Apple unveiled its latest moves in the AI product competition at the Worldwide Developers Conference on June 10, along with showcasing its upcoming operating systems:
- iOS 18.
- iPad OS 18.
- macOS Sequoia.
- VisionOS 2 for Apple Vision Pro.
The full releases of iOS 18, iPad OS 18, and macOS Sequoia are scheduled for fall 2024.
iOS 18 makes cosmetic changes and adds developer options
iOS 18 introduces Android-like customization features. Users can adjust the position and color of app widgets, and icons will have personalized Dark Mode color schemes. The Control Center will have a fresh look, with a continuous swipe-down gesture from Control Center to media and other apps.
Developer betas for iOS 18 are now available, with public betas set for later this month and official releases in the fall.
SEE: iOS 18 will come with Apple Intelligence generative AI.
iOS 18 also includes new privacy options for hiding and locking apps. Users can utilize Face ID, Touch ID, or their passcode to unlock locked apps or access the Hidden Apps folder, allowing them to control app accessibility when sharing their phone.
iOS 18 adds device pairing options for developers
Apple is introducing new privacy settings for apps that require access to contacts or other devices. Users will have the ability to manage which contacts an app can view. Developers can specify the device pairing options they want to provide when pairing devices on a network.
SEE: What do the 2024 iPads offer for professionals?
macOS 15 Sequoia adds AI, some quality-of-life perks
The upcoming macOS, Sequoia, will feature similar customization enhancements as iOS 18. It will incorporate Apple Intelligence, providing generative AI capabilities like email summarization in key Mac applications such as Mail and Pages.
Continuity, a feature that facilitates device sharing, will offer improved functionality, including the ability to control an iPhone from a Mac and interact with apps seamlessly. Sequoia also includes convenient quality-of-life upgrades, such as automatically tiling windows when dragged to the screen edge for better visibility.
Apple Vision Pro gets visionOS 2 and international releases
The Apple Vision Pro headset will soon be available globally, starting with China, Japan, and Singapore on June 28, followed by Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and the U.K. on July 12.
The new OS for the headset will introduce enhanced developer APIs, allowing users to pin spatial content to physical locations for various business applications. Professional photographers will benefit from new workflows for creating 3D-like “spatial” content for Vision Pro.
Additionally, Mac Virtual Display will expand the screen area on Vision Pro to panoramic 4K resolution, enhancing productivity for users.
