iOS 14 is still only a couple of months old for most users, but inside Apple designers and engineers will already be planning what next year’s upgrade will offer.
While we likely won’t get to see what they’re working on until WWDC 2021, Kevin Kal, a talented 20-year-old designer and engineering student in France, has created one of the first concepts we’ve seen for iOS 15.
Check it out.
“I build concepts for people to be excited about design and also [maybe even] inspire Apple,” Kal, a.k.a. TheHacker34, tells Cult of Mac. “If you look at my iOS 14 concept from last year, some features were actually in the official release. For every concept, I try to ask for feedback and wishlists [from as many people as I can to gauge what they’re hoping for.]”
Whether or not Apple actually looks at YouTube video wishlists for ideas is questionable. But, either way, Kal’s iOS 15 concept video offers some intriguing ideas. It builds on the Split View feature currently seen on iPadOS and applies this to iOS as well. Kal says he was inspired by Samsung’s Split View feature, along with its useful side dock where users can drag and drop apps in this mode.
Photo: Kevin Kal
Borrowing some Android innovations
Since Apple has picked up on some of Android’s better ideas — widgets, changing default apps, arguably making a device like the iPhone SE aimed at a user base that wants to pay less — he thinks this could be a good opportunity for Apple. “Split Screen today is the major feature that Android does so much better than iOS,” he says.
The Split View integration was designed to be “as simple as possible, accessible with just a swipe down in the multitask view or [by drag and dropping] a notification.” He notes that Split View would “ be great especially on [iPhone Max models.]” He’s also hoping for an Always On display, similar to newer Apple Watches.
There are also some exciting possibilities when it comes to more easily picking icon sets or swapping your virtual assistant from Siri to another option.
Photo: Kevin Kal
iOS 15 concept: An accurate prediction?
As ever with concept designs, it’s more of a wishlist than, necessarily, a genuine prediction — although it’s definitely one that raises some tantalizing possibilities. At best, these can wind up being surprisingly accurate sneak peeks at what we can expect from Apple in the future. At worst, they’re fun talking points.
What are your thoughts on Kevin Kal’s iOS 15 concept? Let us know in the comments below.
