iOS 18 Highlights: A Comprehensive Guide
With the conclusion of Apple’s annual WWDC event, the latest features of iOS 18 have been unveiled. Apple has promised that this major update will bring more customization options, including the most significant overhaul of the “Photos” app to date, a new way to manage the “Mail” inbox, and the ability to send messages via satellite.
In addition, users will now have the freedom to arrange apps and widgets in any vacant space on the home screen, customize the bottom button on the lock screen, and access more control options in the “Control Center” with ease.
iMessage will also utilize groundbreaking technology similar to the existing satellite capabilities of the iPhone. This means that users will be able to contact others through the “Messages” app via satellite, even without a cellular or Wi-Fi connection.
iOS 18 is set to be officially released in the fall and will be available as a free software update for iPhone Xs and later models. As for the Apple Intelligence beta, it will be launched alongside iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia in the fall. It will be compatible with the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPad, and Mac (M1 and later models) for users with Siri and device language settings set to English (United States).
Here are the 8 major highlights of iOS 18:
Highlight 1: Major Updates to the “Photos” App
The viewing interface maintains its familiar grid style, but the new “Featured Albums” feature allows users to browse photos based on themes without the need to organize them into albums. Users can also pin their favorite albums for quick access. The new “Carousel View” displays featured content such as favorite people, pets, and places, which gets updated daily. The autoplay feature throughout the app brings the photo library to life.
Highlight 2: Messaging via Satellite
iOS 18 introduces the “Messages” app with satellite transmission, allowing users to stay connected even without a cellular or Wi-Fi connection. This feature utilizes groundbreaking technology similar to the existing satellite capabilities of the iPhone. It automatically prompts users to connect to the nearest satellite directly from the “Messages” app for sending and receiving text messages, emojis, and tapbacks via iMessage and SMS. The “Coverage Indicator” lets users know if they are connected to a satellite at any time. As iMessage is designed to protect user privacy, the iMessages sent via satellite are end-to-end encrypted.
Highlight 3: Smarter Mail Organization
The “Mail” app introduces a new way for users to organize their inbox and stay up to date with the latest information. The on-device categorization feature organizes received emails and separates personal content and time-sensitive emails into “Primary,” transaction-related emails into “Transactions,” news and social notifications into “Updates,” and marketing emails and promotions into “Promotions.” The “Mail” app also introduces a new summary view that consolidates all emails related to a specific company, allowing users to quickly access relevant information.
Highlight 4: Customizable Interface
iPhone users can now customize their home screen, lock screen, and control center in a whole new way. Users can arrange apps and widgets in any vacant space on the home screen, such as placing them directly above the dock for easy access, or creating a framing effect around a background image. By choosing a dark or tinted appearance, users can give a fresh look to app icons and widgets, and they can also enlarge these elements to create a personalized experience.
Highlight 5: Safari Highlights
The new “Highlights” feature in Safari makes it easier for users to explore web information and provides an enhanced reading experience. Safari utilizes machine learning (ML) technology to present the key information of web pages. For example, users can browse article summaries to quickly understand the main points, view the location of restaurants, hotels, or landmarks, or listen to songs by an artist mentioned in an article about a specific song or album. The “Reader” feature has also been improved, offering more ways to focus on reading articles, including summaries and tables of contents for long-form content.
Highlight 6: “Passwords” App
Based on Apple’s “Keychain” feature, the new “Passwords” app allows users to easily access passwords, passkeys, Wi-Fi passwords, and two-factor authentication codes. This app also issues warnings to users about common password weaknesses, such as those that are easily guessable or have been used multiple times, as well as passwords used in known data breaches, for improved security.
Highlight 7: Open “Hidden App Folders”
iOS 18 provides tools to manage app visibility, contact sharing options, and iPhone accessory connections. The locked and hidden app features ensure that content that users want to keep private, such as app notifications and content, will not be accidentally seen by others. Users can now lock specific apps and, for additional privacy protection, move apps to locked and hidden app folders to hide them. When an app is locked or hidden, the content within apps like messages or emails will be hidden in searches, notifications, and other system-wide functions.
Highlight 8: “Writing Tools”
With the new system-wide “Writing Tools” in iOS 18, users can now rewrite, proofread, and summarize text in places like “Mail,” “Notes,” Pages, and third-party apps, making it possible to do so in almost any writing context. These tools assist users in conveniently crafting summaries and highlights, allowing them to consolidate various types of text messages.
For more information, read:
– Apple’s Big Move with ChatGPT: Why is Elon Musk Resisting? How Powerful is Apple Intelligence? Highlights from WWDC
– Why was Apple Late to the AI War? Decoding the Apple Intelligence Behind Tim Cook’s Persistence
Editor: Li Xiantai