Apple Inc. has released iOS 10.1 to the public, its first major iOS update since its launch on Sept. 13. While not a major update, the users who will be most excited are iPhone 7 Plus owners who will be able to make the most of their device’s dual camera and obtain a depth of field effect.

We look at how you can upgrade to iOS 10.1 as well as the new features you will get, including the iPhone 7 Plus Portrait mode.

How to upgrade to iOS 10.1

Before you update to iOS 10.1 make sure you create a backup of your device via iTunes or iCloud.

You will also need a couple of gigabytes of available storage on your device for the update. To check how much storage you have available on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, go to the Settings app > General > About > scroll down to “Available” to see the amount of storage you have left on your device.

Tip: During the update to iOS 10.1 also make sure you keep your device plugged in and charging.

To update to iOS 10.1 go to the Settings app > General > Software Update and start the download of iOS 10.1.

New features and updates in iOS 10.1

iPhone 7 Plus Portrait mode

If you are an iPhone 7 Plus owner then you will be very excited about the main feature of iOS 10.1. The latest operating system brings Portrait mode to the iPhone 7 Plus’ dual-lens camera.

When taking photos in the new Portrait mode, the iPhone 7 Plus uses its 12-megapixel wide-angle lens, 12-megapixel telephoto lens and machine learning to distinguish between the background and foreground and achieve a bokeh effect. An effect previously reserved for DSLR cameras.

Once you have followed the steps above and updated to iOS 10.1, open the Camera app > tap Portrait, in between Photo and Square modes in the menu wheel. Lock onto your photo subject and follow the on-screen instructions. When the yellow “depth effect” sign pops up, you can lock in your focus, adjust the brightness and then tap the shutter button.

Note: The processing of a photo in Portrait mode will take slightly longer.

Transit navigation

Other updates in iOS 10.1 include transit support in Apple Maps for Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya. Apple Maps also gets transit fare comparison, allowing you to compare alternative transit routes.

Apple has also added sign-based transit navigation, which includes layouts of underground structures and walkways that connect large transit stations.

Messages app

Updates for the Messages app in iOS 10.1 include the ability to replay full screen and bubble effects, as well as the ability to play these effects with Reduce Motion enabled.

Various bugs in the Messages app have also been fixed in iOS 10.1 including missing audio from videos sent in the Messages app; contact names appearing incorrectly; a white screen when the Messages app was opened; and missing “report junk” option for unknown senders.

Japan gets Apple Pay

Coinciding with the release of iOS 10.1 is the announcement that Apple Pay is now available in Japan, taking the number of supported countries to 12.

Apple Pay in Japan will work like anywhere else whereby users load their debit or credit cards onto the mobile payment system and pay for conventional purchases using either their iPhone or Apple Watch. However, in additional to the conventional way, Japanese Apple Pay users will also be able to pay at any location supporting Suica, QUICPay, or iD.

Suica is a contactless card most often used on Japanese public transit, market that could prove very profitable for Apple, and is based on the FeliCa technology.

To make purchases at locations supporting Suica, QUICPay, or iD users will need to have a local model of the iPhone 7 or Apple Watch 2. Apple had to create specific models of the latest devices for the Japanese market that includes FeliCa-ready NFC chips and would support the existing infrastructure.

Source: Cnet

Images via Apple