We’re officially starting to look forward to iOS 18, the next version of Apple’s operating system for the iPhone. The update is still many months away from a public release, but Apple recently announced the dates of its annual Worldwide Developers Conference. WWDC 2024 will be held from June 10 through June 14, and the first day of the event will feature an opening keynote that will include the first iOS 18 preview. That’s when we’ll get the full picture of all the features and changes Apple will debut in iOS 18. Until then, let’s review what we’ve learned so far through various rumors and leaks about the next operating system upgrade coming to all the best iPhones.
While iOS 17 was only an incremental upgrade, iOS 18 will be much bigger. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has said that iOS 18 is viewed as the “most ambitious overhaul of the iPhone’s software in its history” by people working on the project. What exactly does that mean? It starts with visual changes to the iOS 18 home screen and the overall system user-interface. Then, there are expected feature additions like RCS support in the Messages app and custom route creation in Maps. Finally, Apple could wow us all with new iPhone features based on artificial intelligence.
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4 RCS support
Apple confirmed RCS is coming this year
A common gripe people have with the iPhone is that messaging is outdated, since the phones still default to SMS and MMS when iMessage is not in use. In a move that will make texting between iPhone and Android phones easier, Apple announced it will finally add RCS support to the iPhone sometime later this year. The exact date is still unknown, but it would make sense that this change would come with iOS 18. That means texts sent between iPhone and Android phones will include higher-quality photos and videos, read receipts, typing indicators, and a better group chat experience. RCS messaging isn’t replacing iMessage, but it’ll make green bubble texting a more enjoyable experience for everyone.
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3 Apple Maps upgrades
Custom routes might finally be coming to Maps in iOS 18
If you’re sick of the default Apple Maps navigation routes having you spinning in circles, iOS 18 might bring along a massive upgrade. According to a MacRumors report, Apple could make it possible to create custom routes in Maps. The team at MacRumors spotted a file called “CustomRouteCreation” that was recently added to Apple’s backend Maps services. All we know right now is the file’s name, but that may be enough to infer what’s to come. Competitors like Google Maps let you create custom routes on a web client and then use those routes on an iOS or Android phone. Apple might take note, allowing users to make their own Maps routes in iOS 18.
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2 A new home screen
You’ll finally be able to place apps wherever you want
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Apple has infamously limited the customization options that are available on the iOS home screen. You still can’t use custom app icons or remove app names without going through the Shortcuts app, nor can you place apps anywhere on the home screen. At least some of these limitations will be lifted with the release of iOS, per multiple reports. Gurman said iOS 18 will have a more customizable home screen, and MacRumors followed that up by reporting iOS 18 will let users put apps anywhere on the home screen. Currently, apps added to the iOS home screen will automatically populate the next available spot in the grid, from left to right and top to bottom. After the upgrade, you’ll be able to leave empty spaces on your iOS 18 home screen if you prefer.
1 AI features
We’re all wondering what Apple has up its sleeve with AI
The biggest iOS 18 features are likely the ones we don’t know much about. Apple has been incredibly secretive about its internal artificial intelligence efforts, but has repeatedly promised that generative AI features are coming later this year. According to multiple reports, the iOS 18 upgrade — and possibly the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro lineup — will include new AI-based features. The natural application for AI in iOS seems to be with Siri, since the digital voice assistant already uses a combination of AI, machine learning, and voice recognition. However, Apple has a tendency to surprise us. One thing we know for sure is that AI will be a focus for Apple later this year, but how and when that comes is anyone’s guess.
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What we’re still hoping for
Apple always adds a few new features to iOS that no one saw coming, like StandBy Mode and NameDrop in iOS 17. However, there are a few things we hope Apple adds to iOS 18, even if there are no signs the company will do so. It’d be great if iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max owners could customize their Action buttons to multiple shortcuts, like through a double click. Apple should also overhaul the App Library in iOS 18, making it more customizable and more useful as a result. Luckily, there are only a few months of waiting left before Apple finally reveals iOS 18 at WWDC 2024 in a keynote on June 10.
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source: https://www.xda-developers.com/ios-18/
