A brand new yr means new software program updates. In response to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, iOS 18 may very well be the “largest” replace for iOS in fairly a while, although that is one thing we have a tendency to listen to yearly. I’m undecided any iOS replace has been as large because the soar from iOS 6 to iOS 7, as quite a lot of the options and design adjustments since then may very well be thought of iterative.
Personally, I believe the final “largest” iOS replace for me was iOS 14, because it allowed for residence display screen widgets and app icon customization with out a jailbreak for the primary time. Since then, there haven’t been as many new options in iOS which have been recreation changers for me, however that is all subjective. What was an enormous deal for me might not be the identical for you, and vice versa.
Apple will seemingly showcase the primary glimpse of iOS 18 throughout its annual developer’s convention (aka WWDC) in June, with a public launch coming round September alongside the iPhone 16. Right here’s what we need to see in iOS 18, together with some issues which have already been confirmed.
RCS in iMessage
It is a characteristic that I’ve been eager to see for years, and it’s lastly taking place. Reality be informed, I by no means thought I’d see the day it could arrive, so when it was formally introduced, it was an enormous shock.
For many who aren’t acquainted, RCS is a chat protocol that’s designed to interchange SMS. It’s safer, for one, and it has options like learn receipts, typing indicators, higher-resolution photographs and movies, audio messages, and extra. Principally, it’s like iMessage however for non-iPhones.
When Apple introduced in November 2023 that RCS assist could be coming, the one timeframe that we received was “later subsequent yr.” I believe it’s protected to imagine that this will probably be an iOS 18 characteristic and can notbe added anytime earlier than then. With RCS assist, iPhone customers can have a greater expertise when messaging non-iPhone customers resulting from higher-resolution photographs and video, learn receipts, typing indicators, and extra.
Although it’s seemingly that the RCS assist will probably be extra fundamental than we’d count on, I hope that we are able to have options like the flexibility to depart group chats and to present names to group conversations. Actually, although, even simply having the ability to ship and obtain non-pixelated photographs and movies is sufficient.
Siri with precise smarts
Siri has been an integral a part of iOS because the iPhone 4S and iOS 5. Nonetheless, it’s been 12 years, and Siri has been so dangerous at understanding fundamental instructions in comparison with different digital assistants that it’s extra like a joke at this level. And with generative AI taking off in recent times and making its manner into smartphones, Siri’s simply been left within the mud.
Hopefully, this adjustments in iOS 18. Experiences have recommended that Apple is investing fairly a bit into generative AI analysis, and it plans to combine massive language fashions into Siri. This could permit customers to automate advanced duties, suggesting extra Shortcuts integration. With generative AI, Siri would be capable to higher assist with fielding questions and auto-completing sentences. Different apps, comparable to Apple Music, Pages, Keynote, and Xcode, may additionally profit from generative AI instruments.
On the whole, I’m not an enormous fan of all the AI stuff, however I need to admit that it could actually come in useful for sure issues. For instance, I like how Google Pixel telephones use AI for name screening, Maintain for Me, and extra. It might be nice to see such options come to the iPhone.
Extra modifying capabilities in Photographs
One of many causes I improve telephones yearly is as a result of I like having the digital camera upgrades — I take quite a bit of photographs. Whereas there are a ton of nice third-party photo-editing apps on iOS, generally I simply keep on with the Photographs app for the fundamentals.
However after utilizing sure Android telephones, just like the Google Pixel 8 Professional and Samsung Galaxy S24, I believe Apple must make some large adjustments to the Photographs app.
On the very least, there needs to be some sort of Magic Eraser-like software to eliminate undesirable individuals and objects in a picture, as that’s fairly normal stuff at this level. And if Apple is certainly trying into generative AI, then we should always have that within the Photographs app for picture modifying too. In any case, Google has the Magic Editor with the Pixel 8 collection, and Samsung its personal AI-powered picture modifying methods on the S24 collection with Galaxy AI.
Positive, I may discover a third-party resolution for these items on iOS, however the issue is that quite a lot of apps require some sort of payment or subscription as of late, particularly for these sorts of options. I’d a lot fairly have these instruments baked into iOS itself, and when the competitors is mainly doing simply that, Apple ought to observe go well with.
Customizable lock display screen shortcuts
One factor that has confused me because the iPhone 15 Professional and the Motion button debuted is the truth that Apple made no adjustments to the lock display screen shortcuts. They’re nonetheless there to supply a easy and quick approach to get to the flashlight or digital camera, each of which it’s also possible to assign to the Motion button. It’s redundant.
Samsung has comparable lock display screen shortcuts on its Galaxy telephones, however you’ve been capable of change what they’re shortcuts for. By default, the S24 shortcuts are the telephone and digital camera, however you possibly can change them to launch the calculator, flashlight, voice recorder, a Do Not Disturb mode, or every other app.
I simply discover it pointless that the lock display screen shortcuts on iOS are nonetheless static and non-customizable when the Motion button may carry out the identical shortcuts. If Apple can be contemplating bringing the Motion button to the non-Professional fashions of the iPhone 16 (in any case, Dynamic Island and a 48MP digital camera trickled right down to the bottom iPhone 15 fashions), then the lock display screen shortcuts must be opened as much as customization. In any other case, what are we even doing?
Digicam settings within the … Digicam app
One other factor about iOS that’s bizarre in comparison with Android is the truth that Apple splits up some Digicam app settings between the app itself and the Settings app.
For instance, you possibly can toggle Stay Photograph and even ProRAW (if enabled) from the Digicam itself. However different issues, like digital camera grid traces and default decision? It’s a must to go to Settings after which scroll by means of many different issues earlier than seeing the Digicam part. Make it make sense, Apple.
On most Android telephones, you possibly can entry such settings all instantly within the Digicam app in a separate settings panel. It might be nice if Apple may change this in iOS 18 and make all of the digital camera settings accessible instantly within the Digicam app itself. It’s a really clunky course of the best way it exists right this moment, and it’s lengthy overdue for some simplification.
Higher notifications
That is one thing that I’ve to request yearly as a result of Apple nonetheless hasn’t gotten the message. Briefly, notifications on iOS nonetheless suck. Please, Apple, make them higher in iOS 18. I encourage you.
What’s the issue with iOS notifications? If in case you have quite a lot of notifications coming in, it’s only one large, big checklist and it seems so unorganized the best way they’re grouped. They usually additionally take up a lot area — if an app has a number of notifications, it’s important to faucet on it to increase the “stack,” which simply makes the general checklist greater. It’s messy, cluttered, and simply dangerous.
Android, alternatively, handles notifications so significantly better. They’re extra condensed and arranged by app higher, you possibly can filter all notifications simply, and there’s even notification historical past if you actually need to return for one thing.
If iOS 18 goes to be one of many “largest” updates but, then notifications actually must be one of many issues that Apple fixes. It’s embarrassing at this level.
Time to play the ready recreation
It’s nonetheless early on within the yr, so we’ve got just a few months earlier than we begin seeing something that iOS 18 has to supply. However we do know that RCS is very seemingly, and a better Siri is a risk.
The opposite issues I’ve talked about are simply options I’d personally like to see. I imply, in any case this time, iOS notifications are nonetheless far behind Android, and it’s so bizarre how Apple has varied digital camera settings in two locations. Lock display screen shortcuts are lengthy overdue for some person customization, and the Photographs app must meet up with the competitors by way of native photo-editing instruments.
Leaks for iOS adjustments are much less prolific than for iPhone {hardware}, however hopefully we get some sneak peeks within the coming months main as much as WWDC in June. I’m undoubtedly looking forward to that RCS assist, on the very least.
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