What a week! I try to get to the new iOS 18.1 update, but on the same day, the M4 iMac. Then, the Mac mini (bottom-placed power button and all). After that, the M4 MacBook Pros. Thursday, break for Halloween. And finally, Friday, overdue Q4 2024 earnings report article. Now that I don't have new products bombarding me in the face all the time, I can finally talk about iOS 18.1!
So, first, Apple Intelligence is the main headline of 18.1 (even though not every feature was announced for the update). The new features are: suggested replies (or "Smart Replies") in Messages and Mail, a new focus mode called Reduce Interruptions (so only the most important things will bombard you with notifications), summaries galore (for audio transcriptions when using Notes, notifications (the creepiest example of this was when for one guy a message summary read basically "your girlfriend is breaking up with you and doesn't want you anymore"), and Safari websites), new Siri features (the big functionality features are coming later, so we only have a new design, Type to Siri on iOS and iPadOS, more comprehension when you make mistakes in saying your request, Apple device knowledge, and the long-awaited feature where multiple requests are tracked), Writing Tools (summarize, reformat, proofread, and rewrite in different tones), and three new Photos features (Clean Up, similar to Google's Magic Eraser, natural language search, and Memory Maker, where you can generate memories just by describing what you want to create).
After that, there aren't many features left, although the features themselves still sometimes have great importance. So, first, the AirPods Pro 2 now have long-awaited hearing features, which are a hearing test taken with an iPhone and the ability to perform literally as a "clinical-grade" hearing aid and adjust audio volume if the results aren't good. Then, sleep apnea features are finally here for the Apple Watch, Control Center Connectivity widget features can be placed individually in Control Center, and (also in Control Center) Measure and Level controls are available courtesy of the Measure app. You can also record a call, access spatial video on iPhone 15 Pro and newer with a new Spatial mode, share songs on Apple Music with TikTok, and RCS text businesses with Apple Business Messaging, and invite a friend on Game Center from Friends Suggestions and Contacts. Finally, your Apple savings account balance has been put under "Savings Account" instead of being on the main screen, and natural language search is in App Store.
Bugs fixed include freezing and restarting for the iPhone 16 lineup (a bug I reported here), unplayed episodes saying "played", a digital car key bug, and a stutter bug when scrubbing through 4K60 videos. Security fixes, I won't mention here (there are over 20!), but you can see the list here.
By Leo
Related Posts
