Apple’s WWDC Presentation Changed My Mind About iOS 18. Here’s Why

Earlier than Apple introduced iOS 18 on Monday at their Worldwide Builders Convention, I wasn’t trying ahead to the following iPhone working system. I’ve examined dozens of iOS variations and quite a few options, however the rumored iOS 18 options did not spark pleasure for me. Leaks pointed to the implementation of generative synthetic intelligence, which made me dread the OS. I hoped I used to be mistaken about iOS 18 — that it might provide some helpful new options folks have been asking for — and it seems my want got here true.

Apple talked about just a few new options that I did not discover compelling, and even essential, since you may already do a few of these issues. However total, when Apple’s iOS 18 presentation was over, I used to be impressed. I am trying ahead to the working system’s fall launch, as a result of I am certain I will use a few of these modifications for years to return.

Listed here are some iOS 18 options from the presentation that I am trying ahead to — and some I most likely will not use a lot.

House and lock display screen customization

Thanks, Apple, but additionally, it is about time. I’ve wished each of those choices for some time, and I wasn’t anticipating getting them concurrently.

I’ve all the time felt bizarre about setting my spouse or canine as my background simply to have the Instagram or Spotify icons plastered over their faces. I’ve grouped apps in folders and hidden some icons within the App Library so they would not impede my background. However with iOS 18, I will not run into that situation, as a result of I can prepare my icons round my background.

I’ve additionally wished to alter my lock display screen’s capabilities since Android launched this means in 2023. I do not want a digital camera operate on my lock display screen after I can simply swipe proper to entry my digital camera. And I actually do not want my flashlight to activate after I put my telephone in my pocket. It wasn’t clear what capabilities can be obtainable for the lock display screen, however I would most likely get extra use out of Fast Notes.

Management Heart offers you extra… management

Management Heart is an iPhone characteristic that I’d greatest describe as wonky. It feels full of controls I do not essentially want, and I can not take away or regulate them. Including controls is cumbersome and simply makes the characteristic really feel much more bloated.

However when Apple confirmed how iOS 18 helps you to customise your Management Heart structure and offers you extra Management Heart screens, I used to be excited. I will be capable to take the bloat from Management Heart and unfold it out throughout a number of screens. Simply including controls additionally makes this a characteristic I will seemingly get extra use out of shifting ahead as a substitute of throwing my fingers up in frustration.

Together with the house and lock display screen, it seems like Apple is lastly listening to folks’s wishes to customise their iPhone’s show options to raised swimsuit their wants and needs.

I am so excited for these Messages upgrades

I did not suppose I would be thrilled for brand spanking new and other ways of sending messages to folks, however right here we’re. Apple introduced that iOS 18 will allow you to schedule messages to ship later, add textual content results to emphasise phrases or phrases, and it will improve your Tapbacks — Apple’s model of Reactions. It is like Apple learn my thoughts about what I wished in Messages after which sprinkled in a bit extra. 

First, scheduling messages for later has been on the prime of my want record for years. I’ve executed shift work and had an uncommon sleep schedule for over a decade, so whereas most individuals are wakeful at 7 p.m. I am in mattress, and vice versa for 4 a.m. I do not need to wake folks up with messages, and I recognize when folks present me the identical courtesy.

Subsequent, I did not know I wished textual content results, however I actually do. I’ve numerous emotions and am simply excitable, and I need to ensure that comes throughout in my messages. I need to daring and italicize phrases to emphasise issues. I need emojis to nod on display screen to indicate my enthusiasm for one thing. And most of all, I need the individual on the opposite finish of my messages to really feel how excited I’m for one thing and typically caps lock JUST DOESN’T DO THE TRICK.

Lastly, I welcome extra Tapbacks. The six present reactions — coronary heart, thumbs up, thumbs down, “Haha,” exclamation factors and query mark — may be complicated for some folks or sign the top of a chat for others. You should use stickers to entry the total vary of emojis to react to messages, however the sticker would often block a part of the message. Extra reactions will hopefully assist talk an individual’s feelings shortly and succinctly and never depart as a lot up for interpretation.

There was additionally a brief point out of RCS coming to iPhones. I do know lots of people are excited concerning the characteristic, however personally I am detached to it. My messages undergo with out RCS. I do know numerous Android customers are blissful about this modification, however I may have gone one other 5 years with out it on my iPhone, and I most likely would not have seen. 

Mind-set in Journal

I recurrently journal, and it wasn’t till Apple’s point out yesterday of this new characteristic within the Journal app that I noticed I solely actually recount what I did through the day. My entries are principally a method to bear in mind what I did. However hardly ever have I ever delved into how I felt throughout these moments I am writing about. So I am enthusiastic about this Journal improve that enables me to extra meaningfully mirror alone psychological state by asking me how I am feeling. Yeah, it isn’t probably the most flashy or intuitive in any method, however I am hoping it is going to assist me maintain observe of my inside and exterior well-being.

Sport Mode was a welcome shock

Over the previous couple of years, I’ve began gaming an increasing number of on my iPhone 14 Professional. Subscriptions to Apple Arcade and Netflix Video games, in addition to connecting my Xbox controller to my iPhone, have made this transition to cellular gaming simple.
With Sport Mode, background exercise is minimized, which suggests I can hopefully play a bit longer with out worry of my iPhone dying or my recreation being interrupted by a slew of notifications. That additionally means higher body charges and decrease latency for Bluetooth linked gadgets, like controllers, all of which ought to make gaming smoother on my iPhone.

I am not going to say your iPhone can be your new favourite gaming console, but it surely could possibly be an awesome journey companion if you wish to recreation on the go however haven’t got further room for a Swap, Steamdeck or different handheld console.

iOS 18 options I most likely will not use a lot

There have been a bunch of options Apple introduced at WWDC that I do not suppose I will get an entire lot of use out of, however others would possibly. 

New app privateness options

Holding apps off your private home display screen feels redundant since you may already take away apps from your private home display screen and discover them in your App Library. Locking your apps may present an additional layer of safety in case your iPhone will get stolen, however having to unlock your telephone after which your apps would possibly really feel cumbersome. I may additionally see locking apps being helpful for folks with kids who need to maintain their youngsters out of sure apps, however then we would not get these enjoyable movies of infants operating round with their father or mother’s telephone, and I am not prepared to surrender these nationwide treasures.

Extra Mail classes

I see the utility in having separate classes in your emails to maintain newsletters, advertisements and different messages neatly organized, however I do not get sufficient emails every day to make this an enormous deal for me. I may see this being helpful for somebody with a piece telephone, although.

Topographic maps in Maps

If I have been a hiker, or lived in a hilly area, I would most likely be extra enthusiastic about this. However the extent of my mountaineering expertise is strolling trails in Gatlinburg, Tennessee each few years, and my neighborhood is flat. Yeah, mountaineering is enjoyable from time to time, however I like my dwelling. It is the place my issues are.

Faucet to Money

This makes me nervous as a result of what occurs if somebody takes my iPhone and shortly sends themselves cash from my Apple Money? It is unclear what sort of safeguards can be in place to forestall somebody from doing this, however hopefully Apple’s considered this and is forward of me.

Revamped Photographs app

I do not take sufficient pictures for this to have an effect on me, however I am additionally not sure if this was essential. Individuals can already create their very own albums, the Photographs app already creates recollections round issues like occasions and locations you go to, and the app already organizes pictures based mostly on days, months and years. Whereas Apple mentioned it redesigned and retooled the app, it feels like the corporate simply rebranded the app’s options.

Apple Intelligence

I’ve no need to make use of any of those options outdoors of attempting them as soon as to see what they do. Creating Genmojis feels like a novelty. I do not use Siri recurrently nor do I anticipate utilizing it extra sooner or later, and why would I need my iPhone to summarize messages or generate a message to ship? If my line of labor did not give it away, I like studying and writing.

iOS 18 cannot get right here quickly sufficient

Regardless of not being thrilled by a few of iOS 18’s new options, I am nonetheless counting down the times till its launch within the fall. And I am so excited for it as a result of it upgrades the issues I exploit recurrently, and I can see myself utilizing these new options for a very long time. 

I am all the time taking a look at my dwelling or lock display screen, so having the ability to customise it — whereas not novel — will give me extra of a way of possession over my iPhone. I exploit Messages nearly day-after-day, and it sounds just like the upgrades to the app will positively impression the best way I talk with others. Even Sport Mode is a welcome addition for my iPhone as I depend on it extra for gaming.

And whereas I do not recurrently use a number of the options being upgraded in iOS 18, others will seemingly take pleasure in these options and upgrades and get loads of use out of them.

Here is hoping iOS 18 lives as much as the hype.

For extra on Apple, you may take a look at all the pieces the corporate introduced at WWDC 2024, all of the options in iOS 18 and how you can obtain the iOS 18 developer beta now.