Back10 apps with 3D Touch
Apple's new 3D Touch feature is making it easier to use apps, without even having to open them in the first place
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Apple’s 3D Touch feature, introduced with the latest iPhone variants and the iOS 9 operating system, is pretty much revolutionizing the way we use apps—a new hardware layer sitting just below the phone’s display actually makes things happen when you press down on the screen in varying degrees of pressure. App developers have been hard at work over the past few weeks, adding the 3D Touch capabilities to their apps.
The feature works on two fronts. First is Quick Actions in which you simply press down on the icon of an app to see quick-task options without having to open the app. Then there is Peek and Pop, where you press down on the name of a file or a link and it first opens up in a preview window and then on pressing harder, opens it for viewing, editing and sharing.
As expected, Apple has integrated 3D Touch in its apps (such as Messages, Mail, Photos and Calendar). But now, popular third-party apps are also adopting 3D Touch capabilities. If you own an iPhone 6s or the 6s Plus, here are some of the most popular apps that work with the new feature.
Free
Undoubtedly the most popular instant messenger application globally, with over 900 million users. The latest update of the app adds the 3D Touch features. You can quickly create a new message by pressing down hard on the app’s icon itself, or peek into a chat within the app.
Skype
Free (optional subscription)
Skype is to video calling what Xerox is to photocopying. The latest version for iOS includes the 3D Touch actions. The Quick Actions can be accessed directly from the Skype app icon, pressing down on a conversation to Peek at the latest messages or calls and also share locations, photographs, contacts and URLs.
Day One
₹ 300
This is a journal and note-taking app, which has now become even more packed with features. You can now press firmly Day One’s icon on the home screen to show Quick Actions such as New Entry, New Photo Entry and Last Photo Taken without having to open the app. It is quite useful if you want to quickly make an entry into the diary.
Dropbox
Free (optional storage upgrades)
This app is extremely popular among power users who rely on cloud storage for data backup and as additional storage for their phones. If you are on one of the newer iPhones, the updated Dropbox app is designed to make life a lot easier. From the app icon on the home screen, you can go to your most recently used file or folder, upload a photograph to quickly add images to your Dropbox folder and search files.
From inside the Dropbox app, you can Peek into a file or image, and press harder to Pop open the file itself.
Hipstamatic Camera
₹ 190
One of the most innovative uses of 3D Touch has come from the Hipstamatic Camera app, which allows users to take and edit pictures. Once in the app, you can press an image in your gallery to get a preview of it and press deeper to open it and start editing. But the real fun comes when you just press the app icon and are promptly presented with options to Shoot Food, Shoot Sunset, Shoot Portrait or just Edit Last Photo—no need to open the app and choose a setting.
Evernote
Free
It might be best known as a note-taking app, but Evernote has many more features up its sleeves, including the ability to save photographs and even the option to set reminders. And the app has made the most of 3D Touch. You can use Quick Actions to access features like searching your notes, setting reminders, taking photographs or just making a new note by just pressing the app icon. Once inside the app, you can just press on a note to get a preview of its contents and press deeper to open it.
Free
The most popular social network has gone the Quick Actions way when it comes to using 3D Touch. So now if you want to make a post, upload a picture or video or even shoot a picture or a video, all you need to do is press down on the Facebook icon and these three options will pop up. Pick the one you need and carry on—no need to open the app first and search for the upload or write new post options.
Shazam
Free
Want to know the name of the song that is playing, but do not have the patience to open Shazam (which identifies songs by just “listening" to them through your phone’s microphone)? Just press down on the Shazam icon and choose the Shazam Now option from the options that appear among the Quick Actions. You can also set the device to identify whatever plays in the background by activating the Auto Shazam mode.
Free
Instagram has used both Quick Actions and Peek and Pop in its app. Just pressing the app’s icon gives you access to features like sending a Direct Message, searching, viewing activity on your account (likes and comments) and, of course, the option to make a new post. Peek and Pop is really useful in the app as it lets you get a preview of a person’s Instagram profile by simply pressing down on their name—no need to tap on it and go all the way to their page. And yes, if you are viewing thumbnails, just press on a picture to get its preview and slide it up to get the Like, Comment and Send as Message options.
Magic Piano
Free
Quick Actions and Peek and Pop might have been the highlighted features of 3D Touch but there are other ways to use the pressure sensitivity of the display of the new iPhones. And Magic Piano is an app that does just that. It basically lets you play piano versions of popular songs. But where it brings 3D Touch into the equation is in its ability to change the note by the pressure you exert on a key—so press light for a soft sound and press deeper for a louder one.
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