Another year has passed, and a new iOS version has arrived, complete with its own set of features and advantages. Improved SMS filtering and LiDAR integration are two of the new features.
Here's what you need to know:
SMS filtering API
Are you aware that iOS includes APIs that allow third-party apps to identify and notify users about spam calls and SMS? This API was first introduced with iOS 11 in 2017, and it allows spam database apps to be integrated into Apple's Messages app. As a result, any message you get from a number that has been flagged as spam is automatically routed to a different inbox, as per 9to5Mac.
The good news is that this SMS filtering API has been improved in iOS 16 to accommodate even more categories in the Messages app. In fact, it adds 12 new subcategories to the SMS filtering API, which are as follows:
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Transactions
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Finance
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Reminders
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Orders
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Health
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Public Services
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Weather
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Carrier
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Rewards
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Others
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Promotions
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Offers
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Coupons
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Others
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Junk
9to5Mac mentioned that Apple's own SMS filter is integrated into iOS, but it's only available to users in Brazil and India, where SMS spam is very prevalent. But with iOS 16, some of the new SMS filtering subcategories will be available by default in India. On the other hand, users in Brazil will continue to use Transactions, Promotions, and Junk.
How Does the SMS Filtering API Work?
Apple's Messages app detects which types of categories the SMS filtering software installed on the device supports and displays just those categories to the user. SMS filtering apps, according to Apple, employ a local database to identify the subject of a message, eliminating the need for the app to upload the user's messages to a server.
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RoomPlan API
In a separate 9to5Mac report, it was mentioned that the tech giant wants to improve ARKit and related technologies, including as "RoomPlan," a new API that employs LiDAR scanning to produce 3D floor layouts quickly.
The new RoomPlan API in iOS 16 integrates LiDAR with iPhone and iPad cameras to allow users to build 3D floor layouts in seconds. The API can be valuable for real estate, architecture, and interior design apps, according to Apple, because it is precise and simple to use.
But because RoomPlan is an API, you won't find it as a default feature on an iOS 16 device right now. Developers must instead create and update their software to incorporate the new functionality.
Apple's website has more information regarding RoomPlan and what's new with ARKit.
What Is LiDAR Technology?
LiDAR is a technique that uses lasers to produce light and then calculates the time it takes for the light to return to the sensor to precisely estimate the distance between the device and the objects. As a result, a LiDAR scanner can determine the size and shape of an object or an indoor environment.
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