Apple’s Worldwide Builders Convention (WWDC) begins tomorrow at 10 a.m. PT, and we count on to see a preview of the subsequent main model of the iPhone’s software program, doubtless known as iOS 18.
Final month, AI overshadowed all the things else at Google’s I/O developer convention — together with Android 15. However now it is Apple’s flip to preview each AI and non-AI updates coming to the iPhone. And we’ve got a bunch of concepts for options and fixes that Apple ought to embrace in its subsequent main replace to the iPhone.
For seven months, most of us have lived with iOS 17. There have been excessive factors just like the introduction of StandBy Mode, Verify-In and iMessage stickers. There have additionally been low factors just like the overheating software program bug that hit iPhones operating iOS 17, which has since been resolved. For months we have Journaled, NameDropped and casually sworn in Messages with out the concern of being Autocorrected.
What’s subsequent for the iPhone? What is going to my iPhone be like this fall? Now that the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional is out will it change issues?
I don’t know.
Certain there are rumors about iOS 18 and the way it’ll be a massive deal, possibly even a greater deal than the iPhone 16. Like different phone-makers, Apple will doubtless flex its hype muscle groups and attempt to impress us with some AI magic.
Overlook all that. As a substitute of getting to guess what Apple will do subsequent to our iPhones, I believed I would assemble a few of CNET’s greatest iOS-ers and iPhone customers to inform Apple what we wish in iOS 18.
— Patrick Holland
Extra multitasking for the iPhone Professional Max
The iPhone Professional Max’s display has ample room for a Slide Over panel.
The Dynamic Island is a superb begin, however I want Apple would discover extra methods to make the most of the Professional Max’s massive display particularly. As I’ve written previously, I would like to see a model of Apple’s Slide Over characteristic optimized for its larger-size iPhone.
Slide Over helps you to view a second app in a floating panel alongside the aspect of the display. This feels extra helpful on a smartphone-size display in contrast with a break up view. If Slide Over had been out there on the iPhone Professional Max, you’d be capable to dedicate a lot of the display to a single app, whereas checking one other. I might see this being helpful for looking via my e-mail inbox whereas preserving an eye fixed out for brand new Slack messages, for instance.
— Lisa Eadicicco
Let the Motion button help a number of shortcuts
From top-to-bottom: Motion button, quantity up button and quantity down button.
One of many new options on the iPhone 15 Professional and 15 Professional Max is the Motion button, which changed the silent/ring slider button discovered on each prior iPhone mannequin because it debuted in 2007. In its present setup, I can set the Motion button to set off one shortcut at a time. By default, it does precisely the identical factor because the mute slider did earlier than it: it could actually toggle between turning on the ringer and placing your iPhone into silent mode. There are a few different choices for it, like opening the Digicam app and taking a photograph. You’ll be able to even have it run a particular shortcut/automation within the Shortcuts app. Maybe my favourite use is somebody who makes use of their location to vary what the Motion button does like flip it into an order now set off for a Starbucks latte.
The Motion button works with a single lengthy press, it doesn’t matter what you select for the button to do. At the moment, you both want to vary what the Motion button does to get extra use out of it or make some elaborate automations within the Shortcuts app.
I really feel there may be much more the Motion button might do if Apple would let it help a number of enter clicks. I might nonetheless have it as a toggle for ringer/silent mode with a single lengthy press, however do one thing else (like activate/off the flashlight) with a double-long press. I believe this might add a lot performance to the button and consequently, open it as much as much more folks taking extra benefit of it.
— Patrick Holland
Extra StandBy Mode capabilities, please
iOS 17 turned my iPhone right into a mini-smart residence show.
StandBy Mode was considered one of my favourite new options Apple launched with iOS 17. I take advantage of the characteristic on my work desk every day, and it is good having easy accessibility to the climate, time and podcasts. However I would like Apple to develop this characteristic extra.
For starters, I would like Messages and Mail to make the most of StandBy Mode. Proper now, in case your iPhone will get a textual content whereas it is in StandBy Mode, you get a notification, and for those who faucet the notification in time, you see a preview of the message. In any other case, it’s important to take away your iPhone from StandBy Mode to learn the complete message and reply.
It might be nice if Apple developed a StandBy Mode widget for Messages that permits you to see full messages and reply to them with out exiting StandBy Mode. It might even be good if there was a Mail widget for StandBy Mode that permits you to learn emails (like newsletters) and exhibits you new messages. That approach you may keep watch over your inbox and know if you could reply to an e-mail instantly or in case your newest e-mail is simply spam.
— Zach McAuliffe
Make Siri extra succesful
Siri bought a slight makeover on iOS 17, together with two new options that may positively change the way you work together with the non-public voice assistant.
As a working mother, I nearly at all times have an extended to-do record, and a better Siri would actually assist make my life simpler. Proper now, I flip to Siri for assist with fundamental duties reminiscent of setting an alarm, making a reminder or checking the climate. With rumors of massive language mannequin integration in Siri, I discover myself envisioning a future wherein an iPhone can get extra advanced duties carried out. Issues like reminding me to purchase blueberries once I’m close to a grocery store or finding close by eating places in Hong Kong which can be each kid-friendly and dog-friendly.
Fortunate for me, this does not appear to be far-fetched. Massive language fashions mustn’t solely enable Siri to grasp extra advanced and nuanced questions but in addition allow it to reply these questions extra precisely.
— Sareena Dayaram
Detect language in Messages and translate, por favor
This pop-up will seem on the prime of your telephone, previewing each what you mentioned and the interpretation.
Bilingual households might share my problem of Siri needing to do a greater job of robotically detecting which language is being spoken. Proper now the iPhone will spit out gibberish, turning Spanish dictation into English, or English into Spanish, for those who neglect to modify your keyboard.
If a voicemail message is left in Spanish, the system cannot acknowledge that it is not English and tries to provide an English preview that appears like nonsense. Perhaps these rumored AI smarts might help Siri know what language is being spoken.
My Español no es bueno, so it could be useful if my iPhone provided an English translation of textual content or voice messages despatched to me in Spanish. The Duolingo hen could be mad at me for not needing to follow my Spanish classes anymore, however Duo is at all times mad at me anyway.
— Bridget Carey
Verify-in for group chats
Apple explains Verify In’s options.
One among my favourite iOS 17 options is Verify In, which helps you to share with a pal or member of the family that you just’re heading to a particular location (like possibly coming residence from a late dinner). Your pal or member of the family will get a ping letting them know you are on the transfer and when you need to be residence. They get notified when you make it to your vacation spot or for those who make an sudden cease alongside the way in which. If one thing occurs to you and you aren’t getting residence, your pal receives a message that additionally consists of information like your final location and battery degree in your iPhone.
I would like iOS 18 to let me ship a Verify-In to a bunch of individuals, not only a single individual. Proper now, having the ability to begin a Verify In with only one individual is sweet, however there are various occasions I need to share a Verify In with extra members of the family or a bunch of mates all on the identical time.
— Patrick Holland
Schedule texts in Messages
You’ll be able to’t schedule a Message to be despatched.
Having the ability to schedule texts in Messages could be an enormous plus. Texting family and friends in several time zones is at all times a sport of math as a result of I do not need to textual content them when they’re nonetheless sleeping. Yeah, I is perhaps texting them at 8 a.m. ET, however they’re nonetheless asleep because it’s 5 a.m. PT for them. I additionally used to work the third shift, and there have been occasions once I’d need to textual content a pal and ask them a query or simply to speak, however who desires to be awoken to a textual content message at 5 a.m.? Only a few folks, as I got here to search out out.
Scheduling texts to ship in Messages would assist alleviate these points. Different messaging apps already allow you to schedule messages to ship later, together with Android, so it is time for Apple to stand up to hurry with others. Some folks may say that there is a Shortcut you may allow in your iPhone to ship messages at a later time, however I would argue that if it’s important to use a workaround to get one thing to work, it is not really working. Apple ought to take a cue from Android and let folks schedule messages to ship at a later time. Individuals who reside in several time zones than their family and friends or work bizarre shifts will thanks.
— Zach McAuliffe
Add a professional digital camera app
The iPhone wants a professional digital camera app.
It is time for Apple to revisit the iPhone’s Digicam app. For years, it was the gold normal of simplicity, providing a “see what you get” preview for pictures, movies and results with minimal, easy-to-navigate controls and modes. As Apple has added extra performance, particularly for ProRaw pictures, ProRes video recording and spatial movies, the Digicam app has began to really feel cramped. It tries to stay a one-size-fits-all app on the expense of higher-end options like guide digital camera controls.
I would like Apple to make a separate professional digital camera app, alongside the strains of the way it created a standalone app for classical music. Apple Music Classical tackles the particular problem of categorizing, trying to find, and discovering classical music, one thing the default Apple Music app is not geared towards. Equally, the professional digital camera app may very well be a spot for inventive sorts to entry digital camera controls, settings and options past these within the fundamental digital camera app. Sony has been fairly profitable with this form of method in its Xperia 1 and 5 sequence telephones, and Samsung has a separate Skilled Uncooked app to enhance its predominant one.
Now it is Apple’s flip.
— Patrick Holland
I Took 600+ Images With the iPhone 15 Professional and Professional Max. Take a look at My Favorites
