Apple unveiled exciting details about the upcoming release of iOS 18, its mobile operating system tailored for the iPhone, during WWDC 2024. This major release emphasizes artificial intelligence, marking a significant milestone for the platform.
“I’m thrilled to announce the launch of groundbreaking intelligence features that aim to inspire developers, delight users, and enhance the functionality of our platforms,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook at the event. A key highlight is the integration of ChatGPT into Siri and various system interactions.
Before diving into AI advancements, Apple showcased new customization options. Users can now arrange icons on the home screen freely, avoiding any obstruction of their background photos. Apple’s Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, Craig Federighi, stated, “iOS 18 is a monumental release，offering more ways to personalize your iPhone, maintain connections, and revisit cherished moments.”
Icon customization extends to tint colors, allowing users to apply a uniform color to all their app icons, such as turning them yellow.
The Control Center also sees enhancements, no longer limited to just the main page's buttons. Users can swipe down to access media playback and home controls, as well as edit the Control Center directly by tapping an edit button. Additionally, third-party developers can introduce custom shortcuts for Control Center and the lock screen, such as replacing the camera button with a Snapchat button.
Individual app locking is a new feature that requires Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode to access specific apps, which will not appear in search results. This capability will be particularly useful for storing sensitive information linked to AI features.
Messages are receiving an upgrade for tapbacks, enabling reactions with any emoji or sticker displayed in color—similar to other messaging platforms. Users can also send messages later and apply text formatting options like underline and strikethrough. Furthermore, Apple has confirmed that iOS 18 will include RCS support—an enhanced SMS protocol that offers advancements like native group messaging.
The Mail app will introduce categories akin to Gmail, organizing promotional, newsletter, and transactional emails into separate sections, thus keeping the inbox clutter-free. A new digest view will feature relevant emails, including flight information, just in time for your travels.
Calendar updates bring optional integration with Reminders, giving users the choice to view reminders directly within their calendar.
The Wallet app will gain new functionality, allowing users to initiate a quick payment with Apple Cash by tapping their phones together. Event cards will also see enhancements, providing additional details, such as stadium maps for upcoming events.
Additionally, the recently launched Journal app will receive updates, offering insights and easy access to past entries. Game Mode—a special feature designed to boost device performance—will now be available on the iPhone, expanding beyond macOS.
The Photos app is expected to undergo a significant redesign, simplifying navigation while keeping familiar elements like the photo grid with filters for years and months. Users can browse collections organized by themes such as people, trips, and favorite memories, previously tucked away in a separate tab. The app will now allow customizable collections and introduce a carousel feature that autoplays favorite moments daily.
While not explicitly an iOS 18 feature, the next macOS release will allow iPhone mirroring, enabling Mac users to replicate their iPhone screens on their computers and interact using trackpads and keyboards. Notifications from iOS will also appear on Mac devices.
Transforming iOS 18 is the introduction of Apple Intelligence—a new personal intelligence system set to enhance user experience across Apple’s platforms.
“We’re incredibly excited about the potential of generative models,” said Federighi. “While existing chat tools are impressive, they often lack a personal touch.”
Apple Intelligence will empower iPhones to comprehend languages and images, responding appropriately based on users' personal contexts. The new notification system prioritizes essential alerts, while a smart focus mode automatically hides less significant notifications. This technology will also improve writing across apps like Notes, Mail, and Pages by offering suggestions for clarity and correctness.
In Mail, users can generate quick replies without typing, as Apple Intelligence will prompt basic responses to events or requests. An email preview feature will summarize the contents of emails in concise lines, enhancing organization within the inbox.
Apple Intelligence also enhances user interaction with images, enabling the creation of AI-generated images with friends or family, based on the user’s photo library. This functionality is reminiscent of Easel, an app crafted by former Snap engineers.
Furthermore, the new Genmoji feature allows users to generate emojis from prompts to use in Messages. Generated emojis can also resemble friends based on uploaded photos, stored in a dedicated "Image Playground" accessible from various apps, and available as a standalone app for developers to leverage.
Photo editing in the Photos app will receive smart tools powered by AI for enhanced functionality, allowing precise searches through the library.
Siri’s capabilities will receive a boost with Apple Intelligence, offering smarter responses for tasks like finding shared files or displaying photos.
A revamped Siri interface will indicate when it's active without obstructing the screen. Users can issue commands across various apps or find old photos, modifying them effortlessly.
Apple has integrated ChatGPT, powered by the GPT-4 model, directly into Siri, alongside the new writing tools. Users will need to consent to share information with OpenAI to use ChatGPT functionalities, all of which will be available for free on devices like the iPhone 15 Pro. No OpenAI account is required, although users can log in for additional features.
Exciting times are ahead for iPhone users as iOS 18 promises numerous enhancements, driven by cutting-edge AI technology.
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