After the announcements, here we are. A few days ago Apple made available iOS 18, the new operating system that “updates” iPhones and promises to improve the user experience. But if for artificial intelligence in Italy – and throughout Europe – we will have to wait due to the more restrictive laws on privacy in the EU, there are above all three innovations that revolutionize the use of the Cupertino smartphone. Here’s which ones and how to use them
Widgets and Home Page Customization
Let’s start with a feature that has been requested by users for a long time: the possibility of customize the screen of home page. From now on, therefore, by holding down your finger you can – in addition to rearranging them in folders – move the icons as you wish, even leaving empty spaces so as, for example, not to cover the background photo. In addition, the Edit button appears at the top left, which allows you to add widgets or modify pages (which can now be removed all at once or simply hidden). Not only that: the Customize button now allows you to choose between larger or smaller icons and whether to set a light or dark theme or even the color you like best.
Greater customization possibilities even in the Control Centerwhere the ability to rearrange controls and icon sizes also comes in multiple pages (indicated by the icons on the right) and leaving empty spaces. It is also possible to add “buttons” for supported third-party apps. Again, to make changes, simply hold down the screen while viewing the control center.
News also for the lock screenwhere by tapping on the screen and then on the customize button, you can set the apps for the two shortcuts, until now set by default to the flashlight and camera.
What’s new for photos
Not to be missed, then, is the new experience of the Photos app, redesigned from scratch. Let’s start with the automatic organization of photos that now – maintaining the classic grid layout – divide the shots by date (Last days) and topics (for example People and animals, Travel, etc.). Here too, the key word is customization: by scrolling to Customize and reorder, it is possible to change the order of the labels or hide them altogether. Also useful is the Search function that allows you to communicate with the app to find, for example, photos that show a certain object or taken in a specific place.
iMessage and scheduled messages
While waiting for – as requested to the tech giants by the EU in its Digital Markets Act – to open up to conversations with other messaging apps, Apple introduces new functions in Messages. The reactions we are used to with Meta are also arriving on iMessage, as well as formatted texts and animated effects on words or emojis: by selecting them and scrolling through the menu to Text Effects, an interface appears with animations to choose from.
And above all, here comes the possibility of scheduling a text message. Imagine wanting to be the first to wish a special person a happy birthday or needing to remind someone of an appointment.
No more compulsively looking at the clock or setting an alarm, but compose the iMessage, click on the + button on the left and select Send Later. A screen will open where you can set the date and time to send the message. Convenient, right?