iOS 18: 10+ Features We Would Like To See in Apple’s 2024 Software Update،
Apple announced its annual iPhone 15 series in September 2023. The lineup includes iPhone15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro And iPhone 15 Pro Max. Along with the iPhone 15 series, Apple also rolled out iOS 17 with better privacy and security features. While we’ve just been introduced to iOS 17, expectations for iOS 18 have already started to build. Apple can improve a lot with iOS 18 and we’ve listed below what we think needs to be changed or improved.
Apple iOS 18: release timeline
Apple is on a strict schedule when it comes to software launches, which is why iOS 18 is expected to be presented at the Worldwide Developers Conference in 2024. iOS 18 software will roll out in September or October 2024.
Features we’d like to see in iOS 18 in 2024
1. Smarter Siri
Apple’s virtual assistant Siri is in dire need of an update. Even though Apple claims to make it smarter every year, that’s not enough considering how much can still be done to make it useful. Some reports claim that Siri will become smarter in 2024 and that new features will include helping users automate complex, multi-step tasks with voice commands. This means Siri might be able to take a series of photos, turn them into GIFs, and send the GIF to a friend all at once.
Siri’s functionality would be similar to that of the Shortcuts app. Siri has long been criticized for lagging behind assistants like Alexa and Google, mainly due to Apple’s focus on security. This time, Apple is looking to strike a better balance between privacy and features to make Siri smarter. Siri can integrate with 3rd Party apps that allow users to control and interact with a wider range of apps using voice commands will also be a good improvement. Having quiet times for Siri responses will also be helpful, because no one wants loud responses disrupting their sleep at 3 a.m.
2. The Control Center needs an overhaul
Apple Control Center has looked the same for years now, the result being that it’s bulky and cramped. This has led to customizable lock screens being made more personal. Various toggles cannot be moved or deleted by users, which is sometimes annoying. Apple should definitely work on improving its Control Center with iOS 18. Users should be able to easily change whatever they want.
3. Improved maps and navigation
The Apple Maps update will result in an even more immersive and detailed navigation experience. A maps interface with better visuals, including 3D landmarks and improved road information, will help. Features like 360-degree views of selected locations and better transit directions would be appreciated.
4. Wireless OS Recovery
Currently, the iPhone can locate the Apple Watch or Apple TV, but it can’t do the same for an iPad or other iPhone. iOS 18 is expected to bring this feature to the iPhone, allowing it to revive another iPhone or iPad if it dies. Since the iPad is being offered as a PC replacement, this form of OS recovery will eliminate the need for any form of wired recovery that was present previously. Even if you don’t have a Mac or iPad, you can easily restart your iPhone using a friend’s iPhone.
5. Improved Sleep App
Sleep Tracker can be found in the Health app on iOS. This app allows you to set the number of hours you want to sleep as well as set bedtime and wake-up times. iPhone allows you to reduce distractions and enable sleep focus at your scheduled bedtime. This time, Apple is expected to include a Nap Tracker in Sleep app for iPhone.
6. Best Camera App
Apple tries to improve its camera app every year and yet there is still a long way to go. With the iPhone 15 Pro Max this year, there’s a tetraprism camera with support for 5x optical zoom, support for LOG video shooting, better portrait mode, and more. Although iPhone users can shoot RAW and ProRes media using the built-in camera app, there is still no proper manual for those who want to do professional photography. Filters in the Camera app have also become deprecated.
Additionally, something like a magic eraser for photos (like Pixel phones) will also improve the photography experience on iPhone.
7. Customizable App Library
Apple introduced App Library with iOS 14, where users can clean up their Home screen and group their apps into a dedicated section at the end. The only problem was that the App Library categorizes and groups apps into folders based on their usage, so users have no control over how they want to organize their apps. iOS lists these folders based on how often you use the apps they contain. This categorization might appeal to some, but there are still users who want to organize apps in their own way. Apple, making this possible would definitely be a good change.
8. More Features for Action Button
Although Apple has provided an action button with the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the use of this button is limited to a single action. The Shortcuts app helps generate a number of actions that can be triggered with this button, it only supports one key action: clicking and holding it. It would be better if iOS 18 offered more features for the action button, like double-clicking or holding actions.
9. AirPods Update Option
Apple’s high-end TWS earbuds, called AirPods, receive updates from time to time, but there is no option to get these updates in the Settings app on iOS. It would be better if iOS 18 had a forced update feature for AirPods as a workaround method to download and install the update if you connect your AirPods to a charger and place them next to your iPhone doesn’t always work.
10. Better notifications
Those who use Apple iPhones know how flawed their notifications are. Disturbances can be filtered out with focus modes, but problems remain. We cannot change the default notification tone of 3rd party apps, unless developers choose to implement it manually. Most apps sound the same, so the user cannot distinguish notifications without looking at the phone or watch. Notifications are overwhelming to look at and iOS doesn’t work very hard to handle them. Apple should make iOS 18 better use Dynamic Island so that notifications are better organized.
11. Transfer support for Apple Music
Apple Music is a premium subscription service offered by Apple and since the company has a tight ecosystem, one would assume that support for transferring between iDevices is available, but surprisingly, this is not the case.
Spotify comes with a feature called Spotify Connect that allows users to control any device’s queue online using any other device. You can easily switch audio output devices to continue listening to the music queue streaming on your Mac using your iPhone. Currently, Apple Music allows its users to transfer the music queue between an iPhone and a HomePod, but this feature cannot be used between Mac, iPad, or different iPhones. iOS 18 should change that.
The release of iOS 18 is eagerly awaited by Apple enthusiasts who want a better experience on their iPhones. Although we are aware that Apple will certainly not make all of these improvements that we have discussed, we hope that the brand will meet at least some of our expectations.
What do you want iOS 18 to have? Let us know in the comments section below.
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