IOS 15 new focus mode query

Hi! Allowing apps can work in two ways: allowing them to send you notifications and allowing the focus to start automatically when certain apps are opened. To give you an example, I have a focus for reading, where I allow phone calls and messages and weather alerts from the relevant apps, and that focus is set to automatically start when I open reading apps, such as Apple Books, Kindle or Audible.

I decided to work with the Personal focus (at least that’s how it says in Spanish Mexico), using it for reading,and video consumption. I have it automatically invoked upon launching those apps which the screen cannot be locked (Youtube, Prime Video and Netflix), and manually launch it for the rest (including Bard Mobile, Voice Dream Reader etc). I’ve my family as allowed contacts as well as my Favorites; allowed notifications I’ve Whatsapp and Voice Clock. All I can say it’s such an awesome experience! For years I’ve wished for something like this on Ios! This has allowed me to finally make use of my IPHone SE2020, as in all-in-one device! Hope these experiences help some, in giivng ideas on what other focus could be used and/or set up.

Hi!

First off, I don't have 15 yet. But, I've been psyched to try this new feature out ever sstce reading about it, and, listening to the demos on Mosen at large, and Thomas's podcast. I do have plans for this, but, I've got a couple questions of my own.

I plan on creating focuses for reading, listening to podcasts, and, one called Meeting. I might create one for music but, not sure yet.

So, reading will have Kindle Voice Dream Reader, BARD Mobile, Hoopla, Libby, and Overdrive. It'll open automatically. I plan on having all notifications silenced. Except for maybe my parents emails, or, my family's messages through Messenger.

Another one will be for podcast listening. It'll have all my podcatchers, open automatically, and, it'll have the perameters as the previous one.

I'll have a custom focus called Meeting. I go to meetings with Hadley, Braille Institue, and sometimes, ACB and also APH. I'm only allowing Teams, Zoom, and emails and weather alerts maybe through. I go to a lot of meetings, some scheduled, some spontaneously on a whim. Here's where another question comes into play.

Here's where my plans go a bit off. I thought about creating a focus for Music, where I'd have all my radio and music streaming apps, and only alerts from Calendar, and Messenger get through. Because sometimes I listen to music before a meeting. Also, just because of a BT. speaker that we have that Voiceover only comes through the speaker, not the Ipad and so do notifications, so... I might use it for that too.

Thought about creating one for Clubhouse, but, not quite sure about that one. Maybe just have that app and the important ones come through, like Calendar, and Messenger.

So, now, here come my questions.

1. I know you can allow or disallow contacts from messaging you, via iMessage. But, can you do the same thing with mail? Because if possible, I'd just have the people I select let me know if I get emails from them. Because, for the 1st 2 focuses, I'd use them when I'm sleeping, or trying to sleep.

2. Again, I know that they can be allowed or disallowed in Messages. But, can the same be said for Messenger? My family and I and my friends, do not use Messages. My parents and I are Apple, but, some family and friends have Android. So, it makes sense. Partlus, my Dad uses Messages for work. But, put it simply, it works good for every one.
If not, I guess I can allow Messenger notifications to get through, but, I'd rather not have to. I would have to turn off Mail too. And, I'd rather not do that, since I do communicate with people that I'd like to know if I get an email from. Such as my parents, Grandmother, and a couple good friends. Not sure how any of these will work, but, ca't wait to set them up, and give them a try. The autoactivate ones will be the hardest and longest because I've got so many apps in those categories.

I almost forgot, my last question! If you schedule a focus, can you turn it on when you want or need to also? Also, can you schedule a focus like a calendar? So, you would have the following:

focus Meeting Mode activates on the 1st and 4th Tue. of the month at 8 PM. but, then, you find out about a meeting that's being held on a particular topic that you're interested in, or that applies to you and you heard about it a few hours before it starts and decide to go, can you turn that focus on manually? Even though it've scheduled it? Basically, can you override the scheduling, if need be?

For anyone who plans to use Focus, just remember that you can't lock the screen. I was told it isn't supposed to work that way, but the fact of the matter is, it does, and to me, that makes the whole thing next to useless.

I created a focus for do not disturbed when I open audible. It work well when I was looking for a book but later when I open audible to play a book, it close and did not work. VO could not let me use it. I did switch close of the app but did not work. Also in Bard mobile the issue is that do not disturb does not go on. Not nice.

I have mine to turn on with the books app, and it worked fine until I would switch back and forth between books and notes.

It works well with music as it belong to apple Apps that are not apple do not work well or is consistent.

I am using focus mode when I am playing Sonar Islands for example. Because the time limit on the islands I don't want to be canceled of incoming calls, sms etc. The focus automaticaly turns on when I start the game and turns off when i exit it.

I setup focus to be able to play music and the first time it work. Second time did not. It looks like it is not consistent all the time. Nice feature but if it does not work what is the point?

I've never had the lock screen issue happen here.

I've never had the lock screen issue happen here.

I have setup a do not disturb in iOS 14 and below. I did the sane with iOS 15. Question, if I open kindle to read a book, I created a focus for it. If I get up earlier and want to read or listen to an audiobook in bard mobile which also has focus will it interfere with the do not disturb? Do I need to turn off do not disturb?