been highly requested by users, and is one that has been long adopted by services like WhatsApp and Telegram. The feature will allow users to vote on different things directly within group chats. For example, you could create a poll to decide where your next girls' brunch will be located, or which novel you and your book club are going to read next. Apple shared that Apple Intelligence will be able to suggest polls based on the context of your conversations. For example, if someone messages: 'What should we eat?' Apple Intelligence will suggest starting a poll. While this new feature is in no way groundbreaking, it's nice to see Apple catch up to other chat services and give users a better way to plan and decide things right within their group chats.
The Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I went to Apple iPhone event today and I'm obsessed with 6 new tricks – ‘hold robot' for phone calls is best of the lot
A FLURRY of new features are about to appear on the Apple gadgets you already own. I sat for two hours as Apple doled out smartphone freebies on stage at its WWDC event in California – and there are six you'll want to look out for. iPhone owners, buckle up. 12 NEW APPLE TRICK #1 – TEXT QUESTION PLEASE? The Messages app is getting three upgrades – and they're very handy. Apple is finally adding the ability to create and send polls to pals. You'll be able to quiz them on a restaurant or holiday destination – or vote on who should win Strictly. It's a feature that WhatsApp added back in 2023, and is very popular. Now you can do it in Messages too. Another added bonus for Messages users is the option to add custom backgrounds to each of your chats. They'll sync with the contact too, so you both see the same wallpaper. Fun. Third, you get the ability to screen messages from unknown senders. "In Messages, users can now screen messages from unknown senders, giving them more control over who appears in their conversation list," Apple explained. "Messages from unknown senders will appear in a dedicated folder where users can then mark the number as known, ask for more information, or delete. iPhone 16e review – I've secretly tested Apple's cheapest mobile and I love the new button but that's not the best bit "These messages will remain silenced until a user accepts them." NEW APPLE TRICK #2 – GAME DAY All the signs are there: Apple is getting very serious about gaming. The company has shown early signs of wanting to boost its gaming offering with its increasingly powerful Mac chips. And just a few years ago, Apple Arcade launched – serving up a subscription-only library of premium mobile games. Now Apple has taken it one step further with a brand new and dedicated Games app. This is a bit like the App Store but just for games (finally!), and also lets you locate Apple Arcade titles too. There are ways to play with and challenge pals. And it's a good sign of things to come: your iPhone is immensely powerful, and has a lot of potential as a gaming device. 12 Watch out, Nintendo. NEW APPLE TRICK #3 – ALL SMILES Emoji are effectively the world's shared language. Almost all of us use them – and we all know what they mean. Last year, Apple created an AI feature called Genmoji to let you dream up your own custom emoji. But that wasn't enough for the fiendish emoji lovers out there. So now Apple has added the ability for users to mash up two emoji together. Think 'smiling football' or 'zebra cat'. The possibilities are endless. NEW APPLE TRICK #4 – AIR WE GO! By far and away my favourite trick of the lot is a new perk for holidaymakers – though it's handy at home too. There's a new feature that translates foreign languages in real-time. So you can have a conversation with someone who doesn't speak English, and understand every word they say. This is a game-changer for any of you that have been abroad in a country where you're not fluent in the native tongue. Live Translation should make it much easier to order in restaurants, find your way around when you're lost, and potentially avoid being scammed too. NEW APPLE TRICK #5 – HOLD ON A MINUTE Another brainy new trick is Hold Assist. 12 This is effectively a robot that holds on a phone call so you don't have to. It'll wait for a human to pick up, and then alert you when the conversation is ready. That way, you don't have to spend hours in call centre misery, listening to those awful tunes for a problem that might take just seconds to solve. NEW APPLE TRICK #6 – HUNG UP! Another clever spam-prevention feature is Call Screening. This is similar to Apple's Live Voicemail feature that lets you read a transcription of voicemails in real-time. Now Apple will gather info from callers, and then share that detail with you. So your iPhone can ask the caller for their name and why they're calling – and then tell you the answer that they give. Then you can decide if you want to pick up the call or totally ignore it. CUT OFF! Sadly, not everyone will be able to claim this bonanza of tech tricks. Anyone with a very old iPhone will miss out on the whole lot. The list of supported devices getting iOS 26 is as follows: iPhone 16e iPhone 16 iPhone 16 Plus iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro Max iPhone 15 iPhone 15 Plus iPhone 15 Pro iPhone 15 Pro Max iPhone 14 iPhone 14 Plus iPhone 14 Pro iPhone 14 Pro Max iPhone 13 iPhone 13 mini iPhone 13 Pro iPhone 13 Pro Max iPhone 12 iPhone 12 mini iPhone 12 Pro iPhone 12 Pro Max iPhone 11 iPhone 11 Pro iPhone 11 Pro Max iPhone SE (3rd gen) iPhone SE (2nd gen) So if you've got anything older than the devices on that list, you're going without. That includes the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max, which received last year's iOS 18 update – but has since been cut off from iOS 26. EXPERT VIEW: 'ACTION-PACKED' APPLE EVENT Here's the expert view from Paolo Pescatore, industry analyst at PP Foresight... "Another action-packed event with Apple delivering a slew of new features for its platforms," Paolo said. "Overall, it looks like Apple has done enough in what promises to be a year of transition as it further builds out its AI capabilities. "There was plenty of Apple Intelligence under the hood. New and subtle features that build upon its relentless focus on privacy and security such as screening of calls and text messages will be sought after and widely used by users. "While it might seem, others are leading the AI race, it is not a sought-after feature among users and there's no revenue uplift (for now). Considering the negative perception, Apple needs to tread carefully not to frustrate and disappoint its loyal base of (iPhone) users. "With these latest updates providing a more coherent feel, Apple remains in an enviable position given its large installed base of users. The subtle addition of Apple Intelligence across key services will help grow awareness and provide users with confidence to drive further engagement. The tight integration between hardware, software and services really stands out with this latest move. "A unified software experience is paramount as more users buy and use a slew of Apple devices. This ensures a more comfortable look and feel driving further stickiness among users. All of which underline the growing importance of software and services at a time when people are looking to keep devices for longer. More importantly owning more devices from Apple. "The biggest visual change and redesign in years will coincide with a new iPhone later in the year. This will be significant as Apple is providing something new at a time when it is challenging to differentiate with a sea of sameness. Significantly it will put pressure on rivals as it makes their software a bit out of date. "People will feel like they have something new for free with a software upgrade. Noticeably, this will be a very different software update and one they will remember unlike others. "The name change is a very big deal which suggests a similar move might happen for the new iPhone to provide more consistency for users. "Other new features like live translate while available on rival platforms are much needed and will resonate with its customer base. "New gaming app follows in the footsteps of Apple TV in being a one-stop-shop for users gaming needs. This suggests a move to make bigger investments in gaming as others are doing. It represents a key battleground among providers. But the company is not resting on its laurels in TV with the new OS redesign to provide a more intuitive watching experience for users and families alike. "It might not steal the headlines, but the iPad finally takes a huge leap forward bringing it into line with other product segments for multitasking." Picture Credit: Paolo Pescatore
CNET
a day ago
- CNET
Apple's Messages Backgrounds May Finally Save Me From Awkward Reveals in Group Chats
It's not exactly groundbreaking (or even original), but Apple's announcement during its WWDC keynote that you'll be able to add a background image in Messages could save me and my friend groups. Apple announced that as part of its new iOS 26 -- yes, the name is confirmed -- Messages will get a few upgrades, specifically in group chats. Similar to what you can do in Meta's WhatsApp, you'll now be able to change the background color or image for group chats. This can come in particularly handy when you have multiple chats with overlapping members. I have one friend group with dozens of members, but just a handful go on trips together. That's led to some awkward moments when some members of the bigger group get included in messages that are just for our travel group. The only way to distinguish them is in the name of the group, but a customized background could help me quickly identify my travel buddies (beach scene) from the larger group. Plus, the upgrade will toggle the message so I can see who's in the process of writing a text. Again, it's a small thing, but it lets the speaker indicate they have a followup. So we can all pause before we jump in with our opinions. And speaking of opinions, you'll also be able to add polls -- no more 40 messages from everyone debating where to eat. The Message update isn't exactly earth-shattering, but will make my life a little easier (and less embarassing).
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
iPhone owners able to send new type of text after surprise Apple change – but lucky WhatsApp fans have it first
A SURPRISE texting upgrade for iPhone owners lets you send a brand new type of text message. The clever chat tweak was unveiled by Apple today – but WhatsApp fans can already do it. 6 Apple hosted a special event in California today where it revealed all the new features coming to the iPhone later this year. The iOS 26 update was unveiled during the company's Worldwide Developer Conference, and will likely land on your phone in September. One of the big upgrades was for the iPhone's default Messages app, which is where you can send iMessages. And in iOS 26, you'll finally be able to create and send polls to other people. WhatsApp added the ability to send polls back in 2023. And now Messages will offer the same feature as the chat apps race for texting dominance. Polls allow you to quiz friends, family and colleagues about whatever you like. You could ask about a meal choice, restaurant option, holiday destination, or who you think should be booted off the TV show you're watching. But that's not the only WhatsApp feature that Messages is getting. The Meta-owned app allows you to change the background on your chats – and Messages is following suit. iPhone 16e review – I've secretly tested Apple's cheapest mobile and I love the new button but that's not the best bit So in iOS 26, it'll be possible for you to set custom wallpapers for each of your iMessage conversations. And they'll sync with your contacts in the chat so that they can see the backgrounds too. WhatsApp is a major rival to iMessage, and is used by billions of people around the world. It's especially dominant outside of the US, and is particularly popular in Britain. 6 6 Apple has made a number of upgrades to its own default iPhone chat app in recent years. They include the ability for users to both edit and unsend texts that have already been delivered. You can directly reply to Messages inline, and react to texts with emoji – both recent additions to Messages. It's also possible to send 'invisible' texts that can only be seen by rubbing on them – a feature that WhatsApp doesn't yet have. 6 Sadly not all iPhone models are getting this upgrade. The list of supported devices includes: iPhone 16e iPhone 16 iPhone 16 Plus iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro Max iPhone 15 iPhone 15 Plus iPhone 15 Pro iPhone 15 Pro Max iPhone 14 iPhone 14 Plus iPhone 14 Pro iPhone 14 Pro Max iPhone 13 iPhone 13 mini iPhone 13 Pro iPhone 13 Pro Max iPhone 12 iPhone 12 mini iPhone 12 Pro iPhone 12 Pro Max iPhone 11 iPhone 11 Pro iPhone 11 Pro Max iPhone SE (3rd gen) iPhone SE (2nd gen) Older iPhones will miss out on the new features.
TechCrunch
a day ago
- TechCrunch
Apple is bringing polls to iMessage
Apple announced at WWDC on Monday that it's bringing polls to iMessage. The feature has been highly requested by users, and is one that has been long adopted by services like WhatsApp and Telegram. The feature will allow users to vote on different things directly within group chats. For example, you could create a poll to decide where your next girls' brunch will be located, or what novel you and your book club are going to read next. Apple shared that Apple Intelligence will be able to suggest polls based on the context of your conversations. For example, if someone messages: 'What should we eat?' Apple Intelligence will suggest starting a poll. While this new feature is in no way groundbreaking, it's nice to see Apple catch up to other chat services and give users a better way to plan and decide things right within their group chats.
