The appearance of Apple Intelligence is not expected until the fall.
First public betas of Apple’s 2024 software have been released. Installing early copies of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, watchOS 11, and macOS Sequoia is now possible, allowing you to get a sneak peek at Apple’s upcoming software updates before they are officially released in the fall. In order to participate in the pre-release activities, all you need to do is enroll your Apple ID (which will eventually be known as an Apple Account) in the Apple Beta Software Program.
Apple’s approach to generative artificial intelligence, which is referred to as Apple Intelligence (get it?) and will not be available in beta until the fall, is the unifying theme that runs across this year’s releases. Apple Intelligence is a combination of on-device and cloud processing, and it includes ChatGPT integration as an optional feature. It is woven into the software of each platform in 2024. It offers a new Siri that is more powerful than ever before, highlights and summaries for Safari, writing tools, and a great deal more.
A greater degree of control over your Home Screen is one of the features that will be available to you in the first public beta version of iOS 18. You are able to personalize your phone by giving it a cohesive appearance by placing apps and widgets on any open location on your screen. You can even change the colors of the icons that represent the programs. The Control Center has also been redesigned, and it now provides you with better access to the toggles that you use the most, in addition to new customization options. In addition, Photos has the most significant redesign to date, while Messages is updated with modifications to its formatting and effects.
In the meantime, iPadOS 18 introduces a number of the same innovations as its predecessor, including the introduction of a native Calculator app for the very first time as well as smart handwriting features.
A new Math Notes function for the Apple Pencil (or keyboard) is included in the Calculator app, which is much more than just a port of the iOS version. This tool has the ability to evaluate expressions, assign variables, and draw graphs in real time. Simply by entering an equals sign, Math Notes will solve the problem for you. Additionally, the Smart Script tool that is included in the Notes app has the capability to smooth out your sloppy handwriting while you are writing, while still maintaining the appearance of your penmanship. Additionally, you have the ability to convert recordings into searchable live audio transcriptions.
macOS Sequoia has a new feature called iPhone Mirroring, which enables you to watch and control the screen of your phone from your Mac. When you download the new Passwords app, it will retrieve your stored credentials from iCloud Keychain and Safari’s settings and place them in a separate application. (The developers of 1Password are the ones who are making that urgent phone call.) The Window Tiling function, which is comparable to the Snap tiling feature that Microsoft introduced in Windows 11, allows you to “magnetically” snap windows into a variety of grid patterns. You may finally replace your background with built-in graphics or personal photos thanks to the new options that are available for video calls.
WatchOS 11 gives you the ability to pause your daily Activity Rings without losing your streaks in the event that you require a break (for example, if you are ill, injured, or experiencing other disturbances with your life). Additionally, you have the ability to modify your objectives according to the day of the week and select the metrics that are displayed by the Fitness app. With the new Vitals app, sleep tracking has been expanded to include the ability to display, at a glance, whether any of your nighttime data depart from your typical values. In addition, a training load calculator gives you an idea of how the intensity of your workouts might influence your body over time.
Visit the website for the Apple Beta Software Program in order to register your Apple account if you have never successfully installed an Apple software update using the Apple account that you use on your devices. The next step is to obtain the update by going to Settings > General > Software Update on your device, selecting the Beta Updates menu, selecting the Public Beta option, and installing the update on the Software Update screen.