Breaking: iOS 18.4

Siri’s Transformation in iOS 18.4

New App Actions and Intents

In the upcoming iOS 18.4 update, Siri is set to undergo a significant transformation, particularly in its ability to perform new actions within Apple and third-party apps without the need to open them. This upgrade is part of Apple’s ongoing effort to enhance user experience by streamlining interactions with the device. The App Actions and Intents feature will allow users to execute complex tasks swiftly and efficiently, making the overall user experience more seamless.

User Benefits

The primary benefit of this feature is the immediate access to actions within apps, which can significantly enhance productivity. For instance, a user can ask Siri to schedule a meeting in the Calendar app or send a message in the Messages app without navigating through the app itself. This functionality will save considerable time and effort for users, who can now manage their tasks and communications more efficiently.

Personal Context Knowledge

Siri is being equipped with the ability to understand and utilize personal data, such as texts and calendar events, to provide more personalized assistance. This feature, known as Personal Context Knowledge, will enable Siri to offer contextually relevant help, drawing from the user’s past interactions and data stored on the device. For example, if a user has a meeting scheduled, Siri can proactively remind the user or even suggest ways to manage the meeting more effectively.

Privacy Considerations

While the personal context knowledge feature is designed to enhance user assistance, privacy remains a critical concern. Apple has emphasized that it will take stringent measures to protect user data and ensure that privacy is not compromised. Users will have the option to opt-in and control the types of personal data that Siri can access, providing a balance between functionality and privacy.

Onscreen Awareness

Another notable enhancement is Onscreen Awareness, which allows Siri to recognize and interact with the content displayed on the iPhone screen. This feature enables users to ask Siri to perform actions related to the current screen, such as sending a message based on a specific email or editing a document directly. This onscreen awareness will significantly improve the user experience by making interactions with the device more intuitive and responsive.

Practical Applications

For example, if a user is browsing through a document and needs to make a call regarding the information displayed on the screen, Siri can be asked to place the call without the user needing to switch apps. This kind of interactivity can save time and enhance the overall efficiency of using the device in various scenarios, from work tasks to personal activities.

Notifications Overhaul

Priority Notifications

One of the significant improvements coming in iOS 18.4 is the overhaul of the notifications system, primarily focused on the introduction of Priority Notifications. This feature is designed to prioritize and summarize critical alerts, making it easier for users to focus on the most important notifications. The priority notifications will appear at the top of the stack, allowing users to identify and address urgent messages and alerts more efficiently.

New Notification Management

This new system will categorize notifications based on their importance and relevance, summarizing non-critical notifications and highlighting priority notifications. The goal is to reduce the clutter and noise associated with frequent alerts, enabling users to manage their notifications with greater ease and precision.

Implications for User Productivity

The introduction of priority notifications and summarized alerts is expected to have a significant impact on user productivity. By quickly identifying and addressing urgent messages, users can focus more effectively on their tasks without the distraction of non-critical notifications. This feature is particularly beneficial for individuals who rely heavily on their smartphones for work and personal communication.

Streamlined Alerts

With the new notification management system, users will be able to scan their notifications more quickly, saving time and reducing cognitive overload. Summarized notifications can provide a quick overview of less critical messages, allowing users to address them later if necessary, without the immediate need to check each alert.

Customization Options

Users will also have the ability to customize their notification settings, tailoring the system to their specific needs and preferences. This customization includes setting priority levels for different apps and types of notifications, ensuring that the user experience is tailored to individual requirements and workflows.

Emoji and Image Playground Enhancements

Alongside the significant updates to Siri and notifications, iOS 18.4 will also introduce several enhancements to the emoji and Image Playground features. These updates are designed to enhance the creativity and expressiveness of users, offering new tools and options for personalization and communication.

New Emoji Characters

Apple has announced the addition of new emoji characters, expanding the range of expressive and communicative possibilities. The new emojis to be introduced in iOS 18.4 include:

• Face with bags under eyes
• Fingerprint
• Leafless tree
• Root vegetable
• Harp
• Shovel
• Splatter

Sketch Style in Image Playground

Image Playground, introduced in iOS 18.2, is a powerful AI tool that allows users to create and modify images using text prompts and a variety of built-in tools. iOS 18.4 will introduce a new Sketch Style that can be applied to both new creations and existing images in the user’s library. This style adds a more casual and free-form approach to image creation, allowing users to generate and edit images in a sketch-like format.

Robot Vacuums in the Home App

In addition to these new features, iOS 18.4 is set to introduce support for robot vacuums in the Home app. This addition will allow users to control and manage their robot vacuums directly from their iPhone or iPad, enabling them to start cleaning, set schedules, and monitor the cleaning status of their robot vacuums without the need for separate apps or additional devices.

New Apple Intelligence Languages

Lastly, Apple has announced the expansion of Apple Intelligence to support more global languages in the coming months. With iOS 18.4, Apple Intelligence will support several new languages including French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese (simplified), and localized English for Singapore and India. This expansion aims to make the sophisticated AI features available to a broader international audience, enhancing the global user experience.

New Built-in Emoji

Expanded Emoji Library

The upcoming iOS 18.4 release for iPhones introduces a significant expansion to the existing emoji library, bringing a fresh set of expressive characters that cater to a broader range of human emotions and experiences. Among the new additions, the “exhausted face” emoji stands out as a particularly apt addition, reflecting the modern digital user’s sentiment toward the relentless pace of life and work in the digital age. These new emojis are designed to enhance the visual language of communication, allowing users to convey complex feelings and ideas more succinctly and vividly.

User Engagement

The introduction of these new emojis not only diversifies the visual vocabulary available to users but also enhances the overall user experience by providing more options for self-expression and creativity. Users can expect a richer, more nuanced communication experience, making digital conversations more engaging and expressive. The addition of these new emojis is part of Apple’s ongoing commitment to staying at the forefront of digital communication trends, reflecting the evolving needs and preferences of its global user base.

Sketch Style in Image Playground

Creative Possibilities

Apple’s Image Playground, a feature introduced in iOS 18.2, is set to undergo a significant upgrade with the introduction of a Sketch style. This new feature will allow users to transform existing images or create new ones with a more artistic, hand-drawn look, adding a new dimension to the creative capabilities of the app. This feature promises to unlock new creative possibilities for users who wish to infuse their digital imagery with a personal artistic touch, making it an invaluable tool for both novice and seasoned artists.

User Integration

Users will be able to seamlessly integrate the new Sketch style into their existing image library and use it to create entirely new artworks within the Image Playground. This integration will enable users to apply the new style to photos and graphics directly from their device, streamlining the creative process. The integration of the Sketch style into Image Playground is expected to be a significant addition for users seeking to enhance their personal and professional projects with a touch of artistic flair.

Home App and Language Support

Robot Vacuums in the Home App

Device Control

With the release of iOS 18.4, Apple is bringing its Home app into the future by integrating support for robot vacuums. This new feature will allow users to control their robot vacuums directly from the Home app, providing a more seamless home automation experience. Users will be able to start, stop, or schedule cleaning sessions for their robot vacuums, and even check the status of their devices, all from their iPhone or iPad. Furthermore, Siri integration means that users can manage their robot vacuums with simple voice commands.

Integration Benefits

The integration of robot vacuums into the Home app brings several practical advantages. It centralizes the management of smart home devices, making it easier for users to interact with all their connected devices in one place. This not only simplifies the interface but also enhances the overall convenience of using smart home technology. Additionally, the integration with Siri adds a layer of hands-free control, making it more convenient for users to manage their cleaning routines without having to physically interact with their devices.

New Apple Intelligence Languages

Language Expansion

Apple Intelligence, Apple’s AI-driven feature, will see a significant expansion in its supported languages with the release of iOS 18.4. This expansion includes languages such as Chinese, English (India), English (Singapore), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, and Vietnamese. These new languages will be supported starting in April, marking a substantial step forward in Apple’s efforts to make its technology more accessible and relevant to a global audience.

Global Reach

The inclusion of these additional languages in Apple Intelligence significantly broadens the global reach of Apple’s technology, making it a more inclusive and user-friendly experience. This expansion reflects Apple’s commitment to fostering a more connected and multilingual digital world, where users can enjoy the benefits of Apple’s advanced AI features regardless of their location or primary language. By enhancing language support, Apple is positioning itself to serve a wider demographic and cater to the diverse needs of its global user base.

Beta and Future Developments

Beta Testing and Feedback

Developer Beta

The fourth developer beta version of iOS 18.4 has been released to developers, offering them the opportunity to test and provide feedback on the new features and changes. This version includes a range of updates and improvements, with a focus on refining the user experience and addressing any bugs or issues that may arise. Developer beta testers play a critical role in ensuring that the final product is both polished and reliable, providing a robust and error-free experience for end-users.

Public Beta Availability

Following the release of the developer beta, a public beta version of iOS 18.4 is set to be rolled out, allowing users to test the new features and provide feedback directly to Apple. Public beta testers are essential in providing real-world usage scenarios, helping Apple identify and rectify any issues that may not have been addressed in the developer beta phase. This inclusive approach to beta testing ensures that the final version of iOS 18.4 will meet the expectations and needs of a wide range of users.

Future iOS 18.4 Features

Visual Intelligence

Visual Intelligence, an integral part of the upcoming iOS 18.4, will be integrated into the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 series, offering users a new level of visual processing and analysis. This feature, available through Control Center, the Action button, and Shortcuts, will provide users with enhanced visual search capabilities and more intuitive interaction with visual content. Visual Intelligence promises to be a pivotal addition, bringing a new layer of intelligence to the user interface and enhancing overall user experience.

Additional Features

Other notable features introduced in the iOS 18.4 beta versions include over 50 new features and changes. These updates encompass a range of functionalities and improvements, such as redesigned CarPlay interfaces, enhanced Priority Notifications powered by Apple Intelligence, a new Apple News+ Food recipes service, and mood-based music shortcuts in Control Center. These features represent a diverse set of enhancements aimed at improving the daily user experience and offering more personalized and intuitive functionalities to iPhone users.