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  • 50 new and exciting iPhone features added since iOS 18

    50 new and exciting iPhone features added since iOS 18

    Since the launch of iOS 18 in September 2024, Apple has rolled out numerous updates, enhancing the iPhone experience with iOS 18.1, 18.2, and 18.3. Here’s a look at 50 features and improvements you might have missed:

    • Reset Your Control Center: If you’ve messed up your Control Center customization, iOS 18.1 lets you reset it to its original layout. Just go to Settings > Control Center and choose ‘Reset’.
    • Share AirTag Location: iOS 18.2 offers a new way to share the location of lost items with airlines or trusted friends. This feature works with AirTags and other Find My Network items, providing a link that can be viewed on any device.
    • Learn About Places: With iOS 18.2 on iPhone 16 models, you can get instant information about places by using Camera Control. Hold down the button, snap a photo, and see details like opening hours or make reservations right from your screen.
    • More Control Center Options: iOS 18.1 added new toggles for Satellite and AirDrop, giving you more control over connectivity options right from the Control Center.
    • Camera Control Activation: Now, with iOS 18.2, your iPhone’s screen needs to be on before you can use Camera Control, preventing accidental activation.
    • Add Events from Visuals: iOS 18.3 allows you to add calendar events directly from posters or flyers using Visual Intelligence on iPhone 16 models.
    • Selfie Mode: With iOS 18.1, switch to selfie mode by swiping on the Camera Control button, making selfies easier than ever.
    • Lock Focus and Exposure: iOS 18.2 introduces a way to lock focus and exposure on iPhone 16 models with a light press of the Camera Control button.
    • Share Music on TikTok: iOS 18.1 lets you share songs from Apple Music directly to TikTok, broadening your music-sharing options.
    • Identify Nature: iOS 18.3 enhances Visual Intelligence to help identify plants and animals in real-time on iPhone 16 models.
    • Full-Screen Video: The Photos app now offers a full-screen viewing mode for videos, making your memories more immersive.
    • Sleep Apnea Alerts: iOS 18.1 added sleep apnea detection for Apple Watch Series 10 and Ultra 2, alerting you to potential issues after gathering data over time.
    • iPhone Mirroring with Hotspot: iOS 18.2 allows you to mirror your iPhone to your Mac even when using Personal Hotspot.
    • Search with Camera: Visual Intelligence in iOS 18.2 lets you search online for items by taking a picture, handy for shopping or identifying unknown objects.
    • Proofread Your Text: iOS 18.1’s Writing Tools include proofreading functions to catch and correct typos, making your writing clearer.
    • Track Downloads: With iOS 18.2, you can monitor your Safari downloads directly from the Lock Screen or Dynamic Island.
    • Rewrite Text: Change the tone of your messages with iOS 18.1’s Rewrite tool for more effective communication.
    • Safari Data Management: iOS 18.2 provides new ways to manage your browsing data, including exporting and importing.
    • Volume Control on Lock Screen: iOS 18.2 reintroduced the ability to adjust media volume directly from the Lock Screen.
    • Summarize Emails: iOS 18.1 helps manage your inbox with email summaries, letting you quickly understand long messages.

    These updates, among many others, show Apple’s commitment to continuously improving the iPhone experience, making it more intuitive, personal, and capable. Keep your iPhone updated to enjoy these enhancements!

  • Confusing iOS 18.3 Update: Why entertainment apps lost AI summary features

    Confusing iOS 18.3 Update: Why entertainment apps lost AI summary features

    This week, Apple released iOS 18.3, bringing new features but also taking one away. Specifically, they turned off AI-generated summaries for notifications in two types of apps, and one of these choices has left me puzzled.

    Why News Apps Lost Summaries

    It’s unusual for Apple to take away features in iPhone updates, but they did just that with iOS 18.3. The AI summaries for news apps were disabled because they were giving out incorrect information, which caused a stir. This made sense since people were complaining about misleading news alerts.

    The Mystery of Entertainment Apps

    The summaries for entertainment apps have also been turned off, and this is what’s confusing. If you check your iPhone settings under Notifications > Summarize Notifications, you’ll see apps like Disney+, Max, and YouTube marked as ‘Temporarily Unavailable’ for summaries.

    I looked at the App Store’s Entertainment section, which now is easy to find at the top of the Apps tab. It’s mostly streaming services, along with some music, podcast, and even drawing apps. I can’t figure out why these would need their summaries disabled unless there was some issue with podcast titles that sound like news.

    What’s Next?

    Apple has promised that these features will come back once they fix the problems with the AI. I hope they do this soon, as it would be great to have those useful summaries back. Until then, the absence of these features in entertainment apps remains a bit of a puzzle to me.

  • iPhone Calculator gets better with iOS 18.3 update

    iPhone Calculator gets better with iOS 18.3 update

    Apple has released a new update for iPhones, called iOS 18.3. This update might not have lots of big new features, but it does bring some helpful changes, especially for those who use the Calculator app a lot.

    One of the main fixes in this update is something many people have been asking for. Before, if you updated to iOS 18, you couldn’t do one simple thing anymore in the Calculator app: repeat math operations with the equals button.

    Here’s how it used to work: if you did a calculation like 2 times 2 and got 4, you could press equals again to multiply 4 by 2 again, getting 8, then press it again for 16, and so on. But when iOS 18 came out, this handy trick was gone.

    Now, with iOS 18.3, this feature is back! You can use the equals button to keep doing calculations without having to enter the numbers again each time. This makes quick calculations much easier.

    User Feedback:

    • Conrad7570 commented, “The article does not address another small issue – the ability to swipe to delete mistakes. Yes, there’s a delete button now, but swiping was much simpler and more stylish. Isn’t that what Apple is all about?”

    So, next time you grab your iPhone to do some math, remember you can now use the equals button as many times as you want to keep your calculations going. This small change might make a big difference for anyone who loves quick math on their phone.

  • Apple unveils new update for Apple Watch: watchOS 11.3

    Apple unveils new update for Apple Watch: watchOS 11.3

    Apple has just launched watchOS 11.3, a big update for the Apple Watch. This new version works with the Apple Watch Series 6 and newer models, all Apple Watch Ultra watches, and the Apple Watch SE 2.

    To get watchOS 11.3 on your watch, you’ll need an iPhone with iOS 18.3. Just open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, go to General, and then Software Update. Remember, your watch should have at least 50% battery and be on its charger before you start the update.

    A cool new feature in watchOS 11.3 is the Black Unity watch face. This face goes perfectly with a new band that Apple also released today. The idea behind both the watch face and the band is to celebrate diversity and unity, with designs made by Black artists and their friends at Apple.

    For more details on what else watchOS 11 brings to the table, check out our summary on watchOS 11.

  • Celebrating Black History Month: Apple’s new unity collection

    Celebrating Black History Month: Apple’s new unity collection

    For Black History Month this February, Apple has introduced a special Unity Collection, featuring a unique Unity Sport Band for the Apple Watch, a new Unity Dance watch face, and matching wallpapers for both iPhone and iPad.

    Apple’s 2025 Unity Collection

    The Unity Sport Band is now available for purchase, while the new watch face and wallpapers will come with the latest software updates, iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, and watchOS 11.3, which are set to roll out this week after extensive testing.

    According to Apple, this collection celebrates the spirit of togetherness, with contributions from Black artists and supporters within the company.

    “The Unity Collection, named Unity Dance, beautifully incorporates the colors of the Pan-African flag – black, green, and red,” explains Apple’s announcement. “The Unity Sport Band is designed with a special pattern where the loops change color, showing green on one side and red on the other.”

    The Unity Dance watch face is innovative, displaying numbers made from threads of red, green, and yellow that morph from abstract art into clear time digits when you lift your wrist. The wallpapers for iPhone and iPad also echo this theme, using the same unique typography to spell out “Unity.”

    Note: Discussions about this topic are hosted in our Political News section. All can read, but only members with 100 or more posts can contribute to the conversation.

  • Simple guide to iOS 18.3 update

    Simple guide to iOS 18.3 update

    Apple has announced that the new iOS 18.3 update will be available very soon, possibly even today. They made this known while introducing a new Black Unity Sport Loop for the Apple Watch.

    Changes in Notification Summaries

    iOS 18.3 has changed how notification summaries look and work. Now, you’ll see summaries in italic text, making them easier to spot. However, Apple has turned off news summary features for now because they weren’t always getting the stories right. They’ve promised to fix this in the next update. Also, you can now tweak your notification summary settings right from your phone’s lock screen.

    Visual Intelligence Gets Better

    If you have an iPhone 16, you’re in for a treat with iOS 18.3. It upgrades the Visual Intelligence feature which you activate with the Camera Control button. Now, you can use your camera to learn more about things around you, like adding events to your calendar from posters or identifying plants and animals. This cool feature isn’t available on older iPhones though.

    Calculator App Update

    A handy little feature has returned to the Calculator app in iOS 18.3. If you hit the equals button again, it’ll repeat the last calculation, which is great for figuring out things like compound interest without retyping everything.

    Celebrating Black History Month

    To celebrate Black History Month, Apple has released a special Black Unity Sport Loop band for the Apple Watch, along with a new Unity Rhythm watch face and matching wallpapers for your iPhone and iPad. These will come with the iOS 18.3 update.

    Bug Fixes

    iOS 18.3 also tackles some bugs. It fixes a problem where the keyboard might vanish when you’re typing to Siri, and another where music keeps playing even after you’ve closed the Apple Music app.

    Future Home App Feature

    Although not active yet, iOS 18.3’s code hints at upcoming support for robot vacuums in the Home app. Apple says this feature will be available in a future update, possibly iOS 18.4.

    So, keep an eye out for this update, which promises to make your iPhone experience smoother and more enjoyable.

  • iOS 18.4 Expected in April: Rumored features you should know

    iOS 18.4 Expected in April: Rumored features you should know

    As reported by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is expected to release iOS 18.4 in April. While the beta testing phase hasn’t begun yet, a few exciting updates are rumored to be part of the new version.

    Big Updates to Siri

    iOS 18.4 may introduce significant improvements to Siri, marking a new step forward with Apple Intelligence. Three key upgrades are expected:

    • Personal Context: Siri will better understand your preferences and habits.
    • On-Screen Awareness: It will respond more effectively to what’s displayed on your device.
    • App Integration: Siri could interact with apps in smarter ways to perform tasks for you.

    These changes aim to make Siri more personalized and intuitive.

    Expanded Language Support

    When iOS 18.2 launched, Apple hinted at adding new language options for Apple Intelligence in 2025. With the April update, the list may grow to include languages like Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, and more. English variants for regions such as India and Singapore are also part of the plan. Additional languages will roll out throughout the year.

    New Emoji Additions

    As in previous spring updates, Apple is likely to introduce new emojis with iOS 18.4. The Unicode Consortium has already revealed this year’s batch, which includes:

    • Fingerprint
    • Face with bags under eyes
    • Harp
    • Root vegetable
    • Leafless tree
    • Splatter
    • Shovel

    These emojis will enhance communication with more creative options. While Apple hasn’t officially confirmed these updates, the anticipated features hint at a more dynamic and user-friendly experience with iOS 18.4. Stay tuned for more details as the release approaches!

  • Apple stores set to receive new updates next week

    Apple stores set to receive new updates next week

    Apple retail stores are preparing for “merchandise and marketing updates” next week, as reported by Mark Gurman from Bloomberg. While Gurman hasn’t directly tied these updates to a specific product launch, he pointed out that this timing aligns with Apple’s yearly release of its Black Unity watch band for the Apple Watch.

    Apple has introduced a Black Unity campaign in late January for the past four years. This campaign typically includes a new Apple Watch band, a special watch face, and an iPhone wallpaper inspired by the Pan-African flag’s colors. Recent findings in the tvOS 18.3 update code, referencing “UNITY25,” suggest the Black Unity campaign will likely return in 2025. If this is the case, Apple may announce it next week.

    Apart from the Black Unity watch band, there’s no confirmation about other product releases next week. However, Apple is anticipated to unveil new MacBook Air models featuring the M4 chip in early 2025, as well as the Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds. Gurman’s update, however, didn’t hint at these products being part of next week’s announcements.

    In addition, Apple is expected to roll out iOS 18.3, macOS 15.3, and other software updates after a month of beta testing. While the upcoming merchandise updates could hint at exciting news, keeping expectations in check is wise. There’s always the chance these updates are more routine than groundbreaking.

    Source

  • Apple hires new leader to boost Siri and AI

    Apple hires new leader to boost Siri and AI

    Apple is shaking things up inside its company to make Siri and its AI better, according to Bloomberg. They’ve brought in Kim Vorrath, who has been with Apple for 37 years, to lead the AI team under John Giannandrea, who is in charge of AI at Apple.

    Vorrath has a knack for managing big software projects and keeping everything on track. She’s known as Apple’s “bug fixer” and has been a big influence in the company. Before this new role, she was part of the team working on Apple’s AR/VR headset, the Vision Pro.

    This change comes right after lots of talk about how Siri didn’t do well when asked about Super Bowl scores. For a while now, Siri hasn’t been as good as other voice helpers, especially when compared to new AI chatbots.

    Apple has also been dealing with complaints about how its Apple Intelligence summarizes news, sometimes getting things wrong and confusing people. To tackle this, they’re planning to stop these summaries for news and entertainment apps in the next update, iOS 18.3, which should come out soon.

    Despite trying to make Siri better by adding ChatGPT from OpenAI, there are still issues. But Apple is working on it, with plans for more Siri improvements in the iOS 18.4 update and even bigger changes in iOS 19, where they might make Siri like ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini.

    Moving Vorrath to the AI team shows that Apple thinks AI is more crucial than their work on Vision Pro. She’s good at organizing tech teams and making their work better. In a note about the change, Giannandrea mentioned that they want to focus on making Siri work better and improving Apple’s own AI systems.

  • 76% of recent iPhones now have iOS 18

    76% of recent iPhones now have iOS 18

    The latest numbers show that iOS 18 is doing just as well as iOS 17 did last year. According to Apple, 76% of iPhones released in the past four years have iOS 18 installed, and 63% of iPads from the same period are now using iPadOS 18.

    Looking at all iPhones, 68% are running iOS 18, while 53% of iPads have iPadOS 18. However, there are still 19% of iPhones on iOS 17, and 13% on even older versions. On the iPad side, 28% are still on iPadOS 17, with 19% on older software.

    This is the first time Apple has shared these stats for iOS 18 since it came out last September. For comparison, by February 5 of the previous year, 76% of iPhones released in the last four years had iOS 17, with 66% of all iPhones updated. Meanwhile, 61% of recent iPads and 53% of all iPads were running iPadOS 17.

    The adoption rate for iOS 18 is similar to iOS 17, but Apple released these figures a bit sooner this year. With updates like iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3 coming next week, more people might choose to update their devices.

    Also, expect some big Siri updates in the iOS 18.4 update coming in April, which could boost the number of users even more. iOS 18 supports iPhones up to six years old, starting from the iPhone XS/XR. However, the fancy new Apple Intelligence features are only for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16, which might make some people with older phones think twice about upgrading.

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