As Apple fans ready themselves for the release of iOS 14, the Cupertino tech giant seems to echo the enthusiasm by testing a slew of new features for iMessage. Among the several additions is a new mention system that allows users to specifically indicate a user by using the @ symbol followed by their name. The mentioned user will then be notified.
Each time the @ symbol is used, iMessage will automatically show all the contacts, similar to Slack's UI. Another feature believed to arrive along with iOS 14 is the ability to delete or retract sent iMessages. However, the recipient will be notified that a text has been deleted.
Apple is also testing other new features, including a better "/me" command for sharing status updates, a way to mark the last message of a thread that has been unread, and for group chats, a typing indicator. It's possible that these features will be added to macOS 10.16 as well.
Note that these upcoming iMessage features will not exactly arrive on the same day iOS 14 ships. There's a possibility Apple would end up delaying these additions and release the new mobile OS first.
And yet, that's not all. iOS 14 leaks have indicated a system-wide mouse cursor support, enhanced OCR capabilities for Apple Pencil, and a new Fitness app complete with guided workout clips.
In other Apple news, the tech giant has decided to postpone its March product launch event due to the production delays of the iPhone SE successor and the COVID-19 outbreak. This, according to an Apple source for Cult of Mac.
According to the source, Apple's decision was mostly due to the spread of the coronavirus in the United States. There were apprehensions about gathering a large crowd at the company's Steve Jobs Theater in Apple Park.
Concerns over distancing Apple executives from the crowd were also being concerned. What's more, Santa Clara County has prohibited gatherings of 1,000 people or more until April 1, which further solidifies the possibility that a launch in late March will definitely not take place.
A previous press release was the source of info that Apple was to announce some new products in March. However, the COVID-19 outbreak has caused many venues across the globe to shut down as well as delays in production. It's not yet known whether Apple will schedule the product launch event in April or at a later date.
