Exploring the overlooked updates for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.
Apple’s WWDC 2024 keynote was packed with so much information that some features were left unmentioned. At the company’s campus, I spoke with various executives and delved deeper into iOS 18, iPadOS 18, Apple Intelligence, watchOS 11, and more. These sessions revealed new ways to customize your iPhone’s home screen and control center, along with updates not mentioned during the keynote. Here are my top hidden features.
Maps: Customizable Routes and Sharing
I’ve always preferred Google Maps due to its comprehensive data. However, iOS 18 brings intriguing updates to Apple Maps, especially for hiking routes. Now, you can search for hikes, filter by type and length, view topographical details, and save routes for offline use. You can create custom routes, add waypoints, and share them. Initially, these hikes will be available for the 63 US National Parks.
As a city dweller, I’m excited about sharing custom routes for walking directions to places from the train station. This feature might make me choose Apple Maps over Google’s.
Calendar Integration with Reminders
The Maps update is my favorite, but the new Calendar tools are also compelling. The integration with Reminders allows you to schedule tasks directly in your calendar and check them off within the app. You can move reminders by dragging them to a specific time slot. Calendar’s new views will show your activity level similar to the Fitness app.
Tapback Insights: Detailed Emoji Responses
Tapback reactions in Messages are getting an upgrade. iOS 18 introduces more emoji options and full-color responses. When you double-tap a message with existing reactions, a new balloon will show who reacted with which emoji, making group chats more interactive and useful for informal polls.
Others: Enhanced Notes, Journal, and Safari
iOS 18 brings numerous features that didn’t get much attention on stage. The Journal app now has a home screen widget and a new insights view. Safari’s new “Highlights” button provides AI-generated summaries and quick access to additional information like directions or phone numbers.
Math Notes for iPad, also coming to iPhone, allows you to tally expenses and split them among friends. iPadOS 18’s Smart Script lets you move handwritten text seamlessly, enhancing note organization.
Privacy and Accessibility Updates
The Passwords app and privacy updates were briefly mentioned, but there’s more. Apple’s new accessory setup kit simplifies device pairing, and the Bluetooth connection interface now clearly indicates what devices are on your network and what access you’re granting.
Exciting features include the new dynamic clock style in watchOS 11, pinned collections in Photos, and iPadOS mirroring for remote tech support. Airplay’s feature to send money by holding phones together, adjusting Activity rings in watchOS, and Training Load insights are also noteworthy.
While features like locked apps and AI-generated images (Genmoji and Image Playground) raise some concerns, the metadata indicating AI generation and safeguards against abusive content are reassuring.
With numerous updates coming to Apple’s ecosystem, the public beta should be ready by the end of summer for those willing to test an unstable platform.
By Andrej Kovacevic
Updated on 12th June 2024