Apple users, it’s time to update your ecosystem of devices once again. Today, Apple has rolled out its highly anticipated iOS18 for iPhone devices, iPadOS 18 for iPads, macOS Sequoia for Mac computers, watchOS 11 for Apple Watches, tvOS 18 for Apple TV devices, and visionOS 2 for the Apple Vision Pro headset.
iOS 18 is available now for iPhone Xs and later. It includes more ways for users to customise their Home Screen such as choosing how the app icons and widgets are presented (in light, dark or with a coloured tint). App icon sizes can now be adjusted too. The Control Centre is redesigned to be more flexible than ever too. Photos has been redesigned to include new collections like Recent Days, People & Pets, and Trips automatically keep the library organised with on-device intelligence, so users can spend less time searching and more time enjoying their memories. Users can personalise their experience with a customisable layout that reflects what is most important to them and pin favourite collections to keep them easily accessible. Passwords is a new app built on the foundation of Keychain that makes it even easier for users to access their passwords and see all their credentials — like passwords, passcodes, and verification codes — all in one place. Read more on the full list of iOS 18 updates here.
iPadOS 18 is available now for iPad Pro (M4), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later), iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and later), iPad Air (M2), iPad Air (3rd generation and later), iPad (7th generation and later), and iPad mini (5th generation and later). Similar to iOS 18, the iPadOS update includes the same level of customisation for the Home Screen and Control Centre, along with the Photos app redesign. The Calculator app now delivers a new way to solve with Math Notes and Smart Script utilises the power of the Apple Pencil to enable greater editing of handwritten text. Read more on the full list of iPadOS 18 updates here.
watchOS 11 is available now for Apple Watch Series 6 and later, and requires iPhone XS or later running iOS 18. The update comes with a new Vitals app which allows users to quickly check in on key health metrics at a glance and gain better context on their health. Three new watch faces are added: The new Photos face helps users select their best photo options by using machine learning, the Flux face features a bold graphic design that fills the screen second by second and the Reflections face features a distinctive shimmering dial that reacts subtly to user movements. The Smart Stack and Photos face use intelligence to offer a more individualised experience, and Check In, the Translate app, and new capabilities for the double tap gesture come to Apple Watch for more convenience and ways to stay connected.
Lastly, tvOS 18 is available now for Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD, while visionOS 2 is available now for Apple Vision Pro.
The first set of Apple Intelligence features will be available in beta next month as part of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1, with more features rolling out in the months to come. It will be available on iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and iPad and Mac with M1 and later, with device and Siri language set to U.S. English. Additional languages and platforms are coming over the course of the next year. Later this year, Apple Intelligence will add support for localised English in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the U.K. In the coming year, Apple Intelligence will expand to more languages, such as Chinese, French, Japanese, and Spanish.
Yonk is a geek who is fortunate enough to have an equally geeky Star Wars fan for a wife, who owns a LEGO Millennium Falcon encased in a glass coffee table as their home’s centre-piece.
Kevin Low
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