Apple has added certain fields to the iTunes metadata of apps that suggests iOS 10 will allow iPhone and iPad users to hide stock apps, if not remove them entirely. These two new fields, which are true/false values, are called “isFirstParty” and “isFirstPartyHideableApp” according to App Advice.
Apple typically announces a new iOS version at their Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), held annually in June. If Apple stays true to form as they did with iOS 9 and the iPhone 6s, betas of iOS 10 will initially be released, with the full blown version of iOS 10 coming to market at the same time as the iPhone 7, September 2016.
However, the feature may have something to do with Apple’s enterprise program for schools or businesses. Earlier this year, Apple released the Apple Configurator 2.2 tool, which allowed organizations to remove official Apple apps from their employees or students devices.
Keep in mind this is all speculation, and Apple could be planning on doing something else entirely with the new metadata fields. However, judging from the excitement level, and the fact that Tim Cook himself has had to fend off questions from Buzzfeed about the inability of iPhones or iPads to remove stock apps, this rumor may just have legs.
Let’s just hope Apple keeps listening to their community and replaces the volume change pop-up overlay with something a little bit modern as well.
