Apple introduced its next major mobile operating system – iOS 12 at WWDC 2018 keynote. iOS 12 comes with tons of new features and some of them are the ones that had been on our wish-list for ages. Some of the prominent new iOS 12 features include Group notifications, Granular Do Not Disturb controls, Groups FaceTime, among others. iOS 12, once released, will be available free of cost for the compatible iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch devices. Performance and also seen huge improvements in iOS 12.
List of New Features in iOS 12
Here is a detailed rundown of all the new features of iOS 12:
iOS 12 will feel faster on older devices
Apple is working hard on the performance aspect of iOS 12 so that it the iPhones and iPad may feel faster and more responsive. The company is making iOS 12 available for all the devices that supported iOS 11, which also includes 2013 iPhone 5s. After tweaking the CPU performance burst, the company has managed to provide the right amount of CPU power at the right time on older devices. After such tweaks in iOS 12, the apps will launch 40% faster than the iOS 11, the keyboard will appear 50% faster, and the camera will launch 70% faster than the iOS 11.
Grouped Notifications
Notifications in iOS 12 have also seen an overhaul. The company has introduced something that we have wanted for a long time: grouped notifications! Starting with iOS 12, users can group notifications not just by apps, but by conversations, threads, and context as well. A simple tap on a group will show you all the notifications filed under that group. A single swipe will dismiss all the notification in a group.
Apple has paid special attention towards the quality of notifications in iOS 12. You can choose to never show a notification on your lock screen or turn it off entirely. Even Siri will suggest you turn off notifications for the apps that you don’t even use.
Do Not Disturb During Bedtime
Apple has added some new features in iOS 12 that aim at helping you curb your smartphone usage. “Do Not Disturb During Bedtime” is one such feature which stops showing you the notifications when you are trying to sleep at night. It will no longer light up the screen when you get a notification. All you see is a dark lock screen when you tap to wake it up. In the morning, the notifications will still be there but hidden, a simple tap on the screen will bring them forward. You can choose when “Do Not Disturb During Bedtime” ends: whether you leave a specific location or after a pre-set amount of time.
Screen Time
The Screen Time feature of iOS 12 will gives you summary every week showing you how you used your iPhone over the week. The summary includes the total time spent on your device, which app you have been using and for how long, how often you picked up your iPhone and in what context, which apps are sending you the most notifications, and so on. All the details are synced across all your iOS devices.
App Limits and Downtime
If you want to use an app less, iOS 12 offers app limits functionality. You can set how long you can use an app such as Facebook and iOS 12 will tell you as you’ve started to reach that set limit. You can grant an extension if you want, otherwise, the app is off limits for the rest of the day. Parents can use this feature to limit the iPhone and iPad usage by kids. They can choose apps, movies, and websites that are appropriate.
Downtime feature of iOS 12 will automatically lock your out of almost all apps on your iPhone or iPad if it is turned on. Only the essential app such as dialer will be available. This is a great way to get out of the habit of using addictive apps at night.
New and Improved Animoji
iOS 12 new features also include a set of new Animoji characters. Apple has added four new Animoji characters in iOS 12:Â Ghost, Koala, Tiger, and Trex. Animojis are now capable of detecting your tongue no matter which character you’re using. Animojis in iOS 12 also features wink detection.
Memoji
Apple has introduced Bitmoji like feature called Memoji in iOS 12. The Memoji is basically a 3D version of you that can mimic your moves and expressions. Starting with iOS 12, the iPhone users will be able to create their own Animoji. The feature allows you to cheese from a diverse set of skin tones, eyes color, hair, and more to create an Animoji character that closely resembles the real you. It will only be available on iPhone X.
FaceTime Group Calling
iOS features a huge upgrade for the FaceTime. Group calling feature comes to FaceTime with iOS 12. It allows you to add up to 32 people into a single FaceTime video call. The company has also integrated the video calling feature in the Messages app allowing you to switch to a group video chat from a group chat. All the participants appear in floating tiles and when someone speaks, their tiles becomes larger automatically. Double tapping someone’s tile in the call brings them front and center. FaceTime group calling also supports filters, stickers, and other effects.
All New Measure App
With the new Measure app in iOS 12, you can measure the distance between two objects or lines along surfaces and more. Instead of using measuring tapes, you can simply use your iPhone to check the measurements of something.
Apple’s new Measure app lets you measure the distance between two objects, lines along surfaces and more. Instead of relying on measuring tape, for example, you can just use your phone to check the dimensions of something. We have seen similar apps from 3rd party developers, but this is the first time Apple is including one natively inside the iOS 12. The app relies on AR to function.
Augmented reality
Apple introduced Augmented Reality (AR) with iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus last year. It allows its user to superimpose electronically generated objects on top of a real-time view of the real world. With iOS 12, Apple has introduced a new file format called “USDZ” that brings AR effects into other applications. As a use-case, Apple imagines a shopping site for Fender, the guitar maker, where one could be out to shop for a new guitar and might want to see what it looks like in real life. Tap a button and the guitar magically appears rendered in front of you, as if it is physically sitting in your living room.
Apple also announces ARKit 2 which allows multiple users to interact with augmented reality simultaneously. It means two users will be able to play a game of chess on a coffee table from their own iPhone or iPad for controls.
Siri Shortcuts
New features of iOS 12 also include a new “Shortcuts” app. Using this app, users can pre-define Siri queries and use them to automatically launch apps. For instance, you can say, “Help me relax,” and Siri can start playing music and dim the lights. Or you can tell Siti that you want to order groceries, and it can launch a grocery delivery app. Siri will learn from your daily routine, so if it learns that you always order coffee in the morning, it can suggest you order coffee ahead of the time. If you are getting late for the meeting, it can suggest you message the meeting organizer that you’re behind the schedule.
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