The new face of Apple’s OS
The tech giant is rolling out major upgrades to its software for iPhones, iPads and iWatches... and there’s lots to like
THIS week Apple released huge updates for two of its biggest software platforms – iOS, the software that runs on iPhones and iPads, and watchOS, the power behind the success of the Apple Watch.
New devices might be on the horizon – and check back here next week for full, hands-on reviews of the new iPhone Xs and the Apple Watch Series 4 – but the heart of all Apple devices lies in its software. And these upgrades are good news for old and new devices alike.
So, what’s in store for early adopters? We’ve picked out cool new features on both platforms…
APPLE UNVEILS IOS 12 SPEED DEMON
IOS 12 reverses the trend of previous updates, which always seemed to slow down older devices. Not only is iOS 12 faster on new devices, Apple has also focussed on bringing performance boosts to older iPhones and iPads… right back to the iPhones 5s.
I don’t have a 5s to test on, but going back as far as an iPhone 7, I can see a noticeable difference. Everything feels snappier, and things like launching the camera app are quicker.
REDESIGN AND REFINE
THERE are lots of refinements in lots of stock Apple apps, and these are most noticeable in News, Photos, and Books.
The refinements are all about making the things you want to use most easier to get to. There’s a new tab in Photos – For You, which is where you’ll find all the great collections of photo Memories in your library, plus smart suggestions of who to share them with.
It knows who is in the photos, and offers up their contacts for you to send photos to them. Your contacts can share back images from the same events, so you never miss a thing.
The News redesign brings your chosen news sources closer to hand, so you can dive into a single source if you think the curated feed is missing something.
MEMOJI MAGIC
A HEADLINE magic trick sees a new take on animated emojis – you can now turn your own face (or a cartoonish version of it at least) into an ‘animoji’ that you can animate using your own facial movements (you’ll need an iPhone X).
These animated heads can be used all over the OS, in Messages in particular, to bring some levity to proceedings when your own face just isn’t up to the job.
TIME TO TAKE STOCK
A NEW feature in iOS 12 is Screen Time, which tracks your usage, and offers a report into how you use your phone. It tells you how long you spend in certain categories of app (like social), how long you spend in each individual app, and how many times you pick up your phone each hour.
It’s a real eye-opener and can help you develop a healthier relationship with your device.
AR MAKES THE GRADE
IOS 12 brings a major upgrade to the iPhone’s augmented reality capabilities. It’ll now allow two devices into one augmented reality. So you and a friend could take part in a one-on-one game together, and each see the action from your own perspectives.
The whole things is faster and much more realistic, with better face-tracking and 3D object detection. All this is showcased in a new app, Measure, which allows you to measure objects accurately using augmented reality.
These might be the headlines, but there are many more improvements in iOS 12 – there’s notification grouping, so you can see messages from the same apps all together. The Do Not Disturb functionality – which silences notifications according to your rules – now offers more control.
In short, even if iSO 12 just brought the speed improvements, it would be a no-brainer upgrade. With everything else that’s included, you’d actually be foolish not to download it right now. APPLE Watch is turning into Apple’s most interesting device – there’s more to improve on than in the already-nearperfect iOS. Here are some key upgrades.
WORKOUT DETECTIVE
IF you start running, or doing any other kind of workout, the Apple Watch can
detect, the watch will ask you if you’re working out. If you say yes, it will log the activity from when you started. It’s a simple but smart upgrade.
WALKIE-TALKIE
WALKIE-TALKIE is a new fun app that offers a new way to communicate with others that have an Apple Watch. It shows a list of contacts who have an Apple Watch. Select them and you are able to send a simple short recorded message. They can respond in the same way. It’s a bit like texting... with your voice. Or like and old-fashioned walkie-talkie.
SIRI SMARTS
SIRI is smarter in watchOS 5 – the Siri watch face uses machine learning to predict the kind of things you might want to see based on your past behaviour.
It’s clever, and useful. And you no longer have to keep saying “Hey, Siri” like an idiot to get Siri to listen to you – just raise your wrist and the mere act of talking sets her off listening…
RUNNING WITH IT
IF you’re a runner, you need this update – there are so many insightful improvements to the running workout session that you’ll wonder how you did without out.
It tracks your rolling pace (your speed over the last mile or kilometre, constantly updated as you run), and also tracks your cadence (how many steps you take per mile or kilometre). It’s all information you can use to improve your technique, and bring those times down.
CASTING AROUND
APPLE’S Podcasts app makes its debut in watchOS 5. You can download and playback your favourite podcasts, synched with your phone’s Podcasts app so all your favourites are already there, and your progress matches up too. Perfect for those longer runs…
■ Find out more at apple.com/uk. Your device should prompt you when the iOS 12 and watchOS 5 updates are available for your device. To upgrade manually, visit General – Software Update in the Setting app on your iPhone.