Along with the debut of Apple Intelligence as well as deeper ChatGPT integration in Apple devices at Apple’s annual WWDC conference, Apple also announced OS updates for its key product categories, including iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV. These go beyond the features that will come with Apple Intelligence, which is available with the latest OS updates on the most current line of devices. Here are the highlights. Note that many features, including Apple Intelligence, are available across all Apple devices, including iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
iOS 18: What’s Coming to iPhone
If you have an iPhone, you’ll be excited for the latest updates in iOS 18, beyond the integration of Apple Intelligence with iPhone 15 and higher.
First is a neat way to reorganize your apps on Home Screen so they fit around a wallpaper image without blocking it, and adjust the way app icons look, including using a new dark mode, tinted effect, removing text, or even having them appear larger.
You can customize the buttons at the bottom of the Lock Screen if you don’t want flashlight and camera, and now access multiple pages in Control Center with different collections of controls for different features, like media playback and home controls, with the option to add controls from supported third-party apps.
There’s new organization for Photo libraries, with everything in a single view along with new collections and a carousel view that you can customize. In Mail, e-mails can be sorted into categories using on-device intelligence. There are also new text effects for iMessage so you can indicate tone by underlining or bolding text, for example, or animating words or phrases by having them do things like bounce or shake.
Tapbacks when you press and hold on a message to leave a reaction will now allow you to use any emoji or sticker, even one you create yourself. The messages app also now supports RCS.
iOS 18 introduces Messages via satellite for the times when cellular and Wi-Fi connections aren’t available. Powered by the same technology as existing iPhone satellite capabilities, Messages via satellite automatically prompts you to connect to the nearest satellite right from the Messages app to send and receive texts, emoji, and Tapbacks over iMessage and SMS. With Dynamic Island, you always know when you’re connected to a satellite. Because iMessage was built to protect user privacy, iMessages sent via satellite are end-to-end encrypted.
You can manage Mail with on-device categorization that organizes and sorts incoming e-mail into Primary for personal and time-sensitive e-mails, Transactions for confirmations and receipts, Updates for news and social notifications, and Promotions for marketing e-mails and coupons. Mail also features a new digest view that pulls together all the relevant e-mails from a business, allowing you to quickly scan for what’s important in the moment.
Safari is also getting an update, with highlights, a redesigned reader experience, and machine learning that can surface key information about a webpage, like a map showing the address, directions to, and contact information of a restaurant while you’re on its webpage.
Building on the foundation of Keychain, the new Passwords app makes it easy to access passwords, passkeys, Wi-Fi passwords, and verification codes. The app also includes alerts regarding common weaknesses, like passwords that are easily guessed or used multiple times and those that appear in known data leaks.
For privacy, you can now also lock and hide apps so they require verification before opening and don’t appear in search, notifications, and more.
iOS 18 will also let you choose to share only specific contacts with an app. Developers now have a way to seamlessly connect third-party accessories with iPhone without letting an app see all the other devices on your network, keeping your devices private and making pairing seamless.
The developer beta of iOS 18 is available through the Apple Developer Program at developer.apple.com starting today, and a public beta will be available through the Apple Beta Software Program next month at beta.apple.com. iOS 18 will be available this fall as a free software update for iPhone Xs and later. Apple Intelligence will be available in beta on iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and iPad and Mac with M1 and later, with Siri and device language set to U.S. English, as part of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia this fall.
macOS Sequoia: What’s Coming to Mac
For Mac computers and MacBook laptops, the latest OS is macOS Sequoia, which offers a cool new feature called iPhone Mirroring that allows you to see your iPhone screen on the computer, even if the smartphone is tucked away in a bag or another room altogether.
As an expansion of Continuity, you can not only view the iPhone screen but also interact with and control it, right from your computer. That means swiping from one screen to another, launching apps, even using your computer keyboard and noise to interact with the phone. As you’re doing this, the iPhone remains locked or in StandBy mode.
There are also new ways to arrange windows, and when you drag one to the edge of the screen, it will automatically suggest a tiled position on the desktop. Arrange tiles side by side, in corners, and add new keyboard and menu shortcuts.
With video conferencing, there’s a new presenter preview that allows you to see what you’re about to share before you share it in apps like FaceTime and Zoom. You can also apply built-in backgrounds or upload your own photos.
The developer beta of macOS Sequoia is available through the Apple Developer Program at developer.apple.com starting today, and a public beta will be available through the Apple Beta Software Program next month at beta.apple.com. The release will be available as a free software update this fall.
iPadOS 18: What’s Coming to iPad
For Apple iPad, along with many of the same aforementioned features, there are a few other standouts. One of the biggest is actually a seemingly simple one: the availability of the Calculator app. While it’s the same Calculator app you know with iPhone on the surface, when you select the Math Notes button, you get an enhanced experience. Designed for use with Apple Pencil, you can write out complex mathematical equations and use symbols like multiply, equal, or even a line to get an instant calculation. You can even assign values to variables, create graphs, and more, all accessible in the Notes app.
There’s also a feature called Smart Script that helps improve your handwriting by making it smoother and straighter. It can even convert typed text into handwriting that looks like yours. Using Apple Pencil, you can more easily edit handwritten text to do things like erase sentences or words, add spacing to insert content, and more.
A redesigned tab bar floats above app content and complements the sidebar to help you stay focused while keeping favourite tabs within reach. The new floating tab bar morphs into the sidebar and you can reorder or add other tabs from the sidebar.
SharePlay takes screen sharing to a new level, allowing you to tap and draw on the screen to point out what should be done; or for more direct assistance, ask for permission to remotely control a device.
The developer beta of iPadOS 18 is available through the Apple Developer Program at developer.apple.com starting today, and a public beta will be available through the Apple Beta Software Program next month at beta.apple.com. New software features will be available this fall as a free software update 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). Apple Intelligence will be available in beta on iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and iPad and Mac with M1 and later, with Siri and device language set to U.S. English, as part of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia this fall.
watchOS 11: What’s Coming to Apple Watch
Apple Watch users will soon be able to download watchOS 11 with a host of new upgrades for tracking health, fitness, and wellness.
There’s a new Vitals app that uses key health metrics, including heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, sleep duration, and blood oxygen, to help you make more informed day-to-day decisions, and to measure training load. By seeing these all at-a-glance, you can see when numbers fall out of a typical range and receive a notification if two or more of them do along with information about how they could be linked to other things in your life, like alcohol consumption or illness.
With training load, the Watch will measure how the intensity and duration of workouts impacts your body over time. You log intensity manually then the Watch will generate an estimated effort for cardio-based exercises based on age, height, weight, and workout data to come up with the figures.
Activity rings are customizable and you can pause rings for a day, week, month, or more if you need to do so due to an illness, for example, rest day, injury, vacation, or simply a day off. Most importantly, this won’t impact your award streak. You can also customize your Activity ring goals by the day of the week, so make it 500 calories on the days you workout, for example, and 350 for your days off.
The Smart Stack and Photos face use intelligence to feature more individualization, including suggesting widgets based on time, date, location, daily routines, and more, and new interactive widgets. Apple Watch and the Health app on iPhone and iPad offer additional support for users who are pregnant. This includes gestational age, adjustments to heart rate thresholds (since it tends to be higher when you’re pregnant), and quicker alerts for walking steadiness when in the third trimester to help you avoid falls. Check In, the Translate app, and new capabilities for the double tap gesture come to Apple Watch for added connectivity and convenience.
Additionally, the Fitness app on iPhone will allow you to customize the Summary tab to see the data most important to you, including new metrics for workouts like running, hiking, swimming, and mindfulness. The Apple Fitness+ app will also get a redesign, and the Workout app includes more workout types like soccer, American football, outdoor hockey, golf, and more. Check In is now available on Apple Watch as well as the Translate app.
Apple Watch is getting in on the Apple Intelligence action, too: summarized notifications, powered by Apple Intelligence, will be forwarded from iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max to Apple Watch. Enhanced ticketing improves information provided on tickets in Apple Wallet, such as when the venue opens and when the show starts. A Live Activity will start at the event so you can see your seats and other important information at the top of the Smart Stack. In the U.S., Tap to Cash users will be able to send and receive Apple Cash by holding their Apple Watch near another Apple Watch or iPhone.
The developer beta of watchOS 11 is available to Apple Developer Program members at developer.apple.com starting today. A public beta will be available to watchOS users next month at beta.apple.com. watchOS 11 will be available this fall as a free software update for Apple Watch Series 6 or later paired with iPhone Xs or later, running iOS 18. Some features may not be available in all regions or all languages, or on all devices.
tvOS 18: What’s New for Apple TV
If you have an Apple TV in your living room, you’ll be interested in the new upgrades for the entertainment and Home experience. tvOS 18 includes intelligent new features like InSight and updates to Enhance Dialogue and subtitles. InSight displays timely information about actors, characters, and music from Apple TV+ content in real-time so you can call it up right on screen without having to pull out your phone to Google information. You can even add a song that’s playing in a show to an Apple Music playlist, right from your screen. You can see this information on iPhone as well when using it as an Apple TV remote.
Enhance Dialogue, meanwhile, leverages machine learning and computational audio to deliver greater vocal clarity on Apple TV 4K. Enjoy this through HomePod speakers as well as built-in TV or HDMI connected speakers, AirPods, and other compatible Bluetooth devices, when playing supported content.
Subtitles also automatically show when needed, like when the language in a show or movie doesn’t match the device language, when you mute the TV, or when you skip back. There’s also now 21:9 support for playing content on a projector, and new screen savers, including portraits, images from popular TV shows and movies, and the Snoopy character.
The Home app will offer guest access and hands-free unlock with home keys. tvOS 18 and iOS 18 are available as developer betas today and will be available as free software updates this fall. Robot vacuum cleaners are now compatible with the Home app as well.
The tvOS 18, iOS 18, and HomePod software version 18 developer betas are available for Apple Developer Program members at developer.apple.com starting today, and public betas will be available to users next month at beta.apple.com. New software features will be available as free updates beginning this fall.
Updates for AirPods
Apple also announced an update for AirPods. Siri Interactions allow AirPods Pro users to privately respond to Siri with a simple head nod yes or shake no. For clearer call quality, Voice Isolation comes to AirPods Pro, helping ensure the caller’s voice is heard in loud or windy environments. AirPods updates also significantly reduce audio latency while gaming and add Personalized Spatial Audio for more immersive gameplay.
The AirPods developer beta is available for Apple Developer Program members starting today. New AirPods features will be available this fall as a free firmware update. Siri Interactions, Voice Isolation, and improved voice quality will be available with AirPods Pro (2nd generation).
Apple Vision Pro Coming to Canada
Finally, Canadians will finally officially be able to get their hands on Apple Vision Pro, which is coming to several new countries, including Canada, with pre-orders starting June 28, 2024 and official availability starting July 12, 2024.
With visionOS 2, available as a free software update this fall, all Apple Vision Pro users will gain access to even more features that enhance how they engage with spatial computing, including a powerful way to transform photos into 3D memories; intuitive hand gestures to easily access the Home View and important information at a glance; new capabilities for Mac Virtual Display, Travel Mode, and Guest User; enhancements to Mindfulness, Safari, and the Apple TV app; and more.
Apple Vision Pro will be available at all Apple Store locations in Canada starting at $4,999 with 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage capacities. visionOS 2 will be available to all Apple Vision Pro users as a free software update this fall. When you order Apple Vision Pro, you will complete a face scan using an iPhone or iPad with Face ID that has the latest version of the Apple Store app. This scan helps you find the optimal Light Seal and head band sizes to provide a precise fit.
Apple Vision Pro comes with a Solo Knit Band, a Dual Loop Band, a personalized Light Seal with two Light Seal Cushions, an Apple Vision Pro Cover, Polishing Cloth, Battery, USB-C Charge Cable, and USB-C Power Adapter.
For users who require vision correction, Apple partnered with ZEISS to develop ZEISS Optical Inserts that magnetically attach to Apple Vision Pro, allowing you to take full advantage of the display’s sharpness and clarity. ZEISS Optical Inserts — Readers will be available in Canada for $139 and ZEISS Optical Inserts — Prescription will be available for $199. An Apple Vision Pro Travel Case will be available for $279 and AppleCare+ for Apple Vision Pro is $699.
Stay tuned for more details on these OS updates as they become available.