iOS 14 Leak Shows Off Apple-Branded QR Codes Found in 'Gobi' AR App

[MacRumors]

A leaked version of the iOS 14 update has been circulating for a few months, giving us an idea of what Apple is working on behind the scenes for the new update.

Details about iOS 14 have been trickling out, and today, Josh Constine (formerly of TechCrunch) has shared leaked Apple QR codes, details about Apple's work on an AR app, and sounds for the upcoming Apple Tags in his Moving Product newsletter.

Apple appears to be implementing a new QR code format that uses colored cones, with the files found in the "Gobi" AR app that Apple has been working on. Constine says QR codes open up Mac Pro and Apple Watch websites, the Star Wars: Rogue One movie in iTunes, and the Starbucks Card sign-up.

The code also featured references to a Gobi comparison shopping feature that could be in the AR app, and, in line with previous rumors about a possible Starbucks partnership, there were references to Starbucks discounts at specific locations, which suggests the Gobi app could offer promotions or content experiences based on location.

A video shared by Constine also features sounds and vibrations that will be used in the Find My app to help people locate their lost devices. As described by Constine:

You'll hear encouraging sounds when you face the right direction so the lost gadget is "Ahead" of you, when you're "Nearby", or come within "Arms Reach", while discouraging tones hint that you're headed off course.

Many other leaked features have been found in iOS 14, such as hints of a new fitness app, new features for Messages like mentions and retractions, new Apple Pencil features, Home screen updates, Find My changes for AirTags, the CarKey API that will allow an iPhone to be used in lieu of a CarKey, and tons more, with full details available in our iOS 14 roundup.

Article Link: iOS 14 Leak Shows Off Apple-Branded QR Codes Found in 'Gobi' AR App

 

[ksec]

These are not looking good.

 

[CarlJ]

You'll hear encouraging sounds when you face the right direction so the lost gadget is "Ahead" of you, when you're "Nearby", or come within "Arms Reach", while discouraging tones hint that you're headed off course.

Bonus points if it can have a giggly kids voice saying, “you’re getting warmer” and such.

 

[hoyhoy]

I'm wondering if we'll be able to sync photos from macOS to iOS in the next release. That would be an amazing feature that used to work up until iOS 13 and macOS 10.15!

 

[KurtWilde]

I just want mini Siri UI.

 

[G4DPII]

QR codes, almost as pointless as Emoticons and Animojies.

 

[mariusignorello]

QR codes, almost as pointless as Emoticons and Animojies.

Well if they’re being used commercially like at Starbucks it’s perfect. Easy to set up and no maintenance so it works consistently at all locations.

 

[Nuno Lopes]

I sincerely hope that Apple‘s growth strategy does not rely on going after devs business. Intead s[eeding up Pad OS mouse and trackpad features. At the moment it does not take a bright person to spot at least 10 easily solvable holes in the grammar taking me away from my purpose In the moment.

For instance, in the files app keeps on opening the file when simply want select it. That with either the trackpad or the mouse. Furthermore after selection I cannot simply drag it to another aide by side window.

Summoning the launch pad With the mouse it’s a pain. So is exposé. Something that macOS soleves in such an elegant way with a two finger double tap on the mouse.

Certain operations seams like Apple is trying to transform an iPhone Ux into an iPad Ux. Cumbersome.

Just to mention a couple.

 

[WannaGoMac]

How about iOS 14 fix Mail app so i dont have to refresh every time i open it for the email to be delivered?

I know, crazy high expectations. Lets go back to emoji and QR codes

 

[mlrproducts]

How about iOS 14 fix Mail app so i dont have to refresh every time i open it for the email to be delivered?

I know, crazy high expectations. Lets go back to emoji and QR codes

OMG YES! "Hey, here is a notification that you have an email." - Opens email app - "Umm... refreshing, just wait more time."

 

[69Mustang]

QR codes, almost as pointless as Emoticons and Animojies.

The Chinese overwhelmingly use QR codes so it stands to reason they will be prominently featured in Apple's software. This has been an ongoing evolution for a year or two. There are been several articles detailing QR codes and how they factor in the Chinese mobile economy.

 

[Nuno Lopes]

How about iOS 14 fix Mail app so i dont have to refresh every time i open it for the email to be delivered?

I know, crazy high expectations. Lets go back to emoji and QR codes

Yeah that is another one. I have high expectations for the Post PC era. Hopefully it will be beyond the iPhone. There is so much todo in this field in the iPad OS in that regard before ... it seams that the kind of relentless we were used to from Apple in terms of UX

 

[CrzyP]

Revolutionary!

 

[mattopotamus]

I'm wondering if we'll be able to sync photos from macOS to iOS in the next release. That would be an amazing feature that used to work up until iOS 13 and macOS 10.15!

That feature has never stopped working for me.

 

[NexusUser]

Those circle codes... Is Apple trying to create their own version of QR codes that they only work with the Apple Gobi App? Looks like they're expanding the walled garden into VR...

 

[Vjosullivan]

How does my missing phone know which way around I'm facing? Sounds a bit spooky.

 

[boss.king]

Proprietary QR codes. Who the hell thought that was a good idea?

 

[ThomasJL]

I love it whenever I see Apple using the old rainbow-colored logo.

 

[Analog Kid]

Bonus points if it can have a giggly kids voice saying, “you’re getting warmer” and such.

Marco!

 

[mike...]

Wow I cannot wait for this magical and revolutionary release of iOS. It will be the greatest version of iOS Apple have ever shipped. It will feature millions of groundbreaking new features, such as QR codes.

 

[thefourthpope]

How about iOS 14 fix Mail app so i dont have to refresh every time i open it for the email to be delivered?

I know, crazy high expectations. Lets go back to emoji and QR codes

Yes please. I’ll also take a search feature that lets me select the email shown in the results. Apple Mail on iOS remains at the bottom of the pile. I only use it for the swipe and peek/pop features.

 

[szw-mapple fan]

I just want mini Siri UI.

I would be happy to get the mac Siri UI on iOS.

 

[incoherent_1]

It’s been 14 versions. Can we finally have a replacement/upgrade for the stale, static home screen icons?

 

[bdjohnston]

The QR "Wheel" will be known as an Iris stamp. Watch this space.

 

[name99]

Those circle codes... Is Apple trying to create their own version of QR codes that they only work with the Apple Gobi App? Looks like they're expanding the walled garden into VR...

Insisting on "walled garden" is always possible, but it's unhelpful as the default and only assumption...

My guess would be that the round codes are optimized for some usage case(s) where the square codes don't work well. They might, for example, be very robust to being scanned at an extreme angle rather than forcing the camera to be facing the code close to head on? Or they might be appropriate for data transfer via a constantly changing screen rather than as a fixed pattern (think of the shifting dots pattern used to pair an Apple Watch...)

Apple mostly (in spite of what you might think) doesn't go in for creating a whole new standard if a pre-existing standard exists that is good enough, or can be just slightly tweaked, especially in something that people care about as little as QR codes...