Apple has officially released iOS 18.1, a significant update within the Apple ecosystem, as it introduces Apple Intelligence, now also available on other devices with iPadOS 18.1 and macOS 15.1. Moreover, the new operating system enhances productivity, communication, and the overall user experience. Here's what's new.
Apple Intelligence is now everywhere, and the list continues
Apple Intelligence is undoubtedly the star of this update. Remember, it is not available in Europe, except on Macs. In this update, it takes shape in various parts of the system. The most notable are the writing tools, but it's also integrated into Siri and notifications, to name a few.
- Text Rewriting: iOS 18.1 introduces a "Rewrite" function in the writing tools, allowing us to choose from various alternative versions of a text. This feature improves style and facilitates the precise and personalized expression of ideas, helping to adapt the tone of messages.
- Text Review: The "Review" tool, also part of Apple Intelligence’s writing tools, suggests automatic improvements in grammar and style. This function corrects common errors and refines language with just a simple tap.
- Text Summarization Tools: With the "Summarize" function, we can generate automatic summaries of any selected text. It’s the third and final writing function, allowing us to synthesize information, obtain excerpts from long texts, or convey ideas concisely.
Siri also receives a long list of updates, most of which are centered around Apple Intelligence. These include:
- New Siri Appearance: Siri now features an ambient light on the screen that responds to our voice. This animation ensures that interacting with Siri does not hinder the use of the device itself, allowing us to operate it while speaking with our assistant.
- Writing to Siri: In iOS 18.1, we can write to Siri by tapping twice on the bottom of the screen, an ideal option for when we prefer not to speak out loud or when we need precision in instructions (for instance, if typing in multiple languages).
- Improved Natural Language Understanding: Siri is now more adept at understanding natural language, allowing us to pause, repeat ourselves, or change our minds without disrupting the flow of the conversation.
- Conversational Context in Siri: Siri maintains the context of the conversation throughout the session, enabling more fluid and natural references.
- Apple Product Knowledge in Siri: Siri now possesses extensive knowledge about Apple products, enabling it to answer questions about configurations, functions, and specific features of devices.
- Improved Siri Voice: Finally, Siri's voice has been updated to be clearer, more expressive, and natural.
The Photos app also receives several updates centered around Apple Intelligence, focusing on search, cleaning, and memories.
- Search in Photos: The Photos app allows us to perform searches by describing what we're looking for. It now identifies objects, scenes, or details in photos, making it easier to quickly find specific images within seconds.
- Clean Up Photos: The clean-up tool removes distracting elements in images, such as background people or unwanted objects.
- Creation of Memory Movies: iOS 18.1 lets us create customized memory videos by describing the story or moments we want to include.
Apple Intelligence also extends to notifications, focus modes, and how we respond to our messages:
- Notification Summary: The system now displays a summary of important notifications, allowing us to quickly see the most relevant information without needing to check each notification individually.
- Reduced Interruptions Mode: This new focus mode allows us to receive only urgent notifications and, thanks to Apple Intelligence, silences those that may be distracting.
- Quick Replies in Mail and Messages: iOS 18.1 incorporates suggestions for responses in the Mail and Messages apps.
- Priority Emails in Mail: Important emails are now automatically highlighted and placed at the top of the inbox, helping to ensure we don't overlook important messages.
The Phone app, in collaboration with the Notes app, also benefits greatly from Apple Intelligence. It now allows us to record and transcribe calls.
- Transcriptions in Notes: When recording a call or an audio note, iOS 18.1 offers us an intelligent summary of the transcription.
- Call Recording and Transcription: iOS 18.1 enables live call recording, with an automatic transcription in Notes. This feature includes a notification to participants that the call is being recorded.
Of course, there are additional updates beyond Apple Intelligence. The list is extensive and covers almost the entire system.
- Quick Switch to Front Camera: On the iPhone 16, Camera Control allows us to quickly switch between the front and back cameras.
- Spatial Photo and Video Capture: If we have an iPhone 15 Pro, iOS 18.1 adds a capture feature for taking spatial photos, complementing the existing capability to record spatial videos.
- Hearing Test on AirPods: iOS 18.1 offers a medically validated hearing test in the United States that can be conducted from home.
- Customized Hearing Assistance on AirPods: Based on the hearing test mentioned above, this feature customizes the sound of AirPods in real-time, helping those with mild to moderate hearing loss enjoy optimized sound in any situation.
- Hearing Protection on AirPods: iOS 18.1 minimizes exposure to loud noises in different listening modes.
- RCS Business Messaging: With RCS Business Messaging, it is now possible to communicate directly with businesses using the RCS protocol, facilitating interactions with customer service.
- Search in the App Store: iOS 18.1 incorporates natural language search in the App Store, allowing us to find apps more easily by describing what we need instead of using exact words.
Finally, the update includes improvements that enable sending Game Center invitations from the Contacts app and fixes playback issues in the Podcasts app, with 4K videos, digital car keys, and unexpected restarts on some iPhone 16 models.
While we can already test the iOS 18.2 beta, we can now install this update from Settings > General > Software Update, which will completely transform our iPhone.
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