Apple iOS 18 Cheat Sheet: Launch Date, RCS Integration and Extra

Apple’s newest model of its cellular working system, iOS 18, was unveiled throughout WWDC ‘24 on June 10, 2024, and features many niceties that users have been wanting for years. From AI integration with Siri and throughout the system to a standalone Passwords app, to being able to send messages via satellite when your iPhone doesn’t have service, there’s a function that can doubtless attraction to somebody.

Whether or not you’re utilizing an iPhone or an iPad, let’s discover all the things that enterprise execs must find out about iOS 18, together with launch date and different key options.

What’s iOS 18?

iOS 18 is the 18th main model of the cellular working system Apple releases for distribution on iPhone fashions. Apple’s iOS 18 provides intelligence options to Siri and — by the working system powered by Apple Intelligence and ChatGPT — provides the flexibility to completely customise Residence Display screen and Lock Display screen experiences and will increase on-device safety and privateness options.

SEE: Earlier iterations of iOS in these TechRepublic cheat sheets: iOS 17, iOS 16, iOS 15, iOS 14, iOS 13.

When will iOS 18 be launched?

Apple is anticipated to launch iOS 18 to most of the people in Fall 2024. That is Apple’s customary working process of saying the newest iOS model throughout WWDC after which releasing it in September of that yr alongside new {hardware} equivalent to iPhones.

Apple launched a beta for builders to put in on their check gadgets on June 10, 2024, after the WWDC keynote tackle. Whereas not but introduced, we anticipate that Apple will launch a public beta of iOS 18 within the subsequent month, based mostly on the corporate’s earlier launch cycles.

How can I set up the iOS 18 beta?

The iOS 18 developer betas ought to solely be put in on development-specific {hardware} as a result of options will not be totally carried out presently, and bugs are frequent in beta releases. Utilizing this beta on manufacturing accounts and gadgets could end in information loss.

Registered builders ought to observe these steps to obtain and set up the iOS 18 beta on growth gadgets. Word: Apple requires that any system the beta is put in on is a part of the Apple Developer Program.

1. Log into your Apple Developer account.
2. Choose Downloads after which iOS 18.
3. Obtain the profile, and AirDrop it to your iPhone, or carry out steps one and two in your system.
4. Set up the profile onto your iPhone after which restart when prompted.
5. After restarting, navigate to the Settings app | Normal | Software program Replace. You’ll get a immediate to obtain and set up the newest model of the iOS 18 beta.

There are steps non-developer customers can take to organize for when Apple releases a public beta of iOS 18.

1. Join the Apple Beta Software program Program.
2. Enroll your system: iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, HomePod mini, HomePod 2nd technology or Apple Watch.
3. In your system, go to the Settings app | Normal | Software program Replace.
4. Choose the iOS Public Beta within the Beta Updates part.

Synthetic intelligence runs deep in iOS 18

Throughout this yr’s WWDC keynote and iOS 18 introduction, Apple spent a big period of time speaking concerning the Apple Intelligence options which are coming all through the working system. Starting with Siri, Apple is making the voice assistant extra contextually conscious of duties that you just’re at the moment engaged on so it might probably help these particular duties and supply info on these duties in contrast with different information saved in your iPhone. This function may help reply questions by surfacing outcomes from Calendar, Messages, Mail and even third-party apps finally.

The very best half is that awkward conversations with Siri don’t need to be voice activated; as an alternative, you possibly can kind to Siri by double-tapping the house bar on the iPhone. A window will seem the place you possibly can kind to your newly smarter digital assistant in iOS 18.

Some extra AI implementations in iOS 18

• Apple is beefing up Mail’s skill to type messages and generate a abstract of an extended e mail.
• A Images improve permits you to simply type and filter photographs and movies.
• Messages will permit customers to generate their very own emoji utilizing the Genmoji function to generate AI-crafted emojis that may be shared with others.

Customization in iOS 18

In iOS 16, Apple started embracing extra consumer customization help with new user-generated wallpapers; with iOS 18, Apple is kicking up the customization sport due to new options that allow you to rearrange the Residence Display screen utterly and in any approach you need. The Residence Display screen icons will not snap in place; as an alternative, they are often positioned anyplace you want to on the display, liberating you up from the previous grid system that’s been round since iOS 1.0.

Management Middle will be totally custom-made as properly, full with extra third-party actions due to a small “widget” fashion interface that enables customers to tug and drop to rearrange icons and additional customise the expertise inside Management Middle. The very best half is that these Management Middle adjustments migrate to the Lock Display screen, the place historically there was a Mild and Digital camera button within the decrease left and proper nook of the Lock Display screen; now customers can decide which Management Middle function they wish to seem in these motion button spots.

Safety and privateness in iOS 18

Apple’s iCloud Keychain revolutionized the flexibility to securely sync passwords and passkeys between your gadgets. Now Apple is altering the sport once more by releasing a brand new Passwords app that’s accessible exterior of the Settings app on all its platforms. This lets you extra simply handle your passwords, see passkeys and 2FA codes, and even see which passwords might need been compromised due to Apple’s checking of your passwords in opposition to identified hacking databases. The brand new Passwords app works on Mac, iPhone, iPad, Imaginative and prescient Professional and Home windows, due to iCloud sync integration.

Apple can be permitting customers to lock down particular apps that could be extra delicate than others. Any software can now be locked behind Contact ID or Face ID due to this new App Lock function. When enabled on a particular app, that app have to be authenticated earlier than you need to use it; plus, any information throughout the app is not going to be surfaced to system options like Highlight or Siri when it’s locked.

Messages in iOS 18 consists of RCS integration and new satellite tv for pc function

The 2 largest Messages app options that weren’t talked about a lot through the WWDC ‘24 keynote are the ability to send messages via satellite when you don’t have mobile service and the combination with Wealthy Communication Providers.

With RCS integration, your iPhone will be capable of ship and obtain larger high quality photographs and movies, and long-form messages with Android customers and different gadgets that help the RCS customary over SMS. This can be a welcome addition that can drastically enhance interoperability with different platforms.

The Messages through Satellite tv for pc function builds on the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15’s skill to ship emergency messages through satellite tv for pc. This function will permit your iPhone with out a mobile connection to succeed in out to your contacts through iMessage or textual content message by connecting to a satellite tv for pc as an alternative of mobile connection. That is a powerful function that can depart many world vacationers, hikers and different off-grid customers glad.

As well as, Apple’s new options with the Messages app embrace the flexibility to generate your individual emoji with AI. These so-called Genmoji can be utilized to create new emojis or profile footage mechanically inside iOS 18 and can be found to implement in third-party apps as properly.

One other new and notable function is the flexibility to schedule a message to ship later within Messages, letting you decide the date and time a particular message or reply ought to be despatched.

Different notable iOS 18 options

• The Cellphone app now allows you to report and transcribe a stay name straight.
• Mail has a brand new AI-enabled skill to categorize messages into sure folders, letting you see e mail in a brand new approach, sorted by kind or by sender.
• Mail will group receipts, advertising emails and newsletters by sender so as, so you possibly can simply learn them.
• Writing Instruments is a contextual instrument that can be utilized in first- and third-party apps to proofread, write, summarize and extra utilizing Apple Intelligence. It may be invoked by choosing a block of textual content.
• Palms-free Siri integration with AirPods Professional allows you to shake your head sure or no to reply calls or activate questions from Siri about notifications.
• A brand new Notes function transcribes stay audio and summarizes your audio for conferences.
• Notes has the flexibility to unravel math equations simply by typing them right into a word adopted by an equal signal. Then, Notes will remedy it for you.
• New formatting choices in Notes embrace the flexibility to spotlight textual content with a particular coloration and collapse sure sections of a word.
• Redesigned Privateness and Safety Settings view within the Settings app allows you to extra simply see what apps have entry to what kind of privateness setting.
• Eye Monitoring makes it potential for folks to regulate iPhone with simply their eyes in a brand new Accessibility mode.
• Residence Display screen app icons will be simply custom-made for mild or darkish mode, or tint them your self with a brand new function that permits you to create monochromatic icons or have all of them tinted to your favourite coloration.
• Management Middle includes a widget-like gallery for searching accessible controls that can be utilized throughout the new Management Middle interface or Lock Display screen motion buttons.
• Management Middle’s actions will be rearranged and resized to your liking.
• Images mechanically organizes your photographs based mostly on the content material contained in them with AI. Now you can filter or type your photographs to search out those you’re searching for.
• Messages helps the flexibility for textual content to be modified to daring, italics, underline and strikethrough.
• Messages can animate specific elements of textual content for emphasis. iOS 18 can mechanically counsel particular animations or decide one in every of your favorites.
• Messages tapback function can work with any emoji, permitting you to precise messages extra successfully than with the built-in tapbacks.
• Safari will use AI to detect particular components on a web page and floor issues like instructions, fast hyperlinks, folks, music, motion pictures and TV exhibits.
• Reader in Safari has been infused with AI and may summarize an internet web page for you with no need to learn a whole article. Nice for on-the-go fast catch ups.
• Maps options path info, path maps and instructions for all 63 U.S. nationwide parks. These maps and path info will be downloaded for offline use.
• Recreation mode on iOS 18 and iPhone lets your iPhone droop background duties and focus solely on offering the display with the perfect and most performant graphics output.
• Pockets has been upgraded with the flexibility to show loyalty factors and accounts for retailers.
• Occasion tickets within the Pockets app includes a new design that features vital info like instructions and climate for the occasion.
• Pockets allows you to simply ship cash to somebody with out the necessity to alternate contact info. With Faucet to Money, simply faucet your iPhone to a different consumer’s iPhone to alternate cash through Apple Money stability.
• Emergency SOS stay video allows you to stream your digital camera with a appropriate dispatcher in emergency conditions.

What gadgets will iOS 18 run on?

iOS 18 is appropriate with the next gadgets, although some options could require the newest gadgets, such because the satellite tv for pc performance and a few machine studying performance:

• iPhone 15.
• iPhone 15 Plus.
• iPhone 15 Professional.
• iPhone 15 Professional Max.
• iPhone 14.
• iPhone 14 Plus.
• iPhone 14 Professional.
• iPhone 14 Professional Max.
• iPhone 13.
• iPhone 13 mini.
• iPhone 13 Professional.
• iPhone 13 Professional Max.
• iPhone 12.
• iPhone 12 mini.
• iPhone 12 Professional.
• iPhone 12 Professional Max.
• iPhone 11.
• iPhone 11 Professional.
• iPhone 11 Professional Max.
• iPhone XS.
• iPhone XS Max.
• iPhone XR.
• iPhone SE 2nd technology or later.