Apple WWDC 2024: The Cupertino giant at this year’s WWDC 2024 once again captured the tech world’s attention spotlight by unveiling iOS 18 – an update that the iPhone owners have been desperately waiting for. Apple says that the new “iOS 18 makes iPhone more personal, capable, and intelligent than ever.”
With iOS 18, users will get a slew of groundbreaking features aimed at enhancing customisation, functionality, and user experience. From revamped customisation options allowing users to personalise their device to a redesigned Photos app, iOS 18 is poised to redefine how users interact with their iPhones.
“We are thrilled to introduce iOS 18. It is a huge release with incredible features, including new levels of customization and capability, a redesigned Photos app, and powerful ways to stay connected with Messages. There are so many benefits for everyone,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering at the launch of the new OS.
Customisation takes center stage
One of the standout features of iOS 18 is its enhanced customisation options, allowing users to tailor their iPhone experience to suit their preferences. From rearranging apps and widgets on the Home Screen to customising the buttons on the Lock Screen, users now have more granular control over the look and feel of their device. App icons and widgets in iOS 18 offer new appearance options, including a dark or tinted effect. Users can also adjust their size for a customized experience. Apple has also revamped the Control Center in iOS 18 to make it easier for users to access commonly used features. Now, users can quickly swipe between different groups of controls like media playback and home settings. They can also customise the layout and add controls from third-party apps. Plus, for the first time, users can switch controls on the Lock Screen and use the Action button to invoke controls instantly.
Redesigned Photos App
iOS 18 brings a complete overhaul to the Photos app, offering users a unified view of their photo libraries and introducing new collections to help organise content. With features like a carousel view highlighting daily highlights and the ability to pin favourite collections for easy access.
Enhanced messaging experience
iMessage receives a significant upgrade with iOS 18, introducing all-new text effects and expanded Tapback options. Users can now express themselves more creatively with dynamic, animated text effects and tapbacks that include a wider range of emojis and stickers. Additionally, the ability to schedule messages for later delivery adds convenience to the messaging experience.
Messages Over Satellite
iOS 18 brings the ability to send and receive messages over satellite when cellular or Wi-Fi connections are unavailable. Messages via satellite prompts you to connect to the nearest satellite from the Messages app. This lets you send and receive texts, emoji, and Tapbacks over iMessage and SMS.
Apple Intelligence
Perhaps the most groundbreaking feature of iOS 18 is Apple Intelligence, a personal intelligence system that marks the entry of Apple in the AI race. Apple has teamed up with OpenAI to incorporate ChatGPT and other AI capabilities across its ecosystem to deliver more interactive experiences. Integrated deeply into iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, Apple Intelligence promises to transform the iPhone experience with intuitive, personalised interactions without compromising the data privacy of users.
Availability
The developer beta of iOS 18 is out and available through the Apple Developer Program, with a public beta set to follow next month through the Apple Beta Software Program. iOS 18 will be available as a free software update for iPhone Xs and later models this fall, bringing the latest innovations to millions of users worldwide.
