When talking about iOS 15, it's hard to be concise: Apple's iPhone software is available to everyone in the form of a just-released public beta that is packed with a variety of features Some of them are high-profile, while others are overlooked additions to iOS 15

So please forgive me for going on and on about all the changes in this update during my hands-on with the public beta of iOS 15 There is a lot to cover: new features, enhancements to old favorites, and features shared with other Apple OS updates Still, I feel like we've only scratched the surface

Still, no matter how many words you can string together to preview a software update, the two most persistent questions are always the same: "What's new? What are the best new features in this update, and after spending some time with the iOS 15 Developer's Preview, I have a pretty strong opinion about the best and worst the beta has to offer

One could argue that either FaceTime or Focus, the two more notable changes in this iOS update, should stand out as the best features of iOS 15 From what I've seen, both are impressive: FaceTime adds some important improvements, such as spatial audio and a more organized grid view, while also incorporating a new SharePlay feature for watching movies and listening to music with faraway friends; Focus adds a new feature for notifications and filtering incoming messages, which promises to reduce the possibility of distractions and allow you to sit back and focus

While these additions are great, I rarely use FaceTime, and not always spontaneously In my initial testing, it looks like the improvements in iOS 15 will make me less disdainful of Apple's video chat app I think Focus has the potential to be a real game changer, but I will need to use the retooled video chat app a bit more to reach a more definitive conclusion

No, the feature that caught my eye is one I use more or less all the time and rely on regularly to get from point A to point B: Maps The navigation app got some nice improvements in iOS 15, but that was before I actually tried the new transit feature and the new AR-based feature where Maps provides interactive walking directions What I've already seen is impressive enough

That is the 3D mapping detail that Apple has added to Maps Local landmarks such as Oracle Park, the Ferry Building, and the Salesforce Tower are rendered in elaborate detail In addition, more accurate streets are shown, changing from yellow to gray and accurately reflecting the location of street trees

I have been doing a lot of driving over the past few days and have found the map's new driving view to be invaluable As I approached particularly complex sections of my journey, I would switch to a street-level perspective iOS 15's Maps driving view kept me on course and on course to my destination

I know Maps has had a bad reputation since the days when Apple was trying to break away from Google's map data However, I feel that the iOS 15 version is another step toward making that reputation a thing of the past

Calling Safari the worst feature of iOS 15 is, arguably, a bit harsh But it is the change I like least and the one that will take the most time to get used to

Safari is being streamlined across Apple's various software platforms in iOS 15, that means a new design better suited to the iPhone's limited screen space And it means that Apple has decided to shrink the tab bar and move it to the bottom of the screen, where it is easier for thumbs to reach

The only problem is that my brain still expects the tab bar to be at the top So when I launch the browser in iOS 15, I often spend a second or two staring stupidly at the top of the screen wondering where the URL went Worse, I sometimes start tapping listlessly where I think the tab bar should be before I remember that I'm living in iOS 15's new and not necessarily improved world [It takes some getting used to, especially the fact that you can jump to an open tab by simply swiping left or right This seems like a time saver, but I also imagine that when I accidentally drag my finger across the iPhone screen, I could accidentally shift the screen Speaking of tabs, this new design also supports group tabs This feature will be much more appreciated once I upgrade my MacBook Air to macOS Monterey Right now, as I stare at the layout of grouped tabs on my iPhone screen, the phrase "Chief, this isn't it" keeps echoing in my head I'm sure that will fade with time

The good news for Apple is that there have been more hits than misses while using iOS 15 It's also important to remember that this is a beta version, and even if you find features that you feel haven't been fully fleshed out yet, there is a long time before the full version of iOS 15's fall release date

With that in mind, my current strategy is to see if I can get used to a world with an upside-down Safari and take comfort in the fact that my Maps experience is going to be much better when iOS 15 is fully released