iOS 18 Tidbits: Enhanced Flashlight Controls, Control Center Edit Mode, and More

[MacRumors]

With the first beta of iOS 18 now in the hands of developers, there are a handful of smaller changes and quality-of-life improvements being discovered in Apple's iPhone software that are worth highlighting.

First up, Apple has improved the flashlight controls. In iOS 18, turning on the Flashlight via the Lock Screen or Control Center now brings up a small interface that lets you adjust the flood of light from the LED. In other words, you now have granular control over not only the intensity of light, but also the breadth of illumination.

In the new Passwords app, you can generate QR codes for saved Wi-Fi passwords, allowing them to be shared more easily with others.

In the Settings app, usually you scroll down to get to settings for individual apps installed on your iPhone. In the iOS 18 beta, Apple has moved settings for apps to a separate screen, so now you tap "Apps" at the bottom of the menu to access a separate searchable list.

In the redesigned Control Center, which now extends to multiple screens, tapping a new + icon in the top-left corner (or long-pressing on an empty area) reveals minus icons that let you remove individual buttons, similar to how you remove apps from the Home Screen, and there's a new Add a Control option at the bottom. There are also anchors that let you resize buttons or cards like the media player. So if you've always wanted to make the Shazam icon a 4x4 button, for example, now you can.

Apple in iOS 18 has also added a new Power button to the top-right corner of the Control Center, so you don't have to physically hold the Side button to bring up the "Slide to power off" screen.

In the Weather app, you can show forecasts for separate Home and Work locations. The new Home and Work labels can be toggled in Settings ➝ Apps ➝ Weather, under a new "Locations" section. Home and work locations can be updated by editing your Contacts card.

The first developer beta of iOS 18 is now available, with a public beta following in July. Apple will officially release the new iPhone operating system to the public in the fall.

Article Link: iOS 18 Tidbits: Enhanced Flashlight Controls, Control Center Edit Mode, and More

 

[anakinfan8]

Really liking all these refinements so far. I hope we get to import from 1Password eventually.

 

[contacos]

Nice features BUT is it just me or is the UI design all over the place and very Un-Apple like?

 

[petitpiton]

The flashlight controls must be hardware specific. Don't have it on my 13 PM.

 

[PsykX]

Nice features BUT is it just me or is the UI design all over the place and very Un-Apple like?

The new Home Screen is indeed one of the strangest Apple designs with those tinted icons.
I was skeptical in the demo, and after trying it myself, it's awful.

 

[fwmireault]

Really liking all these refinements so far. I hope we get to import from 1Password eventually.

You can import a CSV file in the passwords app, which I believe you can export from 1Password

 

[contacos]

The new Home Screen is indeed one of the strangest Apple designs with those tinted icons.
I was skeptical in the demo, and after trying it myself, it's awful.

And what’s up with that egg shaped control center nowhere else to be found in the design language

 

[ghostface147]

Bundling the apps all in one section helps keep things clean. Dig it.

 

[DesignTime]

Does the wifi button still just disconnect or does it turn off wifi? Same for the bluetooth. It is a big pain to have to go into Settings for something so simple.

 

[AlexJaye]

The whole event was tiny tidbits.

iPad calculator was the Star. 🤣🤣

 

[GMShadow]

Does the wifi button still just disconnect or does it turn off wifi? Same for the bluetooth. It is a big pain to have to go into Settings for something so simple.

That’s an intentional choice, because idiot users kept contacting Apple support or going to the Genius Bar to complain that their Watch/Pencil/other accessory stopped working after they turned off Bluetooth in Control Center.


Also, there’s been control over LED intensity on the flashlight for years - it used to be a 3D Touch action, but now you can just press + hold on the icon in Control Center.

 

[Randel.D]

And what’s up with that egg shaped control center nowhere else to be found in the design language

I think they're circles, right? Seems like it is actually what is seen more in VisionOS, with the bottom corner having the bold curved line indicating that it can be dragged to change the size.

 

[Bigkool2inSC]

Does the wifi button still just disconnect or does it turn off wifi? Same for the bluetooth. It is a big pain to have to go into Settings for something so simple.

Unfortunately, still just disconnects with Dev Beta 1.

 

[n-evo]

So glad I can label the weather in case it slipped my mind in which city my home or work is. But I guess it’s a bit more convenient if you can use it to ask Siri what the weather at work is like. Although I doubt there’s gonna be a dramatic difference.

 

[Randel.D]

Unfortunately, still just disconnects with Dev Beta 1.

But you can create a shortcut and drop the shortcut into control center. But you'll need another button for another shortcut to undo the action, unless you can configure the shortcut to first get the current status and then toggle it to switch. I'm sure that's possible but haven't done it with shortcuts myself.

 

[Dorv]

Also, there’s been control over LED intensity on the flashlight for years - it used to be a 3D Touch action, but now you can just press + hold on the icon in Control Center.

You must have missed this part of the article:

"In other words, you now have granular control over not only the intensity of light, but also the breadth of illumination."

 

[Bigkool2inSC]

I do like the option to change the 2 shortcuts on the lock screen...

Being a left handed phone user (phone in left pocket, keys in right kind of guy), I made left button the silent mode and right the flash light.. Action button launched camera for pictures..

I do wish the control panel slider on the right side that lets you move around the 4 control center screens is something that could be moved to the left side of the phone.. that would be nice.

Digging that layout so far.. It's nice to have options, for sure.

 

[Xavier]

And what’s up with that egg shaped control center nowhere else to be found in the design language

Agreed, the control center design seems out of place. A welcome UX change but it doesn't seem to fit. Maybe they were going for a larger difference on purpose?

 

[Unami]

I‘d love the flashlight to be color-adjustable to make it warmer. I hate that blue color.

 

[zorinlynx]

Unfortunately, still just disconnects with Dev Beta 1.

I'm glad they're leaving this the same.

When I disconnect WiFi, it's almost always a temporary thing.

Like for example: "Aww crap this network is ******, I'm going to disconnect and use cellular for now."

I like that it turns back on eventually, so I don't forget to do so. It's never turned on sooner than I've wanted; usually it's the next day or when I'm at a new location.

I haven't wanted to turn Wifi completely off in years. I'd prefer the option I use the most to be in the control center, and the thing I do 2-3 times a decade to be in Settings.

 

[zorinlynx]

Agreed, the control center design seems out of place. A welcome UX change but it doesn't. Maybe they were going for a larger difference on purpose?

Remember to submit Feedback about the things you don't like. This is the time Apple is listening to users about UI decisions.

I already submitted one about Photos, for example.

 

[gsmornot]

So glad I can label the weather in case it slipped my mind in which city my home or work is. But I guess it’s a bit more convenient if you can use it to ask Siri what the weather at work is like. Although I doubt there’s gonna be a dramatic difference.

Especially when you work from home.

 

[klasma]

Apple has moved settings for apps to a separate screen, so now you tap "Apps" at the bottom of the menu to access a separate searchable list.

I don’t understand how adding an extra tap is an improvement.

 

[theinsaneworld]

So glad I can label the weather in case it slipped my mind in which city my home or work is. But I guess it’s a bit more convenient if you can use it to ask Siri what the weather at work is like. Although I doubt there’s gonna be a dramatic difference.

While not earth shattering, it’s a small nice to have. It might not be the case for everyone, but where I live and where I commute to work, does have different weather more often then not. Have it automatically populate that for me, saves me just the smallest amount of time.

 

[ifxf]

Hopefully someone will test that a user’s change to the flashlight doesn’t carryover to the camera flash mode.