Apple Inc.’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference, better known as WWDC, is just about a week away. This is the event where the company outlines its software strategy for the next year.

That includes Apple’s next mobile operating system, iOS 16. From what is known, the new software—codenamed Sydney—is a fairly significant upgrade. It will be chock full of changes across the operating system, including updates to notifications, iPad multitasking, and the Messages and Health apps. The makeover also includes a part of the interface that’s often an afterthought: the lock screen, Bloomberg reported Sunday.

With iOS 16 and the iPhone 14, Apple is planning major enhancements for the lock screen, including wallpapers that have widget-like capabilities.

Further, iOS 16 builds in future support for an always-on lock screen, something Apple was originally planning for last year’s iPhone 13. This would allow the iPhone to turn down the frame rate significantly on the lock screen and display quickly glanceable information — similar to newer Apple Watches.

To expect the always-on mode as an exclusive to the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max models, codenamed D73 and D74, if the feature ends up making the cut. Other iPhone 14 Pro features include a new front-facing camera and Face ID cutout, an A16 chip and a 48-megapixel back camera. There’s also the possibility of sending emergency texts over satellite networks.

In Messages, more social network-like functionality is expected, particularly around audio messages. The Apple TV operating system, tvOS, will get more smart-home tie-ins, while the Mac will get some redesigned apps and a much-needed overhaul to System Preferences to make them more in line with Settings on iOS. That includes organizing settings by app.

While the Health app probably won’t be expanding to the iPad and Mac, the Bloomberg report stated, it will get plenty of new features that work with the iPhone and Apple Watch. Apple also is making significant improvements to watchOS that affect day-to-day operating and navigation. There will be changes to watch faces and the addition of a low-power mode.

(iPhone image courtesy www.apple.com)