WWDC 2024 : Exploring iOS & iPadOS 18
Dive into the Cutting-Edge Features of iOS & iPadOS 18 Revealed at WWDC 2024
Introducing iOS 18
At WWDC 2024, Apple introduced the latest updated iOS version for iPhone and iPad devices, which offers great customization and a sense of privacy.
To achieve this, the control center, widgets, and live activities have been updated. Furthermore, with Apple Intelligence, you can bring personal intelligence into your apps to deliver new capabilities—all with great performance and built-in privacy.
Announcements on iOS 18 have remarkable updates on built-in apps such as Controls, HomeScreen, Wallet and Apple Pay, Messages, Map, Mail, and Photos. Privacy concerns are effectively managed alongside the release of new functionalities.
We will explore the app's features and updates, gaining wonderful insights into what’s excitingly new. So, let’s get started!
Controls
Control Centre in iOS 18 offers new levels of customization and capability, helping you access many of the things you do every day even faster.
- It isn’t limited to just the controls we see; we can now swipe to multiple new groups of controls, like for media playback. Multiple controls can be visible with a single continuous swipe. In addition, from iOS 18, a developer can include custom controls from their app using the new Controls API.
- These new controls are also available from the lock screen, which means swap a camera and flashlight can be replaced by different controls, making it more adoptable.
- In addition to that, you can also involved these new controls using action buttons on iPhone 15. Now, it’s faster and easier for people to complete frequent tasks from your apps with new controls in the Control Center and on the Lock Screen.
- App icons and widgets can now appear in Light, Dark, or with a Tint, regardless of how the app icon is rendered.
Furthermore, developers can offer an intuitive way to pair your accessories that keeps your devices private and makes pairing seamless.
Messages
- The Native Messages app is now more powerful, as iOS 18 has brought some engaging features, such as tap-backs that are redesigned and expanded to include any emoji or sticker.
- Users can now easily schedule the message to be sent later and prompt suggestions to reply in a conversation, and more ways to express the tone using formatting options such as bold, italic, and so on.
- Messages via satellite to connect with people even on off-grid.
- Users can manage incoming emails with on-device categorization. In addition to the primary category, emails are organized into new categories, such as transactions, newsletters, and promotions.
- The new digest view pulls together all the relevant emails received from a specific user, making it easier to track the conversation.
Map
Maps deliver new topographic maps with detailed trail networks. Users can explore thousands of hikes in national parks across the United States and effortlessly create custom walking routes, all accessible offline.
Wallet
In iOS 18, enhancement to the wallet app by introducing the Tap to Cash feature, users can send and receive Apple Cash by simply holding two iPhone devices together.
Photos
- The look and feel of the photos app have been redesigned to include interesting and handy features such as a categorized collection, which users can find in the photos faster than before using keywords.
- Customization of the look and feel has been added to the Photos app, allowing users to arrange photos categorized by a specific person, favorite album, and more, giving it a personal touch.
Supported Devices: The newly launched iOS 18 is compatible with devices ranging from the iPhone SE to the latest models.
Glimpse on iPadOS 18
iPadOS 18 has a big update to native apps such as Notes, Shareplay, and Freeform including iOS features such as personalizing your home screen, customized control center, and photos app.
- Beginning with enhancements to user experience, there’s now a floating tab bar that simplifies navigation, alongside a feature allowing users to add tabs based on their frequent usage.
- The calculator app is now introduced to iPadOS 18, bringing mathematical capability with advanced features like Math Notes, The calculator app can now understand handwritten math problems and solve them on tap, isn’t it amazing!!
- In addition to the excellent existing handwriting features, such as the capability to select and copy text and even straighten it, Apple is introducing Smart Script.
- This feature enhances the appearance of your writing as you jot it down. With functions like spell check, the ability to copy and paste content into handwritten notes, and the option to erase by simply scratching it out, Smart Script ensures a smooth note-taking experience.
iPadOS 18 will be available this fall as a free software update for the following devices:
— iPad Pro (M4)
— iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later)
— iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and later)
— iPad Air (M2)
— iPad Air (3rd generation and later)
— iPad (7th generation and later)
— iPad mini (5th generation and later)
Conclusion:
In conclusion, iOS 18 offers enhanced customization and personalized experiences for users.
Meanwhile, the updates in iPadOS elevate the unique iPad experience, featuring significant app improvements that enhance navigation and responsiveness.
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