Apple on Wednesday announced iOS 12 will be released for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch users on Sept. 17. The announcement came before Apple announced a trio of new iPhones: The iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR.

The update, first announced in June, focuses on performance improvements, particularly for older iOS devices. Other notable features in iOS 12 include grouped notifications, changes to Do Not Disturb, and the ability for users to program Siri to carry out a series of tasks.

Using a new Shortcuts app in iOS 12, users can link a series of tasks such as lock the front door, turn on a lamp, begin a playlist, and send a message to a loved one with a single Siri command when leaving for work, for example. And, for the first time, third-party apps can integrate with Siri through Shortcuts for tasks like ordering a cup of coffee on your commute.

Starting in iOS 12, notifications are now grouped based on the app, instead of in a never-ending chronological stream. Apple also added the ability to change whether or not an app's notifications show on the lock screen, or at all, directly from an alert.

Screen Time is also making its debut with iOS 12. The feature aims to bring attention to how much time users are spending on a particular device -- or a series of devices. Screen Time also doubles as a means for parental controls to limit which apps a child can access, and when the device can be used overall.

FaceTime was originally supposed to receive its biggest update ever, adding the ability for up to 32 people to video chat at the same time. However, during beta testing, Apple removed the feature and stated group FaceTime calls would eventually launch in a future iOS 12 update.

Another improvement coming in iOS 12 is to the Messages app is Memoji. Similar to Animoji, Memoji are limited to the iPhone X, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR. Instead of lions or other animated objects, users can create a life-like cartoon character of him or herself. Users can then record videos or take photos using the Memoji, and send it via the Messages app.

SOURCE ZDNet:

I'm getting a lot of questions about the iOS 12 beta. Let me answer some of them here.

Q: There's a hack floating around the internet on how to get the iOS 12 beta today. Does it work? Is it safe?

A: I presume you mean this (or something similar). I can confirm that those tricks do work, and don't seem to do anything nefarious. But as to whether you should do it or not, that's down to you. If in doubt, sign up for the paid developer program, or wait for the public beta.

Q: Is iOS 12 stable?

A: It's a beta, so I expect instabilities and for things to be broken. That said, so far I'm not finding it to be too bad for such an early beta. But if you're expecting iOS 11 levels of stability at this stage, forget it.

Q: Is iOS 12 buggy?

A: Yup. That's why it's a beta.

Q: What's responsiveness like?

A: Awful, but this is a beta?

Q: Has Apple fixed the screen lags and flickers?

A: Nope.

Q: On older hardware, how would you rate performance?

A: On a zero to 10 scale, going from unbearable to awesome, I'd have to say that the iOS 12 beta hovers around a 2 now, whereas the same hardware running iOS 11 felt closer to a 4 or 5.

Q: Is iOS 12 faster than iOS 11 on older hardware?

A: I hate to comment on performance in such an early beta, but since Apple bought this up at WWDC 2018 last week, I'll make some broad comments.

Benchmarking suggests a performance increase.

In the real-world, most apps feel laggy on the iPhone 6 Plus I've been using primarily for testing.

Q: What's your favorite feature?

A: Grouped notifications on the lock screen.

Q: Has Screen Time helped you reduce notifications or changed the way you use your iPhone?

A: I've got my notifications pretty locked down already to the point where about 90 percent are things I actually want to see a notification for, so while there's room for tightening them up, I don't think it's that's great. As for changing the way I use my iPhone, I don't consider myself a "normal user," and as such don't think I'm the best person to comment on this.

Q: If I install the iOS 12 beta and hate it, can I roll back to iOS 11?

A: Yes. You just delete the iOS 12 beta software profile found in Settings > General > Profiles.

Q: Should I run iOS 12 beta?

A: If you've got an older iPhone you can throw it onto to play with, why not. If your only iPhone is also your daily driver, then I'd say if you have to ask that sort of question, my answer is going to be a resounding "no." At least wait for the public beta.

Q: Does iOS 12 fix [insert some issue existing in iOS 11]?

A: I got some many questions like this, and the best answer that I can give at this stage is that in terms of iOS bugs, iOS 12 doesn't seem to move the ball forward that much compared to the latest iOS 11 release.

SOURCE BY ZDNet

Apple's annual developer conference, WWDC 2018, kicks off today with a keynote presentation from Tim Cook and co, and we'll be reporting live from the event at the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, California.

The WWDC 2018 keynote will start at 10am PDT, 1pm EDT, 6pm BST, or Tuesday 5 at 3am AEST if you're in Australia.

You can follow all the announcements, as they happen, right here with our Apple WWDC 2018 live blog, updated constantly as we sit, watch, listen and absorb the all the latest news from the Cupertino-based firm.

Apple WWDC 2018 live blog

All times in PDT (Pacific Daylight Time)

02:00 - Apple has reduced the amount of new hardware it announces at WWDC, but last year we still got our first glimpse at the HomePod as well as the iPad Pro 12.9 and iPad Pro 10.5 - so we're keeping our fingers crossed for new hardware this time around as well.

What would we really love to see? Well, the long-rumored iPhone SE 2 would be a good start.

01:00 - Tim Cook will be tucked up in bed, dreaming - we hope - about all the wonderful iOS 12 and macOS 10.14-related treats he'll be announcing later today. 

While we let Mr. Cook enjoy his slumber, why not check out what you can expect from today's keynote and the whole of the WWDC 2018 week.

SOURCE BY TechRadar

With Apple expected to reveal some of the big features of iOS 12 in a couple of weeks' time, there's some advance news on what one of those features might be: the ability to use your iPhone as a secure door key for a hotel room, thanks to the magic of Near Field Communication (NFC).

That's just one of the potential uses of the technology, which is being opened up to developers in iOS 12, according to The Information. Apps not made by Apple were given a limited amount of access to the iPhone NFC chip with iOS 11, but apparently, a lot of the restrictions are going to be lifted, letting developers build more advanced features.

Like, for example, tapping on your hotel room door lock to get inside (something you can already do with an Apple Watch). The NFC chip is currently used for Apple Pay, and it could also be used to let you into your car or to pay for your ride on public transit.

Which phones will get it?

The new functionality is reportedly going to be announced at this year's Apple's developer conference, WWDC 2018, which gets underway on June 4. The Information says Apple employees have already been using the new unlock capabilities at the company's headquarters in Cupertino.

NFC chips have been included in every iPhone since the iPhone 6 from 2014, so as long as your phone isn't any older than that, you'll be able to take advantage of whatever new features Apple has planned. It looks like iOS 12 won't make it to the iPhone 5S anyway, which will be left stuck on iOS 11.

We will, of course, bring you all the news from WWDC as it happens the week after next. The rumors are that Apple is going to focus on reliability and stability this time around so there may not be too many major features to talk about.

SOURCE BY

The iOS 12 release date is the next big update for your iPhone and iPad now that everyone has iOS 11.3, likely the last update with a lot of front-facing features. 

We're expecting iOS 12 to debut June 4 at WWDC 2018. That shouldn't surprise you by now – Apple launches its big iOS update at the same time every year. 

Its new software features, however, are always filled with some unexpected and exciting news. We fully expect groundbreaking ideas, but also a healthy dose iOS 11 fixes given our many, many ongoing iOS 11 problems.

With the launch of iPhone X last year, the theoretical iPhone X2 release date happening later in 2018 and, in between, the Pencil-compatible new iPad 2018 launching into more hands, Apple seems poised to make more big changes.

Here's our list of what we expect from iOS 12, given leaks and rumors about the next big mobile operating system update for the iPhone and iPad.

Cut to the chase

iOS 12 release date

The iOS 12 release date is June 4, 2018. At least, that's when we first expect to see the changes Apple is making to its mobile software during its WWDC 2018 keynote.

That's about two months away. Apple typically announces its new iOS update during this developers conference and issues the first developer beta within the next week. It also issues a public beta, previously also launched in June, for every non-developer willing to test it out.

Apple needs these betas more than ever for iOS 12, as it's been plagued with so many iOS 11 problems. The company is likely to continue with the same beta rollout schedule since it values this feedback from so many users.

The actual iOS 12 release date for everyone else is expected to be in September, right as the iPhone 9 and maybe the iPhone X2 launch. We don't yet know the names of Apple's next phones, but rumors point to a cheaper version of the iPhone X with an LCD screen and an iterative update by the way of the X2.

iOS 12 to focus on reliability over big changes.

"iOS 12 just works," maybe Apple's big message about its next iPhone update, as it's reportedly focusing on reliability and shelving many exciting features.

There have been so many glitches and bugs with the current mobile operating system that the team said to be working on the software allegedly got a directive to drop refreshes to the Camera, Mail, and Photos app to work on stabilization. We may also miss out on a planned home screen redesigned.

This is both good and bad news if you were looking forward to iOS 12. There may be fewer front-facing features, but your iPhone may reset less. It's hard to argue with that.

iOS 12 apps and macOS together at last

One of the biggest new iOS 12 features may actually be for your computer: Apple may bring first and third-party iOS apps to your Mac computer. Why can't you control your smart home with the Home app via that all-powerful iMac Pro? It's a ridiculous notion.

Apple is rumored to be allowing developers to expand their app ecosystem to the forthcoming macOS 10.14 update. Apple's own apps, like Home, are also said to be finally making the jump, according to Bloomberg.

More Animojis in more places (like iPad)

Whether you demanded it or vehemently opposed it, Apple is due to bring more Animojis to iOS 12 for use with the iPhone X Face ID camera. The navigation of these character masks should get easier too, according to Bloomberg.

Apple's Animoji character may make two jumps. First, the natural jump to FaceTime for video chats behind a virtual panda, robot and poop mask. Second to what may be a new iPad Pro 2018 with a Face ID camera. We've seen some evidence of an updated iPad recently, so that makes sense.

Here are more features we wish were coming to iOS 12...

What we want to see

While nothing is known about iOS 12 yet we have a clear idea of some of the things we want to see, such as the following.

1. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth toggles that work properly

Control Center has been improved for iOS 11, but one thing we’re not such fans of is the fact that you can’t actually turn off Wi-Fi or Bluetooth from it. 

Tap either toggle and your device will disconnect from Wi-Fi networks and Bluetooth accessories, but won’t actually turn off their radios.

There are good reasons for this, as it ensures accessories like the Apple Pencil and Apple Watch 3 will continue to work, as well as features such as AirDrop and AirPlay, but there are also plenty of reasons you might want to fully disable them.

Currently to do that you have to head to the main Settings screen, so in iOS 12 we’d like there to at least be an option to have proper ‘off’ toggles in Control Center - perhaps with a harder 3D Touch?

2. Wishlist returned to the App Store

The App Store has been overhauled as part of iOS 11, and for the most part, it’s for the better, but one feature has been killed off in the process, namely wish lists.

Previously, if you saw an app or game you liked the look of but didn’t want to buy it then and there (perhaps because the price was high or you were using cellular data) you could add it to your wish list so you wouldn’t forget about it.

You can’t do that anymore, and nor can you see your old wish list, so good luck remembering anything you’ve added. It was a handy feature and we’d like to see it – along with everything we added to it – returned in iOS 12.

3. Camera controls in the camera app

People often talk about how intuitive iOS is, and for the most part, they’re right, but there are some aspects which really aren’t - namely the camera controls, or rather their location.

If you’ve not used iOS before you’d expect to find them in the camera app, but some, including video resolution, file formats and whether or not to show a grid, are instead on a submenu of the main Settings screen, meaning you have to actually leave the camera app and make several additional taps to change them.

It also means that some users may not even know they exist, especially since some controls are housed in the app, so you might reasonably assume that they all are. We really want to see this changed for iOS 12.

4. A movable back button

When moving around apps in iOS you’ll often want to go back to a previous screen, and as there’s no hardware back button you instead have to tap a tiny option in the top left corner of the display.

This isn’t ideal if you’re right-handed, as it can be a bit of a stretch when using a larger device such as an iPhone 8 Plus, so we’d like to see its position become customizable in iOS 12.

5. More powerful Files

Files promised to be a file explorer and manager for iOS, bringing it closer to a desktop experience, or at least to Android levels of control. But in reality, the first time you open Files you probably won’t see much of anything.

You can connect cloud drives to it, but anything locally stored won’t be visible unless you manually save it to Files. It makes the app a bit confusing and clunky and means you never have a true view of your system’s files and folders. 

For iOS 12 we’d like to see it turned into a proper file manager.

6. More Control Center customization

With iOS 11 Apple has let you pick what you see in Control Center, but its selection isn’t comprehensive. 

We’d love the power to add any setting or app shortcut we want, and also to remove the likes of music controls and screen mirroring, which currently you can’t.

7. System-wide autofill

Password managers are a fast, secure way to log into your various apps and accounts. Or, they’re secure anyway, and on most devices, they’re fast, but not always on iOS.

That’s because for a password manager to autofill the login fields of an app, the app’s developer has to have manually enabled it, which few have.

Apple has somewhat improved things by adding a ‘Password Autofill For Apps’ feature to iOS 11, which does exactly what the name suggests, but only for passwords, you’ve stored with Apple.

Apps still can’t tap into your favorite password manager automatically, so the first time you log in to them you’ll have to either type out your username and password manually or copy and paste.

On a computer or Android phone, the password manager experience is seamless. On iOS it’s anything but, so we want this fixed for iOS 12.

SOURCE BY