ALLPCB
Overview
Apple introduced 3D Touch on the iPhone 6s. 3D Touch lets the iPhone detect presses with varying force beyond conventional two-dimensional touch, enabling different actions based on pressure.
Quick preview between layers
Common email workflows involve repeatedly opening and closing messages. With 3D Touch, you can press firmly on a message in a list to see a preview. Apple calls this action "Peek."
After a Peek you have two choices: release to return to the list, or press more firmly to open the message fully. Apple calls this stronger press "Pop." In short, Peek is a preview action that eliminates repetitive list-to-content navigation, while Pop is a confirmation action that opens the content after previewing.
In practice, Peek provides previews for addresses, links, and photos. For example, when you receive an address in a message you no longer need to copy it, open a maps app, paste, and search. A firm press can show a map preview, and releasing returns you to the message thread.
Quick action menus from app icons
On an iPhone with 3D Touch, pressing any app icon brings up a quick action menu containing frequently used but otherwise buried functions, such as a direct camera action within a social app's sharing feature. Selecting an item from this menu opens the corresponding area inside the app without navigating through multiple screens. Demonstrations showed that many apps expose relevant shortcuts, for example, contacts for the Phone icon and selfie, photo, video, or slo?mo options for the Camera icon.
Other 3D Touch features
While composing text, pressing the virtual keyboard lets it act as a trackpad so you can move the cursor to select, cut, or copy text without long presses or repeated taps. Pressing the left edge of the screen and swiping right can bring up the multitasking interface to switch apps, which is more convenient than double?pressing the Home button.
Because 3D Touch senses pressure, it also benefits drawing applications. Stroke width can vary with pressure, which is useful for artists and adds expressive possibilities for general users.
