One of many trendy visible adjustments to the iPhone on iOS 26 is a brand new structure for the lock display screen when music is enjoying. Art work can now be animated and proven full-screen on the iPhone show, with playback controls resting on a platter of a liquid glass.
You may do this out proper now with Apple Music. Play a music that has animated album artwork, and lock the cellphone. However customers of third-party music streaming apps like Spotify may even be happy to know that Apple is opening up this functionality as an API, so third-party builders may undertake it.
The brand new API known as MPMediaItemAnimatedArtwork, and is testable proper now within the developer SDK. This implies an app with at present enjoying media can present an animated video clip to the system for show on the lock display screen, in addition to placeholder paintings whereas the video masses.
After all, customers must wait till the general public launch of iOS 26 for third-party apps within the App Retailer to have the ability to use this new API and present full-bleed animated artwork on the lock display screen.
We additionally haven’t but received affirmation whether or not Spotify, Apple Music’s greatest rival, plans to make the most of it. Regardless of criticizing Apple repeatedly for gatekeeping, the service has been reluctant (learn: refused) to undertake new platform options like AirPlay 2 and native HomePod playback integration.
Whereas music is clearly the first intent of this characteristic, in principle, the brand new API isn’t restricted to simply music streaming apps. Different audio apps, like audiobooks or podcasts, may additionally present video paintings when out there.
iOS 26 is accessible in developer beta proper now, and can roll out as a free software program to all iPhone customers within the fall.
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