iOS 18.1 Beta 7: Translucent Clock Widgets and Continued Apple Intelligence Testing

Everything new in iOS 18.1 developer beta 7

The seventh developer beta of iOS 18.1 has arrived and can now be installed on all compatible iPhone models. Here's everything you need to know about the release and the improvements it contains. On Monday, Apple officially rolled out iOS 18.1 developer beta 7, with the build number 22B5075a. This comes following the release of developer beta 6 a week earlier, which bore the build number 22B5069a. The sixth developer beta provided users with additional Control Center toggles and contained certain visual enhancements such as new splash screens. Apple Intelligence is undoubtedly the main focus of the iOS 18.1 update, as the company gears up for the feature's rumored October release. Monday's update, however, merely builds upon developer beta 6 by introducing minor changes and quality-of-life improvements. With beta 7, Apple has made a change to the existing Clock widgets found in iOS 18.1. When in tinted mode, the widgets now have a translucent appearance, bearing some resemblance to visionOS. Translucent user-interface elements with a distinct blur effect are widely used across iOS and have been present in the iPhone operating system for well over a decade. Apple overhauled the iPhone operating system with iOS 7 in 2013, which introduced blur effects and a flat UI, replacing the skeuomorphic look used previously. Since then, the company has continued to use translucence effects across its different operating systems, including iOS, iPadOS, and more. The modified Clock widgets in Monday's beta arguably allow for a more coherent look across the iOS interface, as they don't stand out the way the previous iterations did. Although the widgets have received a minor visual modification, there are seemingly no other changes affecting the appearance or function of the Clock widgets in iOS 18.1. Apart from the modified Clock widgets, the seventh developer beta of iOS 18.1 does not appear to introduce any significant changes. Much like developer beta 6, though, the update includes a few new splash screens for select system applications. Splash screens can be encountered when opening the Home, Podcasts, TV, and Voice Memos applications. These screens inform users of new features found in the respective apps, even though the features themselves were added with previous iOS 18 updates. Though Monday's beta doesn't add any meaningful features, the release likely contains various bug fixes and under-the-hood improvements, which ultimately enhance the operating system as a whole. This is to be expected, as Apple prepares for the soon-approaching public release of iOS 18.1. The seventh developer beta still supports the same Apple Intelligence features as previous releases of iOS 18.1. Apple Intelligence is a suite of new software features powered by Apple's in-house generative AI software. Future releases of iOS 18 are expected to introduce support for Image Playground and Visual Intelligence, both of which are powered by Apple Intelligence. The iOS 18.2 update, rumored for release sometime in December of 2024, is when we could finally see the rollout of these two AI features. The Image Playground application will let users create AI-generated imagery in specific Apple-approved styles. Visual Intelligence will let users learn about real-world objects and locations through the iPhone camera and Apple Intelligence. The latter feature will be available on iPhone 16 units, which have a dedicated Camera Control button to trigger Visual Intelligence.

Seventh iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1 betas land as public release nears

The testing of Apple Intelligence rolls on as an expected release nears, with seventh developer builds of iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1 now available. The seventh developer betas of iOS 18.1, and iPadOS 18.1 arrive after the sixth respective builds, as well as the fourth builds of visionOS 2.1, tvOS 18.1, and watchOS 11.1, which arrived on October 7. The difference in build counts is due to Apple beta testing tvOS 18, watchOS 11, and visionOS 2 at the same time as the Apple Intelligence-infused iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1. It had two iOS, iPadOS, and macOS beta tracks, covering the 18 and 18.1 versions. Normally, Apple includes macOS Sequoia 15.1 with iOS and iPadOS, but it hasn't included that build at the time of publication. The new iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1 build numbers are both 22B5075a. The primary difference between the iOS 18.1 and 18 operating system versions is the addition of Apple Intelligence, which includes generative AI and machine learning features. However, not all Apple Intelligence features will be available when it is eventually released. Initial Apple Intelligence features put to testing included a new Siri animation, Type to Siri, a better understanding of queries and contextual awareness, product knowledge, and a swathe of writing tools. The third developer beta brought with it Clean Up for Photos, which lets users remove unwanted elements from images. In the fifth build, Apple's iOS 18.1 changes were largely nothing to do with Apple Intelligence. The changes included enabling file drag and drop with the iPhone Mirroring feature of macOS, a new selfie option for Camera Control, and adjustments to Control Center. The sixth iOS 18.1 build concentrated on sleep apnea detection, connectivity and Measure toggles in Control Center, and other features instead of Apple Intelligence specifically. AppleInsider and Apple strongly advise that users do not install test operating systems or other beta or RC software onto "mission-critical" or primary hardware, due to the small chance of issues that could result in the loss of data. Testers should therefore use secondary or non-essential devices and make sure they have sufficient backups of any critical data.

iOS 18.1 is coming soon: beta 6 now available to developers - 9to5Mac

iOS 18.1 will be released to everyone in just a few weeks. In the meantime, beta testing continues. iOS 18.1 beta 6 is now available to developer beta testers, coming two weeks after the release of beta 5. iOS 18.1 beta 6 features the build number 22B5069a. The update is only available to developer beta testers right now. A new public beta will likely be released sometime this week. iOS 18.1 supported on any iPhone that can run iOS 18. However, Apple Intelligence features are only available on the following devices: iOS 18.1 introduces the initial wave of Apple Intelligence features, including Writing Tools for rewriting, proofreading, and summarizing text. The Siri design has been fully revamped and now includes the option to type your queries. The Mail app gains new functionalities such as message summaries, priority sorting, and Smart Reply. Additionally, iOS 18.1 introduces a new Focus mode called Reduce Interruptions, leveraging AI to prioritize notifications that require immediate attention. In the Photos app, you'll also find a new "Clean Up" feature to remove unwanted distractions from your images. The previous release of iOS 18.1 beta 5 included further changes for iPhone users. For example, the new iPhone Mirroring feature now supports dragging and dropping files between iPhone and Mac. The fifth beta also brought changes to Control Center, a new feature for the iPhone 16's Camera Control, and more. During the iPhone 16 event earlier this month, Apple confirmed that iOS 18.1 and the first Apple Intelligence features will debut in October.

Everything new in iOS 18.1 developer beta 6

The sixth developer beta of iOS 18.1 is now available for all compatible iPhone models. Here's everything you need to know about the update and the features it introduces. On Monday, Apple released iOS 18.1 developer beta 6, which supports Apple Intelligence and builds upon the enhancements from the fifth developer beta, introduced two weeks earlier. The company's sixth and most recent developer beta of iOS 18.1 includes new toggles for Control Center and introduces support for sleep apnea detection. It also contains various other changes, such as in-app splash screens and modified icons. With iOS 18.1 beta 5, Apple introduced two key changes to Control Center. The first one was a dedicated reset option in System Settings, which can be used to revert the Control Center to its default layout. Apple also included standalone toggles for WiFi and VPN in beta 5. Both of these were previously bundled into the Connectivity section. The sixth developer beta expands upon these changes by adding two more connectivity-related toggles -- one for AirDrop and the other for Satellite Connectivity. Much like the Wi-Fi and VPN toggles introduced with the previous developer beta, the new AirDrop and Satellite Connectivity toggles are now available as standalone items within the Control Center. Monday's developer beta also introduces two new Control Center toggles related to the Measure app. The two toggles are known as "Measure" and "Level," and both of them can be used to open the corresponding tools in the Measure app. The sixth developer beta of iOS 18.1 introduces support for sleep apnea detection, which was originally announced in June of 2024 at Apple's Glowtime event. The feature makes it possible to detect breathing disturbances and signs of possible sleep apnea through a connected Apple Watch and its accelerometer. When used with a compatible iPhone, an Apple Watch can detect movements associated with interruptions to normal respiratory function during sleep. If signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea are found, users will receive a notification instructing them to speak to a doctor and create a treatment plan, assuming they don't already have a sleep apnea diagnosis. Sleep apnea detection is only available with Apple Watch Series 9 or newer, or Apple Watch Ultra 2, running watchOS 11. Following the feature's FDA approval on September 13, Apple made sleep apnea detection available with the initial public release of iOS 18 and watchOS 11. The feature itself was notably absent from the iOS 18.1 betas, though, which changed on Monday with the rollout of iOS 18.1 developer beta 6. iOS 18.1 developer beta 6 introduces some improvements to an existing feature for the AirPods Pro wireless earbuds. Monday's developer beta includes a new splash screen and dedicated toggle for Loud Sound Reduction. AirPods Pro can be configured to reduce the user's exposure to loud noises. This can be done by setting the AirPods' listening mode to Noise Cancellation, Adaptive, or Transparency, as per the new pop-up screen in the sixth developer beta of iOS 18.1. This screen shows up when AirPods Pro are connected to an iPhone running the beta software. The same splash screen also indicates that AirPods Pro will receive improved voice quality, making the user's voice sound better in calls and recordings. In addition to the new Control Center toggles and support for sleep apnea detection, the sixth developer beta of iOS 18.1 introduces some minor visual enhancements and changes. Safari, for instance, received a slightly different icon for Tinted Mode in the sixth developer beta of iOS 18.1. Notifications on the Lock Screen are now numbered, allowing users to know exactly how many notifications they have from every application. Monday's developer beta introduces a new splash screen for the App Store, which touts an improved search functionality. This enhanced search feature lets users find apps more easily, through the use of natural language and descriptive app tags. Similarly, the Mail application has also received a new splash screen informing users of new Apple Intelligence features available within the app. This includes features such as email summarization, categorization, and Smart Replies, all of which are powered by Apple's generative AI software, known as Apple Intelligence. Apple Intelligence also enables text-editing features known as Writing Tools, which let users adjust the tone of a text, among other things. With iOS 18.1 developer beta 6, Writing Tools received a new icon featuring a pen inside the existing Apple Intelligence logo. In general, Apple Intelligence is the primary focus of the iOS 18.1 update. In addition to Writing Tools, Apple Intelligence also makes it possible to edit images via the new Clean Up tool. Future iOS 18 updates are expected to introduce support for Image Playground, which will let users generate images through artificial intelligence.

Apple's six developer betas land for iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, macOS Sequoia 15.1

Apple's testing of Apple Intelligence continues, with the sixth developer betas of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 now available. The sixth developer betas of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1, arrive after the third builds of visionOS 2.1, tvOS 18.1, and watchOS 11.1, which arrived on October 1. The respective fifth and second builds landed on Septgember 23, while the fourth and first respective builds were introduced on September 17. The difference in build counts is due to Apple beta testing tvOS 18, watchOS 11, and visionOS 2 at the same time as the Apple Intelligence-infused iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1. The new iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1 build numbers are 22B5069a and 22B5069a, while macOS Sequoia has moved on to build 24B5070a. The main difference between the iOS 18.1 and 18 operating system versions is Apple Intelligence, which includes generative AI and machine learning features. Not all Apple Intelligence features will be available when it is eventually released. Early Apple Intelligence features that appeared included a new Siri animation, Type to Siri, a better understanding of queries and contextual awareness, product knowledge, and a swathe of writing tools. The third developer beta brought with it Clean Up for Photos, which lets users remove unwanted elements from images. In the fifth build, Apple's iOS 18.1 changes were largely nothing to do with Apple Intelligence. The changes included enabling file drag and drop with the iPhone Mirroring feature of macOS, a new selfie option for Camera Control, and adjustments to Control Center. AppleInsider and Apple strongly advise that users do not install test operating systems or other beta or RC software onto "mission-critical" or primary hardware, due to the small chance of issues that could result in the loss of data. Testers should therefore use secondary or non-essential devices and make sure they have sufficient backups of any critical data.

iOS 18.1: You Won't Believe These New Features!

The highly anticipated iOS 18.1 beta 6 is here, bringing a wealth of new features and improvements designed to elevate your iPhone experience to new heights. As one of the final betas before the public release, this update focuses on refining the way you interact with your device, making it more intuitive, efficient, and enjoyable. Let's dive into the key highlights of iOS 18.1 in a new video from iReviews. iOS 18.1 takes notification management to the next level with its enhanced Notification Center. Notifications are now grouped more intelligently, making it easier for you to stay on top of your alerts. Each group displays a convenient badge indicating the number of notifications within, allowing you to quickly assess and prioritize your attention. With this improvement, managing your notifications becomes a breeze, ensuring you never miss an important update. The Control Center receives a significant upgrade in iOS 18.1, empowering you with greater control over your device's functions. The update introduces new toggles for AirDrop and satellite control, putting these essential features at your fingertips. Additionally, you now have the option to reset the Control Center to a new default layout, ensuring that the most crucial functions are always easily accessible. This customization option allows you to tailor your Control Center to your specific needs, enhancing your overall user experience. For users who rely on multiple phone lines, iOS 18.1 brings an innovative improvement to the Dual SIM interface. The updated interface simplifies the process of managing different numbers on a single device, making it more intuitive and user-friendly. Whether you're juggling personal and work lines or traveling internationally, the enhanced Dual SIM feature ensures a seamless experience, allowing you to effortlessly switch between lines and stay connected on your terms. Music lovers rejoice! iOS 18.1 introduces a seamless integration between Apple Music and TikTok, making it easier than ever to share your favorite tunes with your social media followers. With just a few taps, you can now directly share songs from Apple Music to TikTok, enhancing your social media interactions and allowing you to express yourself through music. This integration bridges the gap between your music library and your social media presence, creating a more connected and engaging experience. Navigating your device's settings can sometimes be overwhelming, but iOS 18.1 aims to simplify the process with the introduction of the "Ask Siri" option in the Settings App. This feature provides step-by-step guides for changing various settings, making it easier for you to find and adjust the options you need. Whether you're a new user or simply looking to explore the full potential of your device, the guided settings navigation ensures a more user-friendly experience, helping you make the most of your iPhone's capabilities. The Mail App in iOS 18.1 receives a significant boost with the integration of Apple Intelligence features. These smart enhancements include: With these AI-driven features, managing your inbox becomes more efficient and productive, helping you stay on top of your email communications with ease. Finding new apps that align with your interests and needs is now more efficient than ever, thanks to the enhanced AI search capabilities in the App Store. iOS 18.1 leverages advanced algorithms to understand your preferences and suggest apps that are tailored to your specific requirements. Whether you're looking for productivity tools, entertainment apps, or niche utilities, the App Store's intelligent recommendations help you discover hidden gems and unlock new possibilities for your device. iOS 18.1 brings a host of under-the-hood optimizations to ensure your device performs at its best. While multicore performance scores see a slight increase, single-core scores experience a minor decrease. However, these changes are negligible, and your device's overall performance remains strong and responsive. Additionally, despite the introduction of new features, battery life remains stable, ensuring you can enjoy the enhancements without compromising on battery longevity. The update also provides detailed usage statistics, giving you valuable insights into your device's battery performance and helping you make informed decisions about power management. The public release of iOS 18.1 is slated for October 28th, bringing these exciting features and improvements to all compatible devices. In the meantime, additional beta releases may be rolled out to fine-tune the update and ensure a smooth transition for all users. As the official release date approaches, prepare to experience the next level of iOS performance and functionality firsthand. iOS 18.1 represents a significant milestone in the evolution of Apple's mobile operating system. With its focus on enhancing user experience, streamlining workflows, and introducing intelligent features, this update sets a new standard for what you can expect from your iPhone. Get ready to embrace the future of mobile computing with iOS 18.1 and unlock a world of possibilities at your fingertips.

iOS 18.2: New features, release date, more - 9to5Mac

With iOS 18.1 set for a release in just a few weeks, attention will soon shift to iOS 18.1 and its new features. iOS 18.2 will likely be released in December and is set to include the next wave of Apple Intelligence features, new iPhone 16 features, and more. Keep reading for the full details on what to except from iOS 18.2... According to Bloomberg, Apple will release iOS 18.1 on October 28. Beta testing for iOS 18.2 will likely begin soon thereafter and run until sometime in December. Apple is then expected to release iOS 18.2 to the general public. Here is a timeline of when Apple has released point-two updates for major iOS versions in previous years: As you can see, Apple has shifted to a December release date for its point-two updates in recent years. Bloomberg has also reported that Apple is aiming to get iOS 18.2 to "zero-bug status in early November" so it can finalize beta testing and "ship it by December." Much like the iOS 18.1 update, iOS 18.2 will focus a lot on Apple Intelligence. The update is expected to bring the next wave of Apple's artificial intelligence features to the iPhone as part of the gradual rollout plans announced back in June at WWDC. According to Bloomberg, iOS 18.2 is set to include these Apple Intelligence features: Perhaps most notably, iOS 18.2 will also reportedly include Apple's Image Playground app. This app will let you type to create "fun images in seconds" with three different styles: Animation, Illustration, and Sketch. In addition to being available as a standalone app, Image Playground will also be built right into apps like Messages and Mail. Apple shared the first example of an Image Playground creation last month, depicting Apple executive Craig Federighi's dog. Genmoji is an Apple Intelligence feature that will let you generate custom emoji based on text descriptions. Apple explains: Taking emoji to an entirely new level, users can create an original Genmoji to express themselves. By simply typing a description, their Genmoji appears, along with additional options. Users can even create Genmoji of friends and family based on their photos. Just like emoji, Genmoji can be added inline to messages, or shared as a sticker or reaction in a Tapback. When you interact with Siri, you will have the option to communicate with ChatGPT. Apple says that Siri will "tap into ChatGPT's expertise when helpful, including things like world knowledge questions as well as image- and document-understanding capabilities. Additionally, ChatGPT will be integrated with Writing Tools, allowing you to generate text based on the topics you're writing about. This will also include the ability to tap into ChatGPT's image tools to generate images "in a wide variety of styles." Finally, Apple will also reportedly debut Priority Notifications as part of iOS 18.2 later this year. Priority Notifications will appear at the top of your notification stack "to surface what's most important." Apple has announced that Apple Intelligence will come to additional countries in December: The Camera Control on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro will get a new feature before the end of the year: a two-stage shutter mode. This feature will let you automatically lock focus and exposure on a subject with a light press, then a full press will actually take the image. Apple says that this feature will be available "later this fall," suggesting it will be included in iOS 18.2. There's also one more Apple Intelligence feature coming this year for iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro users, dubbed visual intelligence. When you click and hold the Camera Control button, you will activate this new visual intelligence mode to learn more about the things around you. Apple explains: Users can click and hold Camera Control to pull up the hours or ratings for a restaurant they pass, add an event from a flyer to their calendar, quickly identify a dog by breed, and more. Camera Control will also serve as a gateway into third-party tools with specific domain expertise, like when users want to search on Google to find where they can buy an item, or to benefit from ChatGPT's problem-solving skills. Users are in control of when third-party tools are used and what information is shared. The visual intelligence feature will be available "later this year," according to Apple. According to Mark Gurman, iOS 18.2 will also include the new Mail app design that Apple previewed at WWDC in June. The Mail app will use on-device categorization to organize and sort incoming email into different categories: The Mail app will also add a new "digest view" that pulls together all relevant emails from a specific business. Notably, these changes to the Mail app are not labeled as Apple Intelligence features. This means they will be available on all devices that run iOS 18. Apple has also announced more changes coming to the iPhone in the European Union in a software update later this year: There are other features that Apple has announced but not yet released that could be included in iOS 18.2 this December: What are you most excited to try in iOS 18.2 later this fall? Do you think you'll find yourself regularly using the new Image Playground and Genmoji features? Let us know down in the comments.

All of the Apple Intelligence Features Not Coming in iOS 18.1

With iOS 18.1, Apple plans to introduce the first Apple Intelligence features, but we're only getting a small sample of the functionality that's going to be rolling out over the next year. Writing Tools, summaries, and smart replies are coming, but more exciting AI options like Image Playground won't be available until later. This guide includes what's not coming in iOS 18.1, along with current rumors on when we can expect those features. For a feature list of what you can expect to see in iOS 18.1, check out our iOS 18.1 Apple Intelligence guide. Image Playground will let you generate cartoon-style images using any phrase. It'll be a standalone app, but it will also be integrated into Messages and Notes. In the Notes app, Image Playground can be used to generate an image based on what you've written. Genmoji is similar to Image Playground, but it's a feature that lets you generate any emoji that you want. Right now, you're limited to the emoji characters defined by the Unicode Consortium, but that'll change with Genmoji. Image Wand is an Image Playground-based feature coming to the Notes app. You can use it to insert images into your Notes based on context. On the iPad, you can draw a crude graphic and have Image Wand whip up something nice to accompany your notes. Priority notifications will show up at the top of your notification stack, so you can get to what's most important first. In the Mail app, Apple is adding a feature that will sort your incoming messages into categories automatically for better management of things like newsletters and purchase emails. Some initial Siri updates are coming in iOS 18.1, such as Siri's new glow that encompasses the edges of the display, but a lot of the more advanced functionality isn't going to be available until later. Apple is working on onscreen awareness, personal context, and the ability to take more actions in and across apps. Onscreen awareness will let Siri take actions when you ask something about what's on your display. If you're looking at a photo and want to message it to your friend Eric, you'll be able to tell Siri to "Send this picture to Eric," and Siri will understand and do it. Personal context will let Siri do more with your personal data like emails and messages. This is an on-device feature, and it will let Siri learn more about you, who you're communicating with, and how you use your device. Personal context will let you do things like ask Siri to find a specific message, or remind you when you took a photo that you're looking for. The Siri option to take more actions in and across apps will drastically improve what Siri is capable of. You'll be able to move files from one app to another and control app functions with Siri that you never could before. It'll work in third-party apps as well as Apple's own apps. Apple is adding a feature that will let Siri hand complex queries off to OpenAI's ChatGPT, but this won't be available in iOS 18.1. Apple Intelligence is available in U.S. English only as of now, but support for additional languages will be coming in the future. More Apple Intelligence features will come in iOS 18.2, iOS 18.3, and iOS 18.4. We'll get iOS 18.2 before the end of 2024, and it is expected to include Image Playground, Genmoji, and ChatGPT Siri integration. In January or so, we'll get iOS 18.3, which could potentially have some new Siri features. iOS 18.4, which isn't expected until around March 2025, will have the bulk of the Siri Apple Intelligence features. We're also expecting to see Apple roll out support for additional languages in 2025. iOS 18.1 is expected to see a release on Monday, October 28. Apple plans to release Apple Intelligence in a beta capacity, and the feature set will continue to be refined over time.