Closer look at the iPhone's iOS update

Friday, November 15, 2019
Closer look at the iPhone's iOS update
Consumer Reports says there are lots of new features with Apple's latest iOS, everything from fun new emojis to important privacy controls.

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Maybe you just got a brand-new iPhone 11 or you upgraded your older phone with the new operating system.



Either way, Consumer Reports says there are lots of new features with Apple's latest iOS, everything from fun new emojis to important privacy controls.



Just when you figured out how to use emojis, Apple's latest operating system offers a bunch of new ways to communicate with customizable memoji -- that's an animated emoji that you can personalize to look like you with braces, piercings, hairstyles and lots more.



And new camera features give you more control over both the position and intensity of the lighting, producing excellent quality pictures based on Consumer Reports extensive lab testing.



But it's not all fun and improved photos. Apple has also added important new privacy and security features in iOS 13 -designed to give you more control over the information you share.



RELATED: Apple iPhone 11 release: Fans lining up in Bay Area, around the world



Take Apple's new sign-on service, which lets you sign into different apps through Apple, instead of creating new logins and passwords.



Another useful new feature: iOS 13 also offers randomly generated email addresses.



"Now what this will let you do is sign up for mailing lists or provide an email address to a website that isn't necessarily your email. But it will forward to your email," said Bree Fowler, Consumer Reports Tech Editor. "So, if you ever get sick of hearing from that app or website, you can just delete it or move on."



RELATED: Apple Event 2019: iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro unveiled



And if you don't like the idea of apps tracking your every move, the new iOS offers location tracking limits.


"This will grant an app one-time access to your location. If that app wants to know where you are again, it's going have to ask you again," said Fowler.



So, don't be surprised if you see privacy messages from Apple popping up more often.



Apple says customers should always update to the latest software to get the latest features and security updates.



All Consumer Reports material Copyright 2019 Consumer Reports, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Consumer Reports is a not-for-profit organization which accepts no advertising. It has no commercial relationship with any advertiser or sponsor on this site. For more information visit ConsumerReports.org.



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