Apple showcased the next version of its mobile operating system, iOS 10, during the keynote at its annual Worldwide Developer Conference this past Monday. Executives highlighted nearly a dozen key features and changes but failed to mention one that'll be welcomed by millions.
For the first time ever, iOS 10 will allow iPhone and iPad users to uninstall some core Apple apps like Maps, Stocks, Watch and Weather. While useful to some, these core apps are viewed by many as bloatware for the simple fact that there's no way to remove them short of jailbreaking the device. As a result, many simply move all of the core apps they don't use to a folder and do their best to forget it exists.
The (almost) full collection of core apps will reside in the App Store complete with descriptions and screenshots should you have a change of heart or pick up a new gadget like an Apple Watch. As The Verge points out, ancillary apps like Photos, Camera and Messages can't be removed, presumably because they are too deeply integrated into the overall experience of the OS.
The admission likely would have generated a huge pop from the crowd but it's understandable why Apple neglected to mention it.
Apple has since published a help page that outlines which apps can be removed. It's worth noting that removing an app will also delete any related user data and configuration files. Those motivated by the proposition of freeing up additional storage space should note that the entire collection of 23 removable apps consumes less than 150MB.
The developer preview of iOS 10 is available now with the final consumer release scheduled for this fall.
Lead image courtesy iOS Manuals