Apple has just released the first developer beta of iOS 18.4, introducing a range of new features and enhancements designed to improve user experience and functionality. Here's a comprehensive overview of what to expect in this upcoming update.
Priority Notifications
One of the standout features in iOS 18.4 is Priority Notifications. Powered by Apple Intelligence, this feature uses on-device processing to identify and highlight important updates, organizing them into a separate section above other notifications. While it's turned off by default, users can enable it in the notification settings.
Ambient Music in Control Center
iOS 18.4 introduces a new Ambient Music option that can be added to the Control Center. Users can choose from four different sound categories: Sleep, Chill, Productivity, and Wellbeing. Each category plays a curated selection of sounds or music tailored to the chosen mood, enhancing focus, relaxation, or sleep quality.
Apple News+ Food Section
For culinary enthusiasts, the update brings Apple News+ Food, a new section within the News app available to Apple News+ subscribers. Launching alongside iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 updates in April, this feature offers access to tens of thousands of recipes from renowned food publishers like Allrecipes, Bon Appétit, Food & Wine, Good Food, and Serious Eats. A "cook mode" provides full-screen, step-by-step instructions, making it easier to follow recipes in the kitchen.
Default App Settings Expansion
iOS 18.4 expands the ability to set default apps on your device. Users worldwide can now set their preferred translation app as the default. Additionally, users in the European Union, in compliance with the Digital Markets Act, can choose their default navigation app. This enhancement offers greater flexibility and personalization in app usage.
Apple Vision Pro App Integration
With the iOS 18.4 update, Apple Vision Pro users will gain access to a dedicated app on their iPhones. This app allows users to browse the headset's app store, discover new spatial content and experiences, queue up videos to watch, and install apps remotely. The app will appear automatically for Vision Pro users upon updating to iOS 18.4 and can also be downloaded from the App Store.
Redesigned Mail App for iPad
iPadOS 18.4 brings a redesigned Mail app to iPad users, aligning it with the version previously introduced on iPhone. The new Mail app automatically organizes emails into four categories: Promotions, Primary, Transactions, and Updates. This organization aims to streamline email management and improve user productivity.
Siri Enhancements Delayed
While iOS 18.4 brings several new features, significant enhancements to Siri, including on-screen awareness and personal context understanding, are reportedly delayed and may not arrive until iOS 18.5. Apple continues to work on expanding Siri's capabilities to provide a more intelligent and context-aware assistant experience.
As iOS 18.4 is currently in developer beta, these features are subject to further refinement before the official public release. Users can look forward to these enhancements, which aim to provide a more personalized and efficient experience across Apple's ecosystem.
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