At WWDC 2018, Apple unveiled tons of new info about the upcoming iOS 12. We’re compiling a quick list of the coolest features we know so far, including release date and features. While this isn’t the biggest software change Apple’s ever brought, it’s iterative and responsible. The changes, for what it’s worth, are also all quite welcome. Let’s get into it!
Augmented Reality with Other Players
Apple promises iOS 12 will sport tons of new features for developers to build multiplayer games. Specifically, Apple showcased how the ARKit 2 software will allow developers to build shared AR experiences. This means that users can both see the same Augmented Reality object from their device, and changes made by one user will be seen by the other. A simple example would be drawing on a virtual chalkboard and your friend seeing it.
While this sounds fun for games at first, it also would be huge in the classroom. Imagine the students watching as their teachers shows them a diagram of a cell, pointing and changing things in real time. Then they could all have their own models to toy with, and the teacher could help them locate parts of the cell. Even testing could change to accommodate this more hands-on learning!
Backward Compatibility
Apple has stated they intend for this iOS update to focus on not leaving older model phones behind. Specifically, the update will support phones from the 5S forward, and iPads from the iPad mini 2 and forward. According to Apple, iOS 12 well help older devices pull up the camera and keyboard functions faster, and just be smoother overall.
This is a wise move on the part of Apple. Most smartphone users are keeping their phones longer as technology in the sector plateaus. Despite flashy new phones drawing in plenty of users, a sizable base of Apple users won’t be flocking to buy an iPhone X anytime soon. Keeping support for the older model phones for longer is a smart move on Apple’s part.
Upgrades to Siri
Siri is now set to be more responsive and generally useful. This update will introduce Siri shortcuts, which allow you to program certain actions to certain words. For instance, you could shortcut “I’m lost,” to pull up the map app and navigate home. This change might seem small at first glance, but it’s actually a huge help. Alexa and Google Assistant are so useful because they’re so smart and responsive. Siri, by contrast, is sort of clunky and you have to use exact phrases to get her to act. Hopefully this update will address this and bring her up to speed with the competition.
iOS 12 Release Date
The developer beta for iOS 12 started on June 4th, but there is a public beta on the way! The public beta will likely begin on June 26th, if the iOS 11 beta is anything to base things off of. Finally, sometime in September, when the new line of iPhones release, we can expect to see the final version. While iOS 12 isn’t the most exciting or flashy update ever, it’s a much needed one. Siri is in big need of an overall, and older phones have not fared well with iOS 11. Apple’s likely making strides in the right direction.
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