Apple iOS 18: A New Look & Feel for iPhone

Apple’s newest software update, iOS 18, is rolling out to all iPhone users. While AI technology was heavily hyped as a key part of this upgrade, Apple Intelligence features aren’t part of this release. Instead, Apple says it will release Apple Intelligence features with iOS 18.1 starting with the U.S. before gradually rolling them out to more global markets over the months ahead.

Home Screen Personalization

iOS 18 focuses on personalization, giving users more control over their iPhone experience. This includes:

• Custom icons: Users can place icons anywhere on the grid or make them larger, hiding the text label. This allows for a more visually appealing home screen.
• Third-party app icon support: App developers can create custom icons to take full advantage of this feature.
• Dark mode: Users can choose a dark mode for a different look and feel.
• Tinted colors: Users can customize their icons with a tinted color of their choosing.

Revamped Control Center

The iOS Control Center has also been redesigned, offering four pages of controls focused on favorites, music controls, home, and connectivity.

• Customizable: The new Control Center is fully customizable, allowing users to add or remove pages or icons.
• Easier access to common functions: The new design makes it easier to access common functions with a swipe down on the home screen.

Lock Screen Customization

Users can now customize Lock Screen shortcuts with their preferred apps. For example, they can replace the default camera button with a third-party camera app.

Privacy & Security: Locked & Hidden Apps

iOS 18 introduces new features for privacy and security, allowing users to lock apps behind Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode.

• Hidden apps: Users can hide these locked apps from the home screen, making them accessible only through a new hidden app folder in the App Library.

Redesigned Photos App

The Photos app has been redesigned with a single-page design that aims to bring more attention to different photos from your library.

• New design: The redesigned Photos app features collection folders such as Recent Days, People & Pets, Pinned Collections, Memories, Trips, Utilities, and Media type.
• Customizable: Users can customize the visibility and order of these items.

RCS Support: Improved Messaging Experience

Apple has added support for Rich Communication Services (RCS), a more advanced version of SMS, for improved messaging between iPhone and Android users.

• Enhanced features: Android users can send and receive high-quality media with those on iPhone. Both platforms will also have typing indicators and read receipts for conversations.

Apple Phone App Improvements

The Apple Phone app has been updated with new features, such as:

• Search call logs: Users can easily search through their call logs to find when they last called someone.
• Number pad search: The number pad can be used to find a contact.
• SIM card switching: Users can switch between SIM cards while calling.
• Live voicemail transcription: Now available in a dozen more languages and regions.

New Passwords App

Apple has introduced a dedicated Passwords app, making it easier to access and manage sensitive credentials. This puts Apple in more direct competition with other password app developers like 1Password, LastPass, and Dashlane.

• Built-in option: This built-in app provides a convenient option for users who don't typically use a password manager.
• Limited features: It doesn't store sensitive items other than passwords, such as credit cards, IDs, or secure notes.

Other Notable Updates in iOS 18

• Scheduled messages: Users can now schedule messages to be sent later.
• Multilingual and multiscript keyboards: Improved support for multilingual and multiscript keyboards. It also added improved language search for certain Indian languages.
• Translation app: Added support for Hindi.
• Notes app: Collapsible sections and audio transcriptions.
• Calculator app: Advanced math equations support.

Apple Intelligence is Coming

Apple spent a significant amount of time discussing Apple Intelligence at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) and the iPhone 16 launch event.

• Delayed release: Apple Intelligence features will be released with iOS 18.1, starting with support for U.S. English.
• Global rollout: Support for localized English in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the U.K. will be added later this year. Additional languages, including Chinese, French, Japanese, Spanish, and Indian English, will be added next year.
• AI features: The company has tested AI-powered writing tools, notification summaries, email summaries, a new focus mode called “Reduce Interruptions,” and a feature to clean up photos by removing unwanted people and objects.
• iPhone 16 exclusivity: Only customers with an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max, an iPhone 16 or 16 Plus, or an iPhone 16 Pro or Pro Max will be able to experience the AI technology.
• Visual search: The iPhone 16 may have exclusive features, such as AI-powered visual search, activated by the new Camera Control button.

iOS 18: Awaiting the Finale

The initial release of iOS 18 offers a new look and feel, but it's the launch of Apple Intelligence that feels like the finale. At this point, we can't say if the second part is engaging enough just yet as we can only judge Apple Intelligence from the trailer and beta trials.