Design Knowledge Base

iPhone Technical Capability Report

Hardware

Accelerometer

Piece of hardware that can detect the device’s 3D movement. It can detect if the device is tilting, rotating, shaken, flipped.

Use Cases

Front Facing Camera

This is an obvious one as I’m sure everyone has taken a selfie at some point. At its most basic function it is used for taking pictures but it can be used for more. The Front Facing Camera can be leveraged to see what’s happening in front of the device.

Use Cases

Rear Camera

Similar to the Front Facing Camera but with better quality. The placement also makes it be better at seeing what the user is seeing. The true power of the camera goes beyond taking photos.

The cameras can be leveraged to analyze what is currently in view. For example, it can detect movement, scan barcodes, identify faces, identify retail products, and more. Don’t be constrained by the idea that it’s only for pictures.

Use Cases

Location Services (GPS, Wi-Fi, Cellular Network)

This might be the most powerful aspect of a phone. Location Services leverages the GPS, cellular network triangulation, and Wi-Fi to figure where the device is currently located.

Often used in conjunction with Geofences. A Geofence is an area identified on a map that will tell the device to do something when the device enters or exits that area.

Bluetooth

A wireless device-to-device communication protocol that is often used for pairing other technology to the iPhone, such as headphones, speakers, pens (like Apple Pencil).

Beacons

Separate Bluetooth devices can be used to detect when a Bluetooth-enabled device is nearby and trigger an action on that nearby device if the appropriate app is installed to handle the trigger.

Taptic Engine (Vibration Motor)

Everyone is extremely familiar with vibrations due to its usage in notifications and calls. But vibrations are an effective way to provide haptic feedback.

Dev References https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/AudioToolbox/Reference/SystemSoundServicesReference/index.html

Platform Integration

Notifications

Interactive Notifications

Media Attachments

Customized In-App Notifications

Badging

https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/ios/system-capabilities/notifications/ https://developer.apple.com/documentation/usernotifications https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201925

Widget

Currently, many apps support basic widgets but get little usage. Widgets are powerful mini apps that live within the Today View - a separate tab connected to Notifications Center.

https://developer.apple.com/ios/human-interface-guidelines/extensions/widgets/

Search API

Activity Indexing -> Spotlight integration

https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2016/223/

SiriKit

https://developer.apple.com/sirikit/

Use Cases

  1. Ride Booking. Request a ride through apps that provide ride sharing and other taxi-like services. “Get me a ride to SFO via MyRidesApp.”
  2. Messaging. Send text messages through apps that support messaging services. “Send a text to Carey using MyTextApp.”
  3. Photo Search. Look for photos and videos of particular content type and play slideshows in the app of their choice. “Look for beach photos taken last summer in MyPhotosApp.”
  4. Payments. Send and request payments to and from other people, using apps that support personal payments. “Send $100 to John for dinner last night using MyPayApp.”
  5. VoIP Calling. Initiate video and audio calls with apps that support voice over IP. “Call Mike on my MyVoIPApp.”
  6. Workouts. Start, pause and end workouts using your favorite workout app. “Start my daily run workout from MyWorkoutApp.”
  7. Climate and radio. Specifically designed for CarPlay automaker apps, this allows users to set the climate controls and adjust the radio while they’re in their car. “Set the heater to 72 degrees.”

ARKit

Custom Keyboards

Messages Extensions

https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/ios/extensions/messaging/

Sharing Extensions

https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/ios/extensions/sharing-and-actions/

Home Screen Quick Actions

https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/ios/extensions/home-screen-actions/

Safari View Controller (Android’s Chrome Custom Tabs)

Ability to load a web browser inside your app and leverage Safari saved passwords. Supports displaying URLs without navigating the user away from your app and doesn’t require development to build a web browser in your app.

Advantages

Customization

Developer References https://developer.apple.com/documentation/safariservices/sfsafariviewcontroller

Spotlight Search Integration

Permissions

Additional iOS APIs

Face and Barcode Detection in Images & Videos

https://developer.apple.com/documentation/coreimage/cidetector