3D Touch may not be as innovative as we’d hoped, but in some cases the feature is quite useful. For example in the Phone app of iOS.
3D Touch in the Phone app
The iPhone 6S has been out for a while and many users have now discovered the possibilities of the pressure-sensitive screen. 3D Touch lets you press hard on the screen to perform certain actions, for example to request a preview or to open an image. However, as you can read in this article, the feature is not yet gamecharger. Although you navigate through the interface faster with 3D Touch, the function is not (yet) indispensable.
Still, the pressure-sensitive screen really adds something in some apps. The Phone app is one of them. When you press hard on the app icon, you can immediately create a new contact. This is useful when, for example, you are at a party and want to save a number.
You can also call someone from your home screen if that person is saved as a favorite in the Phone app. This happens automatically when you make a phone call, but you can also manually set who should appear as a shortcut. To do this, you need to go through the steps below.
- Open the Phone app and tap ‘Favorites’ at the bottom left;
- Click on the plus icon at the top to add a contact. With the option ‘Edit’ you remove people from the overview.
- Select someone from your contact list and put him or her in your favorites.
People you have set as favorites will now appear automatically when you press hard on the app icon. In the last step you can also choose to call someone in the normal way, or via FaceTime (Audio).
More 3D Touch applications
Incidentally, 3D Touch is incorporated in the Phone app in more ways. When you tap firmly on a profile picture, three options appear on the screen: Call, Message and FaceTime. If you have also saved an e-mail address with the person in question, you will be given the option to send an e-mail immediately.