iOS 18 Update: Key Features and How it Affects iOS developers

Let's start by discussing the new features in iOS 18. This version from Apple is jam-packed with innovations that will increase the functionality, effectiveness, and user-friendliness of your apps. 

Apple's iOS redefines mobile experiences with every iteration, fusing creativity with seamless functionality. It appears as a milestone update, raising expectations with a plethora of new features and improvements meant to improve device performance and user interaction. With its advanced augmented reality features and improved privacy controls, the most recent version of the mobile operating system raises the bar as well as for iOS app development. Let's examine the main improvements and features that make iOS 18 an essential upgrade for enthusiasts of Apple as well as casual users. 

iOS Key Upgrades

New Levels of Customisation and Capability

With iOS 18, users have exciting new options for customising their Home Screens, including the ability to arrange widgets and app icons to create the ideal arrangement on each page or to frame the background. Additionally, users can customise the appearance of widgets and app icons to appear light, dark, or coloured. They can even enlarge app icons to give them a more streamlined appearance. Even more flexibility is added to the Control Center's redesign. By enlarging program icons and widgets and applying a dark or tinted look, users may personalise their experience. 

Strong control groups can be arranged so they're constantly accessible, such as favourites, media playing, Home controls and connectivity, and the new controls gallery with options from other apps. Additionally, users can modify or remove the Lock Screen controls for the first time, as well as access their preferred controls via the Action button.

Photos Get Customisation, a New Collection, and a Unified View

The largest overhaul of photos is made to make it easier for people to find and revisit memorable memories. A more straightforward single view of the original grid is provided, and new collections let users browse content by topics without needing to put it in albums. Additionally, collections can be pinned to maintain easy access to favourites. A fresh carousel view showcases daily updated highlights with your favourite people, pets, locations, and more. Autoplaying content brings libraries to life, enabling users to peruse while savouring nostalgia. The software is customisable because each user has a different photo library. Users can arrange collections, pin collections for easy access, and display their most valued items in the carousel view.

Powerful Ways to Stay Connected in Messages

All-new text effects are added to iMessage, enhancing any letter, word, phrase, or emoji with lively, animated looks to make conversations come to life. By using formatting tools like bold, underlining, italics, and strikethrough, users can more effectively convey their tone. Users can now write messages and schedule their sending for a later time with tapbacks. They also support any emoji or sticker. The Messages app now allows users to text contacts who do not possess an Apple iPhone using RCS, which offers richer media and more reliable group interactions than SMS and MMS.

In iOS 18, satellite messaging is included for scenarios in which cellular and Wi-Fi networks are not accessible. Enables users to send and receive texts, emoticons, and Tapbacks over iMessage and SMS directly from the Messages app. Messages via satellite are powered by the same ground-breaking technology as current iPhone satellite capabilities.3. When using Dynamic Island, users can always determine when they are connecting to a satellite. The message transmitted by satellite is end-to-end encrypted since the platform was designed to safeguard user privacy. 

Enhancements to Mail

Mail is going to roll out additional inbox management and update features later this year. By classifying and arranging incoming emails into Primary for personal and urgent emails, Transactions for confirmations and receipts, Updates for news and social media notifications, and Promotions for marketing emails and coupons, on-device categorisation organises and sorts emails. Additionally, Mail has a new digest view that compiles all of a company's pertinent communications so users can rapidly scan for the content that's most important right now.

Big Updates to Safari

Web content discovery is made even easier with Safari, the world's fastest browser, thanks to enhancements and a redesigned Reader experience. With machine learning, Safari can identify key information on web pages. Readers can listen to a song immediately from an artist's page about that song or album, or by reading the article's overview, they can quickly locate a restaurant, hotel, or monument. A table of contents and synopsis are provided for lengthier articles in the revamped reader, which offers even more opportunities to read articles without being interrupted.

Introducing the Passwords App

The new Passwords app builds on the popularity of Keychain, which was published more than 25 years ago, by enabling users to quickly and easily retrieve their passkeys, Wi-Fi passwords, verification codes, and passwords. Additionally, the program notifies users about common risks, such as frequently used or easily guessable passwords and passwords connected to known data breaches.

Recommend reading: 10 Hacks To Process iOS App Development Project Successful.

New Privacy Features Designed to Empower Users

With features to govern who may see their apps, how contacts are shared, and how their iPhones connect to accessories, iOS 18 offers consumers even more control.

Apps that are hidden or locked give users the assurance that private information—like content and notifications—won't accidentally be viewed by unauthorised parties. In order to increase privacy, users can now lock their apps and move them to a protected, hidden apps folder. Content such as emails or messages within an application that is locked or hidden is concealed from search results, system notifications, and other locations.

iOS 18 gives users additional flexibility by letting them choose which contacts to share with an app. Moreover, developers can now seamlessly pair third-party accessories with iPhones while protecting user privacy by limiting the ability of apps to see all of the devices connected to the user.

Apple Intelligence Transforms the iPhone Experience

With privacy as its primary design principle, Apple Intelligence, which is extensively integrated into iOS 18, creates new opportunities for individuals to enhance their writing and communicate more effectively. With the new systemwide writing features in iOS 18, users can edit, proofread, and summarise information almost anywhere, including in Pages, Notes, Mail, and third-party apps.

New visual possibilities enhance the pleasure of self-expression and communication. Users may quickly create playful images with Image Playground by selecting one of three styles: animation, illustration, or sketch. Easy to use and adaptable, Image Playground can be used as a stand-alone program or as an add-on for other applications, such as Messages.

Users only need to provide a description in Memories in Photos to create the stories they want to view. Apple Intelligence will select the best photos and videos based on their descriptions, create a narrative with chapters centred around identified themes, and compile everything into a cohesive movie with a clear storyline. Additionally, a newly developed Clean Up tool can detect and eliminate distracting background objects from photos without altering the main focus of the image.

 

Siri advances significantly with the help of Apple Intelligence, becoming even more personalised, contextually relevant, and natural. Through texting and voice-over switching, users can interact with Siri in any method that is right at the moment.

Apple raises the bar for AI privacy with Private Cloud Compute, which enables users to choose between on-device processing and larger, server-based models that operate on specialised Apple silicon servers.

Moreover, ChatGPT may be used to read documents and photographs without requiring users to switch between tools because it is integrated with Siri and the system-wide Writing Tools across all Apple platforms.

Additional features in iOS 18 include: 

=> With Apple Maps, users can explore thousands of trails in US national parks and effortlessly create personalized walking itineraries that are available for offline access. Users of Maps can now add personal remarks to each        destination and store their favourite walks in national parks, as well as create bespoke walking routes and locations, in a brand-new Places Library.

=> Game Mode makes gaming more enjoyable and responsive for wireless peripherals like game controllers and AirPods by providing more consistent frame rates, especially during prolonged gameplay sessions.

=> With Apple Pay, users may access instalments from their qualified credit or debit cards and redeem incentives, among other new payment options. Tap to Cash allows users to send and receive Apple Cash simply by holding        two iPhone devices together. Ticketing with Apple Wallet enhances the experience of Six Fans by providing them with access to vital event details like stadium specifications, recommended Apple Music playlists, and more.

=>Even more, users can share control over the music playing on HomePod, Apple TV, or any other Bluetooth-enabled speaker thanks to SharePlay with Apple Music, which enhances the social and entertaining aspects of group     listening.

=>Siri interactions enhance the AirPods experience, making it more practical, and personal. When Siri makes an announcement, users of AirPods Pro (2nd generation) can simply nod yes or softly shake nay. The AirPods Pro        now include Voice Isolation, enhancing call clarity by ensuring the caller's voice comes through clearly, even in noisy or windy conditions. Combined with Personalized Spatial Audio for a more immersive gaming experience,       these improvements provide the best wireless audio latency Apple has ever offered for mobile gaming.

=>Math Notes provides instantaneous solutions for formulas and equations typed in the Notes app. It's easier to call attention to the important elements with the new foldable sections and highlight features. 

=>Users can now easily track their journaling goals with the Journal's brand-new insights view, and easily revisit old entries by searching through and organising them. Journaling time can be recorded as mindful minutes in the      Health app, and users can immediately record their mental state in the Journal. Now, users may use the Journal widget to start entries directly from the Home Screen or Lock Screen, export and print journal entries, and             automatically transcribe audio recordings.

=>Reminders tasks and activities are displayed on the calendar, making it even more useful. Reminders may be created, edited, and completed directly from the Calendar, and the new month view offers a quick summary of      chores and activities.

=>To make it even easier for emergency workers to find vital information, the Medical ID feature in the Health app has been updated. The Health app can help users better understand their data even when pregnant by adjusting and making recommendations depending on changes in their physical and emotional well-being.

=>SOS emergency users can convey important context through recorded media and live video streaming with the help of Live Video. During an emergency call, participating dispatchers may ask users to upload live video or media from their camera roll via a secure connection to help expedite and streamline the assistance process.

=>With the introduction of guest access, the Home app offers customers simple methods to plan guest access times, give guests power over specific smart home accessories, and more. Hands-free unlock with house keys uses Ultra-Wideband technology to enable customers to open compatible entry locks quickly as soon as they are six feet away from their door, making home access simple and effortless. The household app makes it simpler for qualified customers to access, comprehend, and make more informed decisions regarding their household power use with straightforward enhancements to the Energy category. 

=>Those who are hard of hearing or deaf can now enjoy music in a new way thanks to the iPhone's Taptic Engine. Other accessibility updates include the ability to navigate the device with just your eyes thanks to Eye Tracking and Vocal Shortcuts, which enable users to accomplish tasks by customising their sound. 

 

What iOS 18 developers should know: The fundamentals

1. Enhanced Privacy Features: With the release of new tools that provide consumers greater control over their data, Apple is continuing its fight for user privacy. More precise permissions and enhanced transparency in-app tracking are two examples of this.

2. Swift 6: Improved performance, additional language capabilities, and enhanced Objective-C interoperability are all included in the most recent version of Swift. If you haven't already, now is the ideal moment to review your Swift knowledge.

3. ARKit 5: With ARKit 5, augmented reality just became even more awesome. Better facial tracking, enhanced motion capture, and more device compatibility are among the new improvements.

4. Widgets 2.0: With additional customisation choices and interactive features, widgets have been updated. This implies that you can give your users even more captivating experiences.

5. Xcode 13: Numerous new features have been added to the most recent version of Xcode, such as better code completion, debugging tools, and increased support for SwiftUI.

Swift 6: The Future Language

Swift 6, has been released and is a better version of its predecessor. It's time to welcome iOS development's future, which offers enhanced performance and new language features. Among the significant updates are:

• Concurrency: New concurrency features in Swift 6 facilitate the writing of asynchronous programming. Greetings from async/await and farewell to callback purgatory! 
• Improved Error Handling: Swift 6's more capable error handling makes it simpler to develop dependable and secure programs.
• Better Interoperability: The improved Objective-C interoperability of Swift 6 makes it simpler to incorporate legacy code into your new Swift projects.

ARKit 5: Awesomeness that is augmented reality

ARKit 5 has a ton of new capabilities that will elevate your AR encounters. These are a handful of the most noteworthy ones:

• Improved Motion Capture: More precise motion capture is provided by ARKit 5, which facilitates the creation of realistic animations.
• Better Face Tracking: More expressive and realistic facial animations are now possible because of advancements in face tracking.
• Support for More Devices: With the expanded support of ARKit 5, you can now use your AR apps to reach a bigger audience.

Widgets 2.0: More customisation, more fun

Since their debut, widgets have been popular, and iOS 18's Widgets 2.0 takes them to the next level. A few of the new features are as follows:

• Interactive Elements: Users can now interact with your app straight from the home screen by adding interactive features to your widgets. 
• More Customisation Options: With more customisation possibilities available with Widgets 2.0, you can give your consumers distinctive and interesting experiences.
• Improved Performance: Because of their increased efficiency, gadgets will no longer deplete your users' batteries.

Top iOS 18 gotchas: Watch out for these potential hazards

When designing iOS 18, there are a few gotchas to be wary of, just like with any new release. The following list of typical dangers is accompanied by safety tips:

Privacy changes

Although Apple's dedication to consumer privacy is admirable, developers may find it challenging at times. There are even more privacy features with iOS 18 that you should be aware of:

• App Tracking Transparency: Now, users may choose which apps are able to monitor their activities. Make sure your app abides by these new guidelines, or else the App Store may remove it from availability.
• Granular Permissions: Apps can now be given more specific permissions by users. Ensure that your app manages these permissions appropriately, or you risk having a lot of disgruntled users.

Swift 6 migration

It can be difficult to migrate to Swift 6, particularly if your codebase is huge. The following advice could make the transition easier:

• Use the Migration Tool: A migration tool in Xcode 13 can assist you in updating your code to Swift 6. Make use of it!
• Test Thoroughly: After switching to Swift 6, be careful to give your app thorough testing. You might need to address any minor behavioural changes that have occurred.
• Update Dependencies: Verify that every dependency you use is compatible with Swift 6. Some libraries might need to be updated or replaced as a result.

ARKit 5 compatibility

Although ARKit 5 has many new features, there are some compatibility problems as well. This is how to make sure your augmented reality app functions properly on iOS 18:

• Test on Multiple Devices: To make sure your app is compatible with ARKit 5, be sure to test it across a range of devices.
• Optimise Performance: Since augmented reality apps can require a lot of resources, make sure your program is performance-optimised. This means making your 3D models simpler and using efficient motion-tracking methods.

Utilising iOS 18 to its fullest potential: Best practices

After discussing the must-knows and common pitfalls, let's discuss how to make the most of iOS 18. The following are recommended practices to bear in mind:

Embrace SwiftUI

iOS 18 brings even more power to SwiftUI, which is the way iOS programming will go in the future. Here are some pointers for making efficient use of SwiftUI:

• Use Previews: With SwiftUI's preview capability, you can observe real-time updates to your user interface. Make use of it to expedite the development process. 
• Leverage Modifiers: You may quickly and simply customise your UI elements with SwiftUI's modifiers. Utilise them to give your app a clean, unified appearance.
• Combine with UIKit: Even with SwiftUI's strength, UIKit is still simpler to use for some tasks. To get the most out of both worlds, don't be scared to integrate the two frameworks.

Optimise for performance

A fantastic user experience depends on performance. The following advice will help you optimise your app on iOS 18:

• Use Instruments: Performance bottlenecks can be found and your software can be profiled using Xcode's Instruments tool. Utilise it for code optimisation.
• Reduce Memory Usage: Verify that your software makes effective use of memory. This entails preventing memory leaks and discarding useless objects.
• Optimise Network Requests: One of the main causes of performance problems can be network queries. Ensure that your network code is optimised to lower latency and boost responsiveness.

Focus on accessibility

More than ever, accessibility is crucial, and iOS 18 offers additional tools to make your apps more accessible. The suggestions outlined below can aid in improving accessibility:

• Use VoiceOver: To make sure your app is functional for people who are blind or visually impaired, test it using VoiceOver.
• Provide Alternative Text: As with other non-text elements, make sure you include alternate text for photos.
• Support Dynamic Type: Ensure that your application is compatible with dynamic type so that users can customise the font size.

Key Takeaway

It is evident that iOS 18 is brimming with enhancements and new capabilities that will enable you to develop incredible apps. You can give your users strong and captivating experiences by adopting Swift 6, utilising ARKit 5, and utilising Widgets 2.0. To make sure your app functions properly on iOS 18, just be careful to keep an eye out for gotchas and adhere to best practices.

Want to develop the idea for an iOS app? Employ our app developers in Kerala to turn your idea into an impactful and trending application. With expertise in Swift, SwiftUI, and Objective-C, our team creates solid backend solutions and user-friendly interfaces that are customised to meet your unique requirements. Whether you're beginning from scratch or need to improve an already-existing app, we provide fast, high-quality outcomes that meet your objectives. Join forces with us right now to take your iOS app to new heights of popularity!