This article will give you a comprehensive understanding of what is Apple's dynamic island? How does it work? How is it different from the original bangs?
What is a smart island?
Smart island is a clever design, which blurs the boundary between software and hardware. It can automatically change the size and shape according to the needs of different application operations and tips, notifications and active content.
Apple added smart islands to the iPhone 14Pro series, the main purpose of which is to hide the high-end "exclamation point screen" of digging holes. Through the visual difference of animation, users can't find the original screen digging. It is a very clever, interesting and practical creative way to revitalize the top area of Pingshan, Liuhai, which has been occupied for many years.
Compared with the perforated screen used by Android phones for many years, no one thought that Apple could optimize the perforated screen through the UI interface to achieve a smooth human-computer interaction design. It is undeniable that the iPhone Smart Island redefines the perforated screen design.
In the hardware part, the brand-new Face ID depth sensor and front lens module of iPhone 14Pro series are embedded in the smart island, which is 3 1% smaller than the previous Liu Haiyuan depth camera system, which can create more available space for mobile phones.
What's the use of a smart island?
The vibrant smart island is the innovation of Apple's internal hardware, software and chip team. It allows iPhone 14Pro series to display different shapes through smooth animation in the top area, so as to realize notifications, reminders, events and various interactive operations, and also supports third-party apps. I believe that there will be more new ways to play in different apps in the future.
Smart island is the starting point of full screen?
Some people may wonder, why do you want to lean directly on the top of the screen and leave a gap on the edge? If Apple does this, how is it different from the original bangs? In addition to beautifying the perforated screen, the actual smart island can also be distinguished from the original bangs. Another core focus is to pave the way for the subsequent "full-screen iPhone".
From the ever-changing animation effect of "Smart Island", it can be found that notifications, reminders and events scale and change at the top of the screen, and the overall UI interface keeps the edge to maintain the screen width, which visually seems to be a full screen without holes.
Which iPhone models does Smart Island support?
Smart Island is a unique function of iPhone 14Pro series models. Only iPhone 14Pro and iPhone 14Pro Max models can be supported, and other iPhone 13 or earlier models cannot be used.
Working principle and display effect of smart island
Smart islands mainly rely on organic light-emitting diode screens. Through the system control, the area between the two holes of the screen does not emit light, and the perfect dynamic island design can be presented in black. So what will be the actual display effect of the dynamic island?
Allow two groups of APP background residents to be displayed.
In terms of display effect, the smart island can not only display the long capsule design, but also have a separate circle on the right, which can display the second group of APP information. For example, after opening Apple Music to play music, and then opening the recording, you will see that the smart island is automatically divided into two APP button icons in the form of bubbles.
The actual effect of iPhone exiting the system and leaving the background on the smart island is as follows. After the music is turned on, returning to the home screen will immediately stay at the smart island position. In addition, after starting the timer, returning to the home screen will generate another APP prompt on the smart island.
APP real-time dynamic information display
Apple also allows developers to customize the "real-time dynamics" of third-party applications integrated into the dynamic island. For example, it can display frivolous information on the smart island, display necessary information through banner clicking, and track Uber's call progress, sports performance, physical training and take-away progress. It is very convenient to use on Foodpanda and Uber Eats takeaway platforms. You don't need to open the APP, you can keep track of the delivery progress at any time through the smart island on the top of the iPhone.
Face ID locked and unlocked status
The Face ID lock on the lock screen is also integrated into the smart island display area. When unlocked, the lock icon will disappear and the smart island will immediately reduce the black display area.
Different types of reminders and notifications
The original iOS notification and reminder messages, such as Face ID verification and unlocking, AirPods device connection, mute prompt, incoming call banner, timer, etc., are all fully integrated into the smart island, where natural animations and transitions will be played. The effect makes you feel that there is no perforated screen at the top.
Face ID unlock authentication
apple music
When Apple Music is playing, the cover of the current music album will be displayed on the left side of the smart island, and the sound wave animation will swing with the music on the right side. When it is tapped, it will be displayed as a big notification status bar.
incoming phone call
When there is an incoming call, the smart island area at the top will also shrink. You can continue to browse other web pages or apps, or you can call up various mobile phone controls by clicking Smart Island.
video display
When playing video on iPhone 14Pro, the smart island will keep its original shape when playing in full screen.
Charging animation prompt
When charging the iPhone 14Pro, you will also see the smart island jump out of the charging animation reminder, and you will also find that the battery percentage on the right is separate from the battery mode.
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Apple has been reducing the size of the Face ID component of the original depth camera year by year. So far, the original depth camera on the iPhone 14Pro series has also been reduced by 33%. Meanwhile, a new porous screen is used. In order not to let users feel that the black capsule is too abrupt, only beautifying the hardware design with the "smart island" of software interaction is the dominant innovation strength of Apple's software and hardware. If there is no smart island, I believe that black capsules will definitely be ridiculed.
Through the "smart island", it can be clearly felt that Apple's ultimate goal is to achieve a non-porous full screen for the iPhone. In recent years, the speed of hardware evolution has gradually accelerated. The original depth sensing camera system was condensed into eight parts, leaving two parts. The distance sensor was also moved to the bottom of the screen, and only the necessary factory depth sensing camera and front lens were left in the hole.
From this perspective, Apple will continue to move towards Face ID. As for the expectation of iPhone screen recognition, the probability has become even more embarrassing at present. In the past, Face ID was mainly used to replace fingerprint identification. The key technology, facial recognition is active and more practical than passive fingerprint recognition. So far, almost no one in the Android camp can catch up with Apple's facial recognition technology, and it will be even harder to catch up in the future.
Whether you like smart island or not, it is undeniable that this new creative technology can dilute the original seemingly boring and abrupt exclamation point perforated screen shape and glow with new interactive vitality. With the blessing of A 16 bionic chip, animation can be displayed smoothly and amazingly, and the whole process is very practical and interesting.
The era of iPhone bangs is coming to an end, and it is ready to enter a new era of perforated screens. Apple needs to introduce a new and innovative method to show its iPhone design and awareness in intergenerational transition. This is definitely an island full of vitality and wisdom.