iOS 18: Treat yourself better

The latest version of Apple’s innovative operating system for the iPhone is here and it has never been more convenient to be an Apple user. The iOS 18 now features improvements and new features, including but not limited to the redesign of the control center, the brand-new passwords app, the new home screen customization options, many upgrades to the messaging app and so many more quality-of-life changes which define the Apple experience!

Apple has introduced RCS Messaging in their latest software update. What does that mean? Well, essentially, RCS is a communication protocol standard that provides services like verified sender information so you will always have a better idea of who’s reaching out to you via SMS, being able to send texts using the internet so can talk to anyone, anywhere if you have access to an internet connection, allowing text to be formatted such as making text bold, italic, etc., animated effects to letters, better media capabilities for image, videos and gifs, and easy to use QR Codes, improving your day-to-day texts a lot more engaging and accessible.

The photo app has also been redesigned and integrated with artificial intelligence so you will have a far easier time searching for specific memories and filtering or flipping between them but that’s not all. The calculator app has been redefined too, meaning you can now use the basic calculator, a scientific calculator and make complex and express math equations and expressions using their new math notes functionality, which means simplifying a lot of otherwise tedious processes for students and people who have to engage in a lot of transactions in their daily lives.

New customization options have been introduced for the home screen and the lock screen so that you can now customize the color, themes and sizes for the apps, adding an extra layer of creativity for all the people who want to make an iPhone their own, which is enhanced by the ability to finally customize the shortcuts on your lock screen so that you no longer have to keep the same torch and camera on your lock screen and you can change it to anything you prefer so busier users, for example, can now access their to-do lists or notes straight from the lock screen.

Accessibility options have also been improved. Eye Tracking makes it possible for people to control iPhones with just their eyes so the next time you’re having lunch and want to click on that YouTube video you’ve been meaning to watch, you no longer need to get your screen greasy. Safari will also make sure to automatically detect and highlight relevant information as you browse, including information such as maps, translations, and links to learn more about what you’re researching at the given time, reducing the effort needed on your part.

Finally, to enhance security and password management, Apple has introduced a new password app that can be used to store password information for Wi-Fis, websites, applications and verification codes, making it easier than ever to access and manage your credentials. You can also lock and hide your apps now! So, if you want to give additional protection to apps containing sensitive information,       you can lock them behind Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. You can also hide your apps in a hidden apps folder which is locked and information stored in these hidden apps won’t appear in other places on your iPhone such as in notifications or the search bar. Additional settings have been added for privacy and security to help you manage how much information you share with your apps giving you more control over how your information is used by developers.