Apple is expected to release iOS 18.2 as early as tomorrow with new Apple Intelligence features ‼️ pic.twitter.com/cFLZZsRgQ0
— Apple Hub (@theapplehub) December 8, 2024
Apple is gearing up to release the iOS 18.2 RC 2 update to developers and beta testers, with a possible public release imminent. This update comes after the general release of iOS 18.1, which introduced several new features and fixes. While iOS 18.1 brought a few innovations, iOS 18.2 RC 2 is expected to introduce more advanced AI features, though initially limited to the iPhone 15 Pro, Pro Max, and the iPhone 16 lineup.
iOS 18.2 RC2 Released today as a surprise to us all. It seems Apple is refining iOS 18.2 before a public release with quite a few bug fixes and resolved issues. Here is what's new.
Full video here: https://t.co/wAYxcFa73y pic.twitter.com/n5ZQA7LSX1
— Aaron Zollo (@zollotech) December 9, 2024
The Find My app, used to locate items like AirPods and MacBooks, receives a significant update in iOS 18.2 RC 2. This update includes two new options: Share Item Location, which creates a shareable link that others can use to help locate your lost item, and Show Contact Info, which allows others to see ways to contact you if they find your lost item. The Mail app on iPhones will now sort emails into multiple categories, similar to Gmail and Outlook.
Although the layout is generally tidy, it may occasionally miscategorize emails. If you prefer the old layout, you can revert to it easily. The volume slider, previously removed from the iPhone’s lock screen, is back.
iOS 18.2 is turning out to be the best ever when it comes to performance, benchmarks and possibly battery. We even have more features to talk about as well in the weekend. Follow Video. hope you enjoy and have a great weekend.
Full video here: https://t.co/DksTwZLVeK pic.twitter.com/28vcjhEwqr
— Aaron Zollo (@zollotech) December 7, 2024
This allows for more precise volume adjustments directly from the lock screen.
It’s not iOS 18.2, but iOS 18.2 RC 2 that has been released 🤣 pic.twitter.com/qpGkBtxBva
— Beta Profiles (@BetaProfiles) December 9, 2024
To prevent potential speaker damage or nuisance from loud audio, iOS 18.2 RC 2 includes a feature to set a maximum volume limit. This does not apply to phone, FaceTime, emergency, or Find My sounds.
Genmoji, part of Apple Intelligence, allows users to create new emojis based on descriptions. You can search for an emoji using text and create a new one if there’s no match. Like Google Lens, Visual Intelligence lets users use cameras to identify objects, scan QR codes, and translate languages.
It also integrates with ChatGPT for additional functionality. This feature is exclusive to the iPhone 16 lineup and leverages new camera control buttons on the side. Image Playground allows users to create images based on text prompts.
This standalone app can generate specific images based on detailed prompts and allows users to incorporate personal photos to create customized images. Apple’s virtual assistant Siri is undergoing a transformation with Apple Intelligence enhancements. A glowing light around the screen replaces the traditional logo when Siri is activated.
Additionally, Siri can integrate with ChatGPT to provide more detailed responses to queries, although users are advised to double-check the information for accuracy. IOS 18.2 RC 2 promises to bring numerous advancements and features, enhancing the overall user experience. Watch for its public release to enjoy these new functionalities on your iPhone.
In a significant move, Apple has confirmed that the upcoming iOS 18.2 update will allow users to set default messaging apps, marking a pivotal shift in the landscape of iPhone applications. This change is set to challenge the dominance of Apple’s iMessage by enabling iPhone users to choose alternative messaging apps like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp as their default. In its latest demands, Facebook, now known as Meta, is pushing to become the iPhone’s default messaging app.
This ambition coincides with Apple’s recent update that permits users to select an app other than the Messages app for sending instant messages. “In iOS and iPadOS 18.2 and later,” Apple states, “a user may select an app other than the Messages app to send instant messages. The system launches the default messaging app when a user taps an item: link from another app.”
This development represents a significant shift in Apple’s strategy, opening up its traditionally closed ecosystem to third-party apps at a fundamental level.
Apple unveils ai-driven ios features
Meta’s Messenger and WhatsApp, which already boast large user bases, are key beneficiaries of this update. This move could potentially disrupt Google’s efforts to standardize Rich Communication Services (RCS) to enhance cross-platform messaging.
Google and Samsung have both been proponents of RCS, which unifies messaging across different devices and platforms. Samsung has emphasized its commitment to cross-platform communication and the advantages of an interoperable messaging standard. However, with Apple’s support for this new default app setting, the landscape might shift more in favor of Meta’s platforms, which offer end-to-end encryption and extensive user reach.
However, the transition is not without its challenges. Apple’s focus on security and privacy is a core aspect of its brand, and integrating third-party apps fundamentally changes the dynamics of data handling and user privacy. Users must be cautious in selecting their new default apps, as concerns about data privacy and security loom large.
The update will initially offer limited functionality, only allowing the new default apps to perform basic operations. However, Apple plans to expand these capabilities over time. This phased approach intends to ensure a smooth transition for the millions of iPhone users worldwide.
This change underscores Apple’s evolving approach to its ecosystem, balancing user flexibility with its traditional emphasis on security and privacy. As the tech world anticipates the rollout of iOS 18.2, users should carefully consider their choices and stay informed about how these changes will impact their daily interactions with their devices. iOS 18.2 is a significant release for users, with the Mail app undergoing its most significant redesign ever.
The redesign is immediately evident when you open Apple’s Mail app on iOS 18.2. While the mailbox screen remains the same, opening an inbox reveals substantial changes. Apple now emphasizes that contact photos should be included in your inbox for senders.
This shift from a text-only interface to one with color and imagery makes emails in your inbox resemble threads in the Messages app, with a contact photo on the left. Businesses can now upload their logos as contact photos in the Mail, Phone, and Apple Pay interface. If a business hasn’t done this, Apple Maps icons are applied.
More significant than the addition of contact photos, iOS 18.2 introduces a fundamental change to how your inbox works with automatic categorization into four sections: Primary, which focuses on the most important messages; Transactions, which tracks orders, including shipping and delivery notices; Updates, which keeps newsletters and alerts organized; and Promotions, which collects messages from businesses and organizations. Emails are sorted automatically as received, with each category divided into ‘New Messages’ and ‘Older Messages.’ Users can set Mail’s notification badge count to reflect only the number of new messages in the Primary category or keep it as is. Users can make manual adjustments if Apple categorizes messages in an undesirable category.
You can choose to automatically send messages from a specific sender to a category of your choice. Users who prefer the previously unified inbox can return to it. Swiping left accesses the ‘All Mail’ view, or you can disable categories altogether by tapping the three dots in the top-right corner to switch to List View.
The Mail app’s new categories streamline your inbox further by grouping messages from the same sender and offering a new ‘Digest view.’ However, as with many of iOS 18.2’s new features, this behavior can be disabled if desired. Mail is one of the rare iPhone apps that’s extremely popular but historically hasn’t received many updates from Apple. The iOS 18.2 redesign changes that.
Many users have found the updates valuable, and Apple has provided tools to disable them for those who find them less useful. These changes are expected to extend to the iPad and Mac.
