iOS 18: What we expect
Apple's biggest iPhone update in years is on the horizon. In addition to AI features, the company is planning a whole range of other innovations. An overview.
Here is iOS 17. The successor will probably be important.
(Image: Apple)
It won't be long before it's time for iOS 18: next Monday, Apple will present the next version of its most important operating system at its WWDC developer conference. The stakes are high: the company has to show that it can keep up with the IT giants in the AI race. But it's not just (generative) artificial intelligence that will be part of the next iPhone software. Apple apparently also wants to change the home screen and various other areas, at least in part. The most important iOS update in years is generally expected. As usual, Mac & i will report with a live ticker at 7 pm Central European Time. Here are the most important new iOS 18 features from the rumor mill.
Eye tracking, home screen, maps
More accessibility: Apple wants to make it easier for people with disabilities to use an iPhone. It has already been announced that in future it will be possible to control your iPhone using eye tracking. Music will be haptic in the future, and a motion sickness function will help prevent passengers from getting sick in the car or bus. CarPlay will also become more accessible, for example through voice control and sound recognition. So-called vocal shortcuts can trigger iPhone actions. There will also be improved speech recognition for "unusual speech patterns".
Home screen (almost) entirely new: Apple plans to allow app icons to be placed more freely on the screen for the first time. This means, for example, that there can be gaps between icons. Pages could also be left completely blank if desired. There is also speculation about adapting app icons - even in different colors.
Maps with better routes: Apple apparently wants to allow freely configurable navigation types for the first time. This means that you no longer just have to follow the suggestions in the Maps app, but can also define specific roads. However, it is still unclear whether this function will be rolled out worldwide. There are also supposedly new topographical maps, which are already familiar from the Apple Watch. Hikers will be particularly pleased.
Communication and generatives
Communication with RCS: Apple finally wants to make its messaging app fit for the Rich Communication Services standard – after long begging from the competition. The SMS successor could improve the connection between Android users and iPhone owners and offers modern functions, albeit less security than Apple's iMessage. The messaging app will also offer AI reply suggestions and text animations.
AI in many areas: The top feature of iOS 18 is support for generative AI. Apple has ideas for many apps here, although allegedly only iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max (plus the iPhone 16 models expected in September) will actually receive all the features. Apple is planning text generation for apps such as Messages (see above), Mail, Notes and other programs. In addition, the Voice Memo app will learn to transcribe, Spotlight and Apple Music will provide better suggestions, and the iWork apps Numbers, Pages and Keynote will be equipped with generative capabilities (such as image and text generation). The Photos app could get AI image editing features and notifications could be summarized using AI. Many of the applications will run locally (for data protection reasons), but will also use Apple's special data centers for AI with their SoCs.
Chatbots and a delayed Siri
Chatbot probably only external: Apple seems to have internal reservations about its chatbot. The company fears that it could put its foot in its mouth with hallucinating AI, as Google or Microsoft have long since done. For this reason, it looks like Apple will most likely accept outside help. According to the latest rumors, it is probably OpenAI with whom the iPhone manufacturer has signed a contract. However, it is also conceivable that other providers will prevail in other markets, such as Baidu's Erniebot in China. Apple should therefore set itself apart from the chatbot providers and make it clear to users who the answers come from.
Renovated Siri rather later: Apple's voice assistance system is rather outdated. Nevertheless, it will probably be a while before a smarter Siri appears that rarely misunderstands you. It is reportedly planned that it will be able to control the entire system according to the user's wishes. Apple could show the update on Monday, but not release it until next year.
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