June 2024 marks the arrival of Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). Scheduled from June 10 to 14, the conference will kick off with the highly anticipated Keynote on the first day. Apple is expected to introduce its latest software updates, including iOS 18 and iPadOS 18. iOS 18 for iPhones is particularly generating excitement as reports suggest it will bring significant enhancements to the iPhone user experience, potentially making it one of the most substantial updates in the history of the iPhone operating system. As we approach WWDC, let’s delve into what iOS 18 has in store.
One of the main highlights of iOS 18 is the major upgrade to Siri, Apple’s virtual assistant. With advanced AI capabilities, Siri will offer more contextually relevant responses by considering various entities such as people, companies, events, locations, and dates. Additionally, improvements to Siri’s text-to-speech function will make its responses sound more natural.
The update is also expected to include cross-device media controls, allowing users to manage media playback across different Apple devices, like controlling an Apple TV from an Apple Watch. Another anticipated feature is “Catch Up,” which will enable Siri to summarize recent notifications for users, streamlining daily interactions.
AI enhancements in iOS 18 extend beyond Siri. For instance, the Messages app will introduce Smart Replies, providing automatic text responses for messages and emails. The Notes app will incorporate new tools for transcription and summarization, enabling users to edit audio, transcribe recordings, and summarize text. It will also integrate with the Calculator app, supporting mathematical notation through a new feature called Math Notes, recognizing equations, providing solutions, and generating graphs. iOS 18 will also offer keyboard math predictions to simplify complex equations with predictive text.
iOS 18 will enhance photo editing with generative AI, introducing a new “Clean Up” tool for seamlessly removing objects from photos. Additionally, a new “Generative Playground” app will empower users to create and edit images using generative AI, hinting at potential functionalities like generating images and sharing them via iMessage for custom emoji creation.
Home screen customization will see significant improvements in iOS 18, allowing users to place app icons anywhere on the grid, create blank spaces, columns, and rows, and change app icon colors for enhanced personalization.
The Messages app will be updated to support the cross-platform messaging standard RCS, enhancing communication between iPhones and Android devices with features like higher-resolution media, typing indicators, read receipts, Wi-Fi messaging, and improved group chat functionality.
iOS 18 will introduce several new accessibility features, such as eye tracking, vehicle motion cues, music haptics, and vocal shortcuts. CarPlay will also receive updates, including sound recognition for alerting users to important sounds like car horns and sirens. With a focus on enhancing user experience, personalization, and accessibility on iPhones, iOS 18 is set to bring a host of innovative features. Stay tuned for official announcements at WWDC to discover all the exciting updates and features revealed during the conference.
Source : iOS 18 launching on June 10: AI powered Siri, customised home screen, and more to expect (msn.com)