At the opening of WWDC 2024, Apple unveiled a preview of iOS 18, a new version of the operating system which promises to introduce a series of innovative features and significant improvements. The release stands out for greater customization, a redesign of the Photos app, new ways to manage email in Mail, Messages via satellite and much more. The iOS 18 Home screen now offers the ability to organize apps and widgets into any free space, allowing users to customize buttons on the lock screen and quickly access more options in Control Center. The redesign of the Photos app allows for a unified view of your libraries, with new collections that make your favorite shots more easily accessible. Mail’s on-device intelligence categorizes emails for easier management, while iMessage introduces new text effects. Furthermore, thanks to satellite technology, it will be possible to send messages even in the absence of a cellular or Wi-Fi network.
Also new in iOS 18 is Apple Intelligence, an artificial intelligence system that integrates generative models and user-specific context to offer useful and relevant functions. This system, designed for privacy, is compatible with iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia, and uses the power of the Apple chip to perform actions in apps and simplify everyday tasks. According to Craig Federighi, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, iOS 18 represents a fundamental release, enriched with new customization possibilities, a redesigned Photos app and powerful communication tools through Messages. Federighi underlined how Apple Intelligence ushers in a new era of intuitive and powerful experiences, always with an eye on privacy.
Customization options introduced with iOS 18 include the ability to place apps and widgets in any space on the Home screen, change the appearance of icons and customize Control Center, which now offers simplified access to the most used controls, grouped by type . Users can also customize controls on the lock screen and take advantage of the Action button on iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max to quickly invoke specific functions. The completely redesigned Photos app allows for more intuitive image management, with thematic collections and a carousel view that updates daily. In Messages, the new text effects and support for the RCS standard improve the communication experience, while the Messages via satellite function guarantees the possibility of sending and receiving messages even without a connection. Mail introduces email categorization based on on-device intelligence, simplifying inbox management and offering a new summary view. Safari, on the other hand, improves the search for information with Highlights and a redesigned Reading mode.
With the new Passwords app, Apple offers simplified access to passwords and verification codes, while also introducing warnings about common password weaknesses. Privacy is further enhanced with tools that help you manage app access and contact sharing, as well as Apple Intelligence, which optimizes writing and communication. Apple Intelligence, integrated into iOS 18, allows you to rework, review and summarize text in many apps, and introduces new creative features such as Image Playground and Memories in Photos, which make it easier to create personalized images and stories. Siri becomes more personal and contextually relevant, while Private Cloud Compute ensures privacy when using artificial intelligence.
Other features in iOS 18 include improvements in Maps, an enhanced Game Mode, new payment options with Apple Pay, enhanced interactions with Siri for AirPods, and advanced tools for writing and organizing notes. The Diary, Health and Home apps introduce new features for activity tracking, health management and smart home control, while new accessibility options include Eye Tracking and Music Haptics. The iOS 18 developer beta is already available through the Apple Developer Program, while the public beta will be available next month. The official release of iOS 18 is scheduled for this fall as a free update for iPhone Xs and later models.
#iOS #news #operating #system #iPhone
