Apple will be making many changes in the yearly iPhone software update for 2024. One of the largest updates for the iPhone ever is said to be present in this version. Significant new AI features, design modifications, and further personalization choices are all planned. Continue reading for a summary of all the new features that iOS 18 has revealed.
Release Date of iOS 18
iOS 18 will likely be announced at WWDC 2024, which will take place during the first or second week of June. It will then be available to developers for beta testing. A public beta will likely be released in July 2024, followed by a release to the general public in September.
Supported Devices
Every year, one of the biggest questions is which devices will be compatible with the new iOS version. This year, the rumor is that Apple has good news for iPhone owners. According to an anonymous account on Twitter, iOS 18 will have support for all the same devices as iOS 17.
Expected Features
Apple on AI
According to reports from various trusted magazines and blogs, Apple found itself caught off track by the sudden surge of AI tools like ChatGPT, Google Bard, and Microsoft Copilot. So, the company is now focusing on developing a wide range of new artificial intelligence features for iOS.
- A revamped version of Siri that is more intelligent and able to take advantage of a new AI system that incorporates large language model technology
- AI integration in the Messages app that can “field questions and auto-complete sentences”
- New AI features for Apple Music to create “auto-generated playlists”
- Integrating generative AI into iWork apps, including Keynote and Pages
- Adding generative AI features to Xcode to let developers “write new applications more quickly”
Not all of these will necessarily be shipped to iOS 18 or ready to be shipped as part of iOS 18. Apple’s goal is to fill iOS 18 with as many AI features as possible.
9to5Mac, a famous magazine found evidence of Apple’s work on new AI and large language model technology in iOS 17.4. They reported that Apple is relying on OpenAI’s ChatGPT API for internal testing to help the development of its own AI models.
Furthermore, both Bloomberg and The New York Times have reported that Apple is talking with Google about licensing its Gemini, generative AI models. The report explains that Apple is specifically looking to partner on cloud-based generative AI models. Other features would still be powered by Apple’s on-device AI models.
Green Bubble
Apple made a surprise announcement in October that RCS support is coming to iPhones sometime in 2024. RCS, or Rich Communication Services, is the successor to SMS and MMS. It will bring several iMessage-style features to texts between iPhone and Android users.
RCS will unlock things like read receipts, typing indicators, and support for sending high-quality images and videos for conversations between iPhone and Android devices. It will also give users the ability to share their location with other people inside text threads. Unlike regular SMS, RCS can work over mobile data or Wi-Fi as well.
Apple mentioned that RCS will be available on iPhone “later next year” via a software update. This would seemingly suggest that the feature could be included as part of iOS 18.
Homescreen customization
Rumors say that Apple will let users freely place app icons on their Home Screen for the first time. This means iPhone users will be able to create gaps between widgets and app icons.
Topographic Maps
Rumors suggest that the topographic maps currently available on Apple Watches will soon be accessible on iPhones with the upcoming iOS 18 software update. This expansion would bring the topographic maps enjoyed by Apple Watch users to a wider audience of iPhone users.
Keep in mind that Apple’s plans for iOS 18 could change before June. Features may be announced at WWDC 2024 but released later in updates like iOS 18.1 and iOS 18.2. Stay tuned for updates!
What features are you hoping to see in iOS 18? Do you believe Apple can compete with other companies in AI innovation? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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