iOS 18 Release – Exciting Features Coming to Apple Devices and Apps

Apple’s ‘It’s Glowtime’ event went beyond introducing the new iPhone 16 and Apple Watch to announce the iOS 18 release date – September 16, 2024. And there’s just so much coming up with this new release that users and developers alike are buzzing with excitement.

The Major Reveal: Apple Intelligence

Generative AI isn’t slowing down any time soon, a fact Apple has now confirmed by announcing Apple Intelligence. This is a suite of AI features that iPhone, iPad, and Mac users will be able to download and use from October.

And here’s what this new feature has to offer –

• Language Tools – The next iOS 18 release in October will enable users to leverage AI to rewrite and proofread whatever texts they write. Further, they can let the AI generate replies or summarize content for them. Apple Intelligence will also prioritize notifications and email messages, displaying those that matter the most.
• Image Generation – In addition to creating images based on prompts, Apple Intelligence can create original emojis (Genmoji) as well as memory videos based on images in the library. Users will also be able to search in the Photos app, as well as create pictures based on rough sketches in the Notes app.
• Siri Updates – Siri will get an upgrade starting from the October iOS 18 release. It’ll be able to process richer language and less-than-perfect requests. Especially as it’ll ‘understand’ personal context. You can also expect a fresh look with interesting animations to make interactions more eventful.
• ChatGPT Integration – iOS 18 is expected to be more interesting as ChatGPT will be integrated into it. This will allow Siri to answer questions it couldn’t before, and perform different new functions.

What Apple Intelligence Means for Developers

Apple Intelligence in the next iOS 18 update will allow developers to deliver much more with their apps. For instance, standard UI frameworks used for rendering text will leverage Apple Intelligence to rewrite, summarize, and proofread texts.

Developers will also enjoy integrating Image Playground. This API will enable users to create images in apps like Notes and Messages, delivering a richer experience. Moreover, Siri with App Intents will enable the voice assistant to perform enhanced action capabilities and understand content more effectively.

iOS 18 Features Everyone is Talking About

While Apple Intelligence is yet to be rolled out, the iOS 18 release in September comes packed with numerous features.

Messaging Features

iOS 18 will introduce a few interesting updates to texting, including –

• Message Scheduling, transforming text messages from just real-time chat to enable users to save texts for later or select a time/date to send them.
• Tapback Options, offering more reactions on chat messages along with additional formatting and special effects on texts
• Satellite Phone Service, which goes beyond the capabilities of Emergency SOS to enable users to use the Messages app in cellular dead zones
• Rich Communication Services Messaging, enabling richer media and even read receipts from non-iMessage users.

Customization Options

The new iOS 18 release offers several customization options to personalize user experience and streamline app navigation.

• Icon and Widgets Customization, enabling users to switch to a new Dark look, tint them in any color, and resize them.
• Controls Grouping, which ensures easier access to groups of controls in the Control Center, especially from the Controls Gallery

Privacy and Security Related Features

The upcoming iOS 18 release is taking security and privacy up a notch. Users can now use Face ID, touch ID, or passcodes to unlock sensitive apps. The data of these apps are further protected from showing up in other places such as search and notifications.

Users can also hide apps easily. All they need to do is simply move them to a hidden apps folder. They can then unlock the contents using the device’s passcode or other authentication measures.

Apple is also launching the Passwords app with iOS 18. Through it, you can sync codes across all Apple devices as well as other platforms such as Windows. This is an end-to-end encrypted app, ensuring higher security to all passwords.

Other Features

Other iOS 18 release features and updates that may interest you include –

• Tap to Cash Mode, which enables compatible iPhones to send money while held together
• Photos Features, where users can organize collections by theme, or reorder and pin them for easy access
• Maps Updates, featuring topographic maps and features for regular hikers such as saved hikes with offline access
• Game Mode, delivering uninterrupted gameplay experience to users, and making wireless game controllers and AirPods more responsive

You can read about everything that’s part of the iOS 18 release here.  

iOS 18 Features Developers Can’t Wait For

For app developers, iOS developer Beta 18 delivers a few exciting functionalities.

Updates to App Intents

Once Apple Intelligence is rolled out, App Intents will empower Siri to process and perform many new actions. Even across different apps. This will make entities more meaningful and add power to your apps.

Developers will also benefit from new APIs such as those for handling errors and deferred properties. Here’s a 15-minute video about the updates courtesy of Apple.

Updates to Machine Learning Capabilities

Firstly, Core ML received an update to support the latest generative machine learning and AI models. This ensures faster and more efficient processing, even for large language models and adapters.

The Create ML app has also received a new data preview functionality. With it, developers can track real world objects as well as enhance customized model training workflows. Complementing this is new Swift APIs that can be used for creating time series models within apps themselves.

Several ML APIs such as the Vision framework API have been redesigned to benefit from new Swift features. On the other hand, new ones have made their way into the iOS 18 release such as the Translation framework. This translates texts from different languages in iOS apps.

RealityKit 4

One of the interesting features in iOS 18, specifically RealityKit 4, is the Reality Composer Pro. Launched with Apple Vision Pro, this tool supports developing spatial apps across Apple’s devices. This means developers can easily include augmented reality features, and quickly too.

Wanna Start Using iOS 18 Features in Your Apps?

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