Apple delays big new iOS features to focus on stability in 2018

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iPhone X wireless charging
Apple's putting reliability over big new features.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple is changing up its plans for this year’s mobile software, a new report claims.

As a result of a recent string of criticisms concerning security and quality issues (outlined by my colleague Killian Bell here), Apple will now reportedly delay some of the big iOS features it had planned to 2019.

“Apple has shaken up its iOS software plans for 2018, delaying some features to next year in an effort to put more focus on addressing performance and quality issues,” reporter Ina Fried writes for Axios.

Software boss Craig Federighi reportedly told employees about the revised plan earlier this month, prior to a company offsite with top execs.

The delayed features include a home screen refresh, changes to the in-car user interface, improvements to core apps such as Mail, and updates to the camera, photo-editing and sharing features. Features relating to ARKit, digital health and parental controls will stay on track.

As much as we’re big fans of new landmark features for mobile, if Apple can concentrate on ironing out iOS bugs, rather than adding extra features, we certainly wouldn’t complain.

What do you think of the revised strategy? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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