Hands-On With Apple's New iOS 12 Update

[randomplaydo]

As we start to critique the minor things (that are major to some of you, granted) that Apple's core audience for the iPhone is not a bunch of techy folks on a Mac message board and website. Their core audience is regular folks - folks who use emoji, Animoji, and will freaking LOVE memoji when it comes out. They do all the **** that apple demos on stage when the audience collectively rolls their eyes. But Apple doesn't build for tech geeks and devs, they build for the average consumer. The average consumer who loves emoji, who loves that those animations make their phone look so beautiful and great to see when they're using it. They don't care about saving a split second. They want their phone to look pretty when they're using it.

Same thing with this new workflow set up. "Cool" to an average consumer is saying "I'm going home" and have all the things they spend a minute doing in their car before driving away just happen instantly when they turn the key to the car.

So in other words, chill guys. Seriously. Yes, you're an apple customer too...but business needs dictates first making 80% happy, and then when there's time make the 20% happy. Apple will be fine if you stop buying their phones. They won't be fine if the people who use all those "useless" features stop buying their phones.

 

[DNichter]

Looks like some nice improvement. Pretty solid move by Apple.

 

[jmarttu24]

You can't call it an issue when extremely few people find it annoying. It's not really a big deal, goodness. That's actually Apple's volume indicator for maybe a decade or two? you know, wayback from Mac. Anyway, if you can't stand it, you're the one who needs to switch to Android.
[doublepost=1528264416][/doublepost]
you mean, mostly half-baked-features just-for-the-sake-of-being-first "innovation" right?

You're totally right, because apple has always done this way for decades they shouldn't change it. While we are at it we might as well stop developing new technology because everything is perfect the way it is...

 

[McTool]

Hmm.. OK. Think it's the first iOS device that'll have support for 6 generations of iOS: 7-12

Already running on an iPhone 5S. And yes, smooth and fast.

 

[RiddlaBronc]

Will Siri work with Spotify now?

Anyone?

 

[McTool]

Probably when

Does Siri Shortcuts offer automations for AppleTV? For example, Hey Siri, I’m home could trigger the TV App to play the news.

Alternatively, this could be built into the Home app since the AppleTV is a HomeKit device.

the Shorcuts app is released in the fall.

 

[Jsameds]

Looks like some nice improvement. Pretty solid move by Apple.

Beta 1 is always an absolute molasses too, but despite this it still seems faster overall than 11.4. I have *very* high hopes for GM come September.

 

[DNichter]

Beta 1 is always an absolute molasses too, but despite this it still seems faster overall than 11.4. I have *very* high hopes for GM come September.

Same here, looking forward to it. I jumped on iOS 12 and was really liking it, but it screwed up all my HomeKit stuff so I had to revert. 11.4 is solid as well.

 

[terpsbball2002]

Anything to speed up the OS, iOS 11 essentially bricked my iPAD Air 2 because it made it so slow. Guess what? I ended up buying a 10.5 iPAD Pro, it still feels slow at times too.

 

[Heineken]

Or, you know, you‘re being social with people currently not around you physically?

No, i don't think so. I'm just responding to a text. No people here.

 

[iPhD]

[QUOTE="Siri is much smarter in iOS 12 thanks to a new feature called Shortcuts, which has been built on the Workflow app. Shortcuts let you build automations with first and third-party apps that can be activated with Siri commands.
[/QUOTE]

I'm questioning the use of the word "smarter" here. I guess I'll have to play with it but the fact that Siri can't determine that the name Rae is pronounced 'ray' and is the only occurrence of that phoneme in my address book and it still can't determine who I want to send a message to when I say "message Rae" makes me think it's still not the smartest AI going.

On the other hand, I live a rural lifestyle and don't have that list of urban tasks tied to apps the way that was demoed. I don't commute, buy coffee, put a movie ticket in my Wallet, etc. If Siri can put that together on its own, then cool. Maybe "smarter" is appropriately used.

But Siri knows eight languages. It should be able to learn how Rae is pronounced.

 

[skinned66]

Can you actually control Wi-Fi in ‘Control’ Center again yet? Or is it just the same as in iOS 11?

Same as 11.

 

[oheb]

Can't believe it took them this long to incorporate some of these changes.

Apple yesterday introduced the newest version of iOS, iOS 12, which is currently available to developers as part of a beta test.

We thought we'd take a closer look at iOS 12 to give MacRumors readers who aren't yet able to download the beta an idea of what to expect from the new software.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.​

iOS 12 has some enticing new features that iOS users have been wanting for several years. Grouped notifications, for example, cleans up your notifications list, while new Do Not Disturb features give you more granular control over when it turns on and when it turns off.

Screen Time, a new feature, lets you know how much time you're spending on your iOS device with detailed statistics, including how much time you spend using each app and how many times you pick up your iPhone during the day.

Group FaceTime is here and supports calls with up to 32 people, and on the iPhone X, there are new Animoji and customizable Memoji. You can also use fun new camera effects in both Messages and FaceTime, and those aforementioned Animoji are also available in Messages and FaceTime on iPhone X.

Siri is much smarter in iOS 12 thanks to a new feature called Shortcuts, which has been built on the Workflow app. Shortcuts let you build automations with first and third-party apps that can be activated with Siri commands.

ARKit 2.0 brings improvements to augmented reality that include persistence, so AR environments will stay the same across multiple sessions, and multiplayer support, so two or more people can interact with the same augmented reality environment on separate devices.

Apple has also focused heavily on performance, working from top to bottom to make iPhones faster and more responsive, including older iPhones. Apple has introduced optimizations for all devices, and iOS 12 will work on all iPhones and iPads that are able to run iOS 11.

For more detail on iOS 12, make sure to check out our iOS 12 roundup, which is in development. We'll also be sharing additional videos covering iOS 12 features, so make sure to stay tuned to MacRumors and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Article Link: Hands-On With Apple's New iOS 12 Update

 

[forerunnerg34]

I am surprised how fast the 5s feels now, really nice

5c is not supported

iPad Air is better also, keyboard has less lag. I hope they continue this line of work. The key feature of iOS12 could be performance.

 

[tweaknmod]

Did they finally fix the volume from taking over the whole screen?

No, but they've added some audio feedback, voiced by Perd Haply, that says "The volume is being adjusted."

I quite like the change.

 

[Porco]

Same as 11.

Oh well. Thanks for the reply.

 

[Zwhaler]

Memoji. I like the name. Much better than Samsung's AR Emjoji... Lol! And I'm a Samsung fan. iOS 12 looks like what iOS 11 should have been. I'm pretty impressed. Bring on the 120Hz ProMotion iPhones please...

 

[alphaod]

iOS 12 already? Can they fix all the issues of 11 first! What a mess.

What issues do you have with iOS 11?

I don't seem to have any, curious what problems you're having.

 

[1050792]

What issues do you have with iOS 11?

I don't seem to have any, curious what problems you're having.

Constant Safari and Apple Music crashing and random visual bugs, springboard crashing and reseting atleast once a week for no reason, widget page bugs while the keyboard will stay behind the widgets, App store constantly loading to install an App and having to restart the phone to be able to download the App again, bluetooth connectivity issues with Airpods where they randomly disconnect or aren't recognized, very bad battery management, suddently dropping 3% at once randomly at from 99% to 96% and from 27% to 24%, online video streaming leaving Safari address bar completely messed up in the top of the page near the clock and battery indicator.

 

[Jimmy Bubbles]

I feel like this could have been a “point” release. Still not much interactivity with notifications, just grouped, which we had before iOS 10....

Actually, there's more than just being grouped here. There are other actions that can be taken within the notification such as how to be notified by being presented options "Deliver Quietly", "Turn Off" or even going directly into the settings for the app in which you have acted upon.

 

[alphaod]

Constant Safari and Apple Music crashing and random visual bugs, springboard crashing and reseting atleast once a week for no reason, widget page bugs while the keyboard will stay behind the widgets, App store constantly loading to install an App and having to restart the phone to be able to download the App again, bluetooth connectivity issues with Airpods where they randomly disconnect or aren't recognized, very bad battery management, suddently dropping 3% at once randomly at from 99% to 96% and from 27% to 24%, online video streaming leaving Safari address bar completely messed up in the top of the page near the clock and battery indicator.

I use those Tiles, I got rid of them and removed the app. Apparently the bluetooth was being overwhelmed. That fixed my AirPod issues. Now it's connects instantly every time. The last phone I had with battery indicator problems needed a new battery, did you take it in or do some self diagnostics?

Honestly all those problems sound like hardware problems even the Safari and Apple Music crashing; have you tried wiping the phone and setting up as a new phone instead of restoring?

 

[Rychiar]

WHERE THE HELL IS DARK MODE?!!

 

[ChrisChaval]

I am surprised how fast the 5s feels now, really nice

5c is not supported

thank you, very interesting

the only feature of ios 12 that really interests me are performance improvements for my aging devices

honestly do not care about the rest

testing ios 12 with the top notch model iPhone X obviously does not reveal any speed improvements

would be nice to see a dedicated review using an iPhone 5s or 6 focusing on performance only when compared to ios 11

 

[skinned66]

Oh well. Thanks for the reply.

Anytime. I'd like the option back too, but I think we're going to be waiting for a very long time.

 

[Shpyda]

[QUOTE="Siri is much smarter in iOS 12 thanks to a new feature called Shortcuts, which has been built on the Workflow app. Shortcuts let you build automations with first and third-party apps that can be activated with Siri commands.

I'm questioning the use of the word "smarter" here. I guess I'll have to play with it but the fact that Siri can't determine that the name Rae is pronounced 'ray' and is the only occurrence of that phoneme in my address book and it still can't determine who I want to send a message to when I say "message Rae" makes me think it's still not the smartest AI going.

On the other hand, I live a rural lifestyle and don't have that list of urban tasks tied to apps the way that was demoed. I don't commute, buy coffee, put a movie ticket in my Wallet, etc. If Siri can put that together on its own, then cool. Maybe "smarter" is appropriately used.

But Siri knows eight languages. It should be able to learn how Rae is pronounced.[/QUOTE]

Siri has the ability to correct pronunciation. Check out the link.
https://www.imore.com/how-to-teach-siri-to-pronounce-a-name-correctly