How the iPhone 14 Pro's New 'Dynamic Island' Works

[djc6]

To me it looks like an ergonomic nightmare? When I'm holding my iPhone 11 Pro my thumb doesn't reach the top of the screen - so why move all these widgets to a part of the screen I can't interact with? I like them in the middle of screen where my thumb reaches.

Example, right now a call comes in - boom I can use my thumb to hit the green button at the bottom of the screen. Why move that way the hell up the screen (in the example).

 

[kirk.vino]

I wanna see all those raving about it when Apple abandons it just like they’ve abandoned the 3D Touch.
If the iPhone 15 Pro comes with the rumored underscreen cameras, this island will share the fate of the Atlantis.

 

[antnythr]

Have you seen an iPhone with the notch? The island will likely work the same. There is a "safe area" below the notch/island and app content fits within there. For some apps, you can manually zoom the content to fit the overall screen and then the content (like photos) is painted around the notch/island.

The default is no impact but you have the option to push the content out further. We've been using phones like this since the X came out. No big surprises.

I have a 7 Plus, and haven't actually used any of the iPhones with a notch other than a quick glance with a friends phone and at the Apple Store.

I'm interested in knowing how dynamic island works while in landscape mode.

 

[Mr. Awesome]

Because the TrueDepth camera system is actually housed in two separate cutouts that are merged through software, the Dynamic Island can do a neat trick where it separates into a small pill on the left and a circle on the right

@arn or another editor:
I don’t think the split has anything to do with the physical separation of the modules. The Island doesn’t appear to be using that space at all in any screenshots I’ve seen. The split Island covers both physical modules with the left item, and the right item is displayed to the right of the physical camera module.

 

[Joosst]

Because the TrueDepth camera system is actually housed in two separate cutouts that are merged through software, the Dynamic Island can do a neat trick where it separates into a small pill on the left and a circle on the right, both of which are able to display different information at the same time, such as music controls and a timer.

This is nonsense, right? The two separate cutouts are still both in the black shape on the left. With just a black dot displayed to the right of that. This has nothing to do with the hardware. The black dot on the right can even show a timer or a waveform, so it’s definitely not a camera. Saying “because it’s housed in two separate cutouts…” is just incorrect.

 

[Joosst]

@arn or another editor:
I don’t think the split has anything to do with the physical separation of the modules. The Island doesn’t appear to be using that space at all in any screenshots I’ve seen. The split Island covers both physical modules with the left item, and the right item is displayed to the right of the physical camera module.

Ah you just beat me to saying this. It indeed has nothing to do with the physical separation.

 

[dvkid]

Because the TrueDepth camera system is actually housed in two separate cutouts that are merged through software, the Dynamic Island can do a neat trick where it separates into a small pill on the left and a circle on the right

Am I misunderstanding what this is saying? The camera system is still contained with an entirely black space here in the accompanying photo. The circle has been added alongside

 

[SoldOnApple]

What happens to Dynamic Island after Apple invents the tech to keep cameras and sensors under the display?

 

[hektor6tygr]

I have a 7 Plus, and haven't actually used any of the iPhones with a notch other than a quick glance with a friends phone and at the Apple Store.

I'm interested in knowing how dynamic island works while in landscape mode.

Usually in landscape mode the status bar disappears (on iPhones with a notch) so my guess is no island, just the cutout.

 

[dukebound85]

Gimmick Island that will die and be forgotten as fast as the touchbar.

don't forget 3D touch

 

[Poppaduck]

I didn’t get to see this yesterday. Is there a setting where we can add certain notifications to the island or are they all pre set?

 

[rafark]

Are you kidding me. They should have called it the Eye.

That’s just creepy.

 

[rpmurray]

I know it's kind of a low blow, but how long will it take for Android to copy this? And then for the apologists to comment that they're only so many ways you can design a Dynamic Island, although Samsung will call it the Samsung Island.

 

[Sir_Macs_A_Lot]

Brilliant feature, terrible name

Welcome to.....

 

[notabadname]

I like the implementation, at least from watching the videos. I like that the “space” is being owned and optimized now, instead of just pretending the black spot isn’t there.

 

[kirk.vino]

What happens to Dynamic Island after Apple invents the tech to keep cameras and sensors under the display?

It sinks and they blame it on the global warming lol

 

[darngooddesign]

To me it looks like an ergonomic nightmare? When I'm holding my iPhone 11 Pro my thumb doesn't reach the top of the screen - so why move all these widgets to a part of the screen I can't interact with? I like them in the middle of screen where my thumb reaches.

Example, right now a call comes in - boom I can use my thumb to hit the green button at the bottom of the screen. Why move that way the hell up the screen (in the example).

iOS15 already has non full-screen incoming calls at the top of the screen. All ios16 does is animate it out of Fantasy Island.

.

 

[Pupi]

Dynamic Island is such a cheesy name. I was live commenting the event with friends on iMessage and as soon as I saw it I said that this "dynamic pill looks cool". Well, maybe it shouldn't be dynamic pill either, but dynamic bar or something.

 

[Frantisekj]

Gimmick Island that will die and be forgotten as fast as the touchbar.

I thank it will stay. At least until Apple will put all under display. It may survive even after.
It would be great when something similar or mix witch Touch Bar would be implemented on top of trackpad.

Otherwise it is great example of how to turn problem or disadvantage into advantage. Idea is really innovative.

 

[Deedeekay]

Gotta say, this has turned me from a pill hater to a pill luster.

 

[Jimmy Bubbles]

I bet that island isn’t so dynamic with Reachability enabled.

 

[OriginalClone]

I got the concept from the pics, but the video with a lot more scenarios makes a lot more sense out of it. I personally think it’s overrated , but it’s a cool evolutionary feature nonetheless.

 

[Jimmy Bubbles]

That also, yes. I don't know why you'd be touching the camera

Well, when you do this thing called a “phone call” that part will be all over your ear like it always has been.

 

[Jimmy Bubbles]

Thing is, they could’ve been doing this for awhile now. I’m sure the novelty will wear off along with those bouncy animations.

 

[darngooddesign]

Thing is, they could’ve been doing this for awhile now. I’m sure the novelty will wear off along with those bouncy animations.

Novelty, by definition, always wears off.