Of all the features shown off in yesterday’s iOS 8 reveal, I don’t remember seeing this one. On an iPhone running iOS 8, relevant icons will pop up on your device’s lock screen when you’re near or at physical locations such as the Apple Store, or Starbucks. Cool!
For example, MacRumors readers have seen relevant app icons pop up while at or near brick and mortar locations like Starbucks and the Apple Store. While at a Starbucks, for example, the Starbucks app icon is displayed in the lower left corner of the iPhone’s lock screen, which allows a Starbucks Passbook card to be easily accessed.
The feature doesn’t look to be limited to major retailers, as one Twitter user reports an app for a train station appearing on the lock screen while at that particular location. Nice.
While we’re not sure how this will work in the final release, or which apps will be compatible, this is going to be a cool feature if it makes it to the final release. The iOS 8 release notes mention the function as a part of Location Services: “When Location Services is turned on, the device’s current location is used to recommend relevant apps on the lock screen.”
We can’t wait for this feature. We’ll let you know about any other features that are discovered in the beta going forward.
The public release of iOS 8 is set for the fall.
