Apple Released iOS 18.4 Beta 1

iOS 18.4 Beta 1

iOS 18.4 Beta 1: A Deep Dive into the Latest Features

Apple has just released the first developer beta of iOS 18.4, and it's packed with exciting new features and improvements.¹ While some highly anticipated Apple Intelligence updates seem to be delayed, this beta still offers a glimpse into the future of iOS. Let's explore the key highlights:

1. Priority Notifications: AI-Powered Notification Management

iOS 18.4 introduces "Priority Notifications," a new feature that leverages Apple Intelligence to intelligently prioritize your notifications.³ By analyzing the content and context of your notifications, iOS can identify the most important ones and highlight them on your Lock Screen. This ensures that you never miss critical alerts, even amidst a sea of less urgent notifications.⁴

2. Apple News+ Food: A Feast for Food Lovers

Apple News+ subscribers are in for a treat with the addition of a dedicated "Food" section.⁵ This new section will feature a curated collection of recipes, articles, and stories from top food publishers.⁶ Whether you're a seasoned chef or just looking for some culinary inspiration, Apple News+ Food has something to offer everyone.

3. Image Playground Sketch Style: Unleashing Your Creativity

Image Playground, Apple's AI-powered image generation tool, gets a new "Sketch" style in iOS 18.4.⁷ This new style joins the existing "Animation" and "Illustration" styles, giving you even more creative options for generating unique images.⁸

4. Ambient Music Control Center Toggles: Your Personal Soundscape

iOS 18.4 brings enhanced control over Ambient Music in Apple Music.⁹ You can now add dedicated toggles to your Control Center for different Ambient Music playlists, such as "Chill," "Productivity," "Sleep," and "Wellbeing." This allows you to quickly access and customize your preferred soundscape for any occasion.

5. Podcasts App Widgets: Easy Access to Your Favorite Shows

Podcast enthusiasts will appreciate the new Podcasts app widgets in iOS 18.4. These widgets allow you to quickly access your library and shows right from your Home Screen.

6. Genmoji Button: A More Prominent Way to Express Yourself

The Genmoji button in the emoji keyboard has been made larger and more prominent, making it easier for you to create and use custom emojis.

7. Default App Categories: More Customization Options

Apple continues to expand the number of default app categories that you can customize. In iOS 18.4, you can now set a default Translate app in the United States and a default Navigation app in the European Union.¹⁰

8. Mail App Enhancements: Email Organization Made Easy

The Mail app in iOS 18.4 can now automatically organize and sort your emails into different categories, such as "Promotions," "Primary," "Transactions," and "Updates." This helps you to keep your inbox organized and prioritize important emails.

9. Apple Vision Pro App: Exploring the World of Spatial Computing

iOS 18.4 includes a new app for Apple Vision Pro, which will be available on iPhone after updating to iOS 18.4.¹¹ This app allows you to explore the world of spatial computing and discover new apps and experiences for Apple Vision Pro.

10. Other Notable Changes

In addition to the major features listed above, iOS 18.4 also includes a number of smaller tweaks and additions, such as:

Two new Australian voices for Siri
New Shortcuts actions for the Messages app
Design tweaks to Control Center
New Library and Shows widgets for the Podcasts app
Enhanced privacy indicator dots

Conclusion

iOS 18.4 beta 1 is a significant update that brings a host of new features and improvements to your iPhone. While some highly anticipated Apple Intelligence updates may be delayed, this beta still offers a glimpse into the future of iOS and provides plenty of reasons to be excited.