Apple has launched iOS 18, along with iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, watchOS 11, and other updates, introducing significant enhancements to device functionality and paving the way for advanced AI capabilities.
A standout feature in iOS 18 is the Apple Intelligence suite, which became available with the release of iOS 18.2 on December 11th. This suite offers tools such as Image Playground for image generation, the creation of personalized “Genmoji” emojis, and integration with ChatGPT. Additional writing tools, including options to rewrite text in various styles, began rolling out to users starting in October.
Beyond AI advancements, iOS 18 introduces notable changes like allowing users to set default apps and providing hearing assessments through AirPods. iPadOS 18 now includes a calculator app and the ability to solve math equations within notes. WatchOS 11 offers features to monitor sleep apnea, and iPhones have gained the capability to send messages to Android devices using RCS.
In the latest iOS 18.4 beta, Apple has added support for robot vacuums in the Home app through Matter integration. This update enables users to control devices like the Switchbot S10 directly from the app, offering functions such as start/stop commands, selecting cleaning modes, and sending the vacuum to its dock.
Additionally, the beta introduces Priority Notifications, an Apple Intelligence-driven feature that uses on-device processing to highlight important updates, though it is turned off by default and can be enabled in settings.
Furthermore, Apple plans to bring its Visual Intelligence feature to the iPhone 15 Pro through a future software update. Initially introduced with the iPhone 16 lineup, Visual Intelligence allows users to point their camera at objects to receive more information about them. This feature will be accessible via the Action Button and Control Center on the iPhone 15 Pro.
