Features and Testing Strategies - iOS 14 & Android 11

Written by Timothy Joseph | Oct 28, 2020 4:00:00 PM

The Android and iOS OS updates are out. Let’s discuss what’s new and what you need to consider from QA perspective.

New Features Highlights

Both Android and iOS have an exciting list of new features.

Android 11 Features	iOS 14 Features
Screen Recorder Users can record their screens with one click	Translate A new app has been added to translate text and audio
Quick Controls Media controls are now available from Quick settings	Widgets The redesigned functionality can be added to the home screen
Chat Bubbles for Messaging A floating bubble-like icon consolidates messages from the different messenger applications	Siri Redesigned in a compact view instead of whole screen view
Smart device controls Control for connected devices can be accessed using long press of power button	Compact Calls Notifications and alerts are now displayed in compact view
Picture-in-Picture Video Resizing Android has added the option to resize the picture-in-picture window	Home Screen New App library screen allows you to categorize applications
Voice Control Enhanced voice control features are available for managing the device and applications	Maps The map feature now includes cycling lanes, bike paths and elevation changes
Screenshot and Sharing Users can easily take screenshots from recent apps. A share and edit button is available for greater usability	APP Clip Subsets of an app can be launched for a specific feature without installing the complete app
Notifications Notifications are categorized into three sections: Conversations, Alerting, and Silent. You can prioritize important notifications even in 'Do Not Disturb'	Messages Users can pin up to nine conversations, inline replies, and tag users within the chat
Scheduled Dark Mode Users can now schedule Android devises to switch between light and dark themes based on the user’s sunrise and sunset schedule or custom times	Back Tap Launch a shortcut and take a screenshot by tapping the back of the device twice or thrice
One Time Permissions User can provide temporary one-time access for apps that need to utilize particular parts of the device. These include the device’s location, camera and microphone	Picture In Picture Picture In Picture mode has been introduced for iPhone to watch videos in compact mode.

Updates in Testing Strategies

With the enhancements in the operating systems, QA engineers need to adjust their strategies to ensure comprehensive testing takes place. So, we collaborated with our engineering team to bring you a first-hand QA perspective on the latest OS versions:

1 Perform compatibility testing for the apps available on previous versions.

2 Verify the new installation and upgrades of existing applications.

3 Verify the integration of the applications with default Mobile/OS features.

4 Walk through all the workflows and features of the application to look for new issues.

5 Focus on the overall security (privacy changes), performance, and accessibility.

6 Verify the web apps and run automation scripts on the latest version of Safari browser.

Highlights For QA Engineers

Usability and multitasking has been the focus for both of the operating systems. Let’s discuss the major updates introduced in these versions, from QA standpoint.

For Android Users

Verify all your permission-related scenarios against the ‘one-time permission’ feature
Verify that the notifications are listed correctly according to the User Settings. Also, the alerts should be tested with the scheduled Dark Mode to verify that only selected notifications are shown
Using the updated Media Controls from quick settings, verify the integration of the phone's settings with the audio apps
Verify the compatibility of the Chat bubble with other applications
Verify the integration and listing of connected devices

For iOS Users

Widgets will provide the user with real-time data-verify that essential information is available on the home screen for easy access
Verify that a particular scenario works independently and is integrated well with OS permissions like the camera, location, payment wallets, launch from NFC, QR code, and browser or message link
Siri, picture in picture videos, and new call alerts are available in a compact mode. Verify that the existing apps run when Siri is used or a new call arrives. Also verify that the user is able to simultaneously work on both PIP video and his app
Verify the Back Tap feature for different functions like camera and app controls

These iOS 14 and Android 11 updates will influence the mobile applications in many ways. QA engineers must understand these enhancements well in order to modify their existing test coverage strategies.

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