Apple hosted its highly anticipated annual developer conference, WWDC, on June 10, unveiling a slew of new features aimed at enhancing the user experience. Among the highlights was a preview of iOS 18, the upcoming major release that promises to bring significant updates to the iPhone.
Here are ten exciting new features that iOS 18 will introduce:
1. Customisation Options: iOS 18 offers a new approach to customising the Home Screen, Lock Screen, and Control Center. Users can now arrange apps and widgets in any open space, including above the dock. New visual effects, such as dark or tinted themes, provide a unique look for app icons and widgets. Additionally, users can enlarge icons for easier access and better visual impact.
2. Redesigned Photos App: The photos app has undergone a major redesign, unifying photo libraries into a single view. New collections make it easier to browse photos based on themes like recent days, favorite people and pets, and trips. Users can also pin favorite collections for quick access. A new carousel view highlights daily favorites, making it effortless to relive special moments.
3. Improved Control Center: The revamped Control Center offers quicker access to frequently used controls, such as media playback, Home controls, and connectivity options. Users can easily swipe between these groups and customise the layout to suit their needs. Additionally, third-party app controls can now be added, providing more flexibility and convenience.
4. Satellite Messaging and iMessage Updates: iOS 18 brings satellite messaging to the Messages app, allowing communication when cellular or Wi-Fi connections are unavailable. This feature leverages the iPhone's existing satellite capabilities. iMessage will also receive new text effects, including bold, italics, underline, and strikethrough. Users can schedule messages to be sent later and use any emoji or sticker as a Tapback.
5. Apple Intelligence: A standout feature in iOS 18 is Apple Intelligence, which combines generative models with personal context to deliver highly relevant and useful experiences. Siri receives a makeover with an "elegant glowing light" around the screen edge and improved language understanding. New tools like system wide Writing Tools and Image Playground allow users to create playful images for messages. Apple's partnership with OpenAI integrates ChatGPT into the software, enabling users to utilise ChatGPT via Siri or within apps.
6. Mail Enhancements: Later this year, Mail will feature on-device categorisation to organize the inbox into categories like Primary, Transactions, Updates, and Promotions. A new digest view compiles relevant emails from a single business, making it easier to track important information.
7. Safari Updates: Safari now includes a Highlights feature that uses machine learning to surface key information from web pages, making it easier to quickly grasp an article's gist or find specific details. The redesigned Reader mode provides summaries and tables of contents for longer articles, reducing distractions.
8. New Passwords App: Building on Keychain's foundation, the new Passwords app ensures easy access to passwords, passkeys, Wi-Fi passwords, and verification codes. It alerts users to common password weaknesses and known data breaches.
9. Enhanced Privacy Features: iOS 18 introduces new privacy tools, allowing users to lock and hide apps, control contact sharing, and manage accessory connections securely. Apps can be locked with Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode, ensuring sensitive information remains private.
10. Apple Maps and Game Mode: With iOS 18, Apple Maps will offer topographic maps and hiking routes across US national parks, with offline access to saved custom routes. Game Mode ensures smoother frame rates and responsive wireless accessories, enhancing the gaming experience.