But will you do it? Screenshot: Rajesh Pandey/CultOfMac
For the first time on an iPhone, you can set WhatsApp as the default calling and messaging app. The feature remains exclusive to the latest WhatsApp beta for iOS, but should soon expand to the public build.
WhatsApp is the first major app to adopt the necessary APIs, enabling you to replace Apple’s Phone and Messages apps on your iPhone.
iOS 18.3.2 is out for iPhone, along with macOS 15.3.2, iPadOS 18.3.2 and visionOS 2.3.2. Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple introduced on Tuesday four patches for a range of devices to deal with bugs. iOS 18.3.2, macOS 15.3.2, iPadOS 18.3.2 and visionOS 2.3.2 are all ready to download.
In addition to a bug fix related to streaming content, the patches also include a fix for a potentially serious security issue.
iOS 18.4 beta is packed with new features. Photo: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac
A week after the first iOS 18.4 beta dropped, Apple released the second beta build. It packs even more changes and brings an iPhone 16 feature to the iPhone 15 Pro lineup.
Below are all the changes we have discovered in iOS 18.4 beta 2 and previous builds so far.
This is the best way to give everyone the Wi-Fi password. Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
When guests come over, it’s common courtesy to share your Wi-Fi password — and your iPhone offers plenty of tricks up its sleeve to make it easy.
You don’t need to go through your photo library to look up the picture you took of the bottom of your router, then read the long string of numbers and letters. Instead, you can show them a convenient QR code to connect them instantly. Or, if they’re in your contacts, you can share the password with a single button tap. For your Android and Windows friends, you can look up any saved Wi-Fi password from either Settings, or, well … Passwords. If you often work with colors, a Nix Mini Color Sensor can make identifying and matching colors quick and effortless.
Get the Apple Intelligence features early. Image: Apple/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
You can get Apple Intelligence right now on your iPhone, iPad, Mac and Vision Pro. All you have to do is update to the latest developer beta release. You’ll get access to Visual Intelligence, Image Playground, Genmoji and more.
The developer beta of iOS 18.4 enables Apple Intelligence in the European Union for the first time. visionOS 2.4 brings the featureset to the Vision Pro.
Apple Intelligence is compatible with the iPhone 15 Pro and the new iPhone 16 lineup. Unfortunately, older devices (or even the iPhone 15) don’t have enough RAM to support Apple’s Foundation models. Luckily, you can also try it out if you have an iPad or Mac with an M-series or A17 Pro chip.
Visual Intelligance transforms real-world objects into digital data. Photo: Apple
Visual Intelligence, which previously was reserved for the iPhone 16 models, will reportedly reach the two iPhone 15 Pro variants in the near future.
Realistically, there was no reason why the artificial intelligence feature shouldn’t have been added to Apple’s 2023 models with the debut of iOS 18. In fact, with the growing demand for AI-powered productivity tools, many users are looking for ways toAI take notes efficiently to enhance their workflow.
Install iOS 18.3.1 if you have any concern your iPhone might get hacked. Or if you just don’t want bugs. Screenshot: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
iOS 18.3.1, iPadOS 18.3.1 and more updates went out Monday. These bring bug fixes, while a security update makes them highly recommended for anyone with a compatible iPhone or iPad.
In addition, you can download macOS Sequoia 15.3.1, watchOS 11.3.1 and visionOS 2.3.1 — each with their own fixes — now as well.
Apple Intelligence will soon get a major international expansion. Photo: Apple
Apple’s rollout of Apple Intelligence has been slow. The AI suite debuted with iOS 18.1 but initially launched in only a limited number of markets and languages.
Since then, the company has expanded support to more regions and languages, but there is still significant ground to cover. This April, the company will further accelerate its efforts and expand Apple Intelligence’s availability to more languages.
iPhone's satellite connectivity is getting a new provider. Photo: Starlink
iOS 18.3 adds Starlink network support to iPhones on T-Mobile’s network. A report claims Apple secretly worked with Starlink and T-Mobile to roll out the feature.
Currently, T-Mobile is providing Starlink connectivity to iPhone users on its network on an invite-only basis.
Your iPhone is gaining some new features. Photo: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac
After more than a month of beta testing, Apple released iOS 18.3 to the public Monday. Unlike the last two point updates, iOS 18.3 is light on big additions. However, it brings minor new features and some usability improvements. Check them all out below.
Apple Intelligence will soon be on by default on compatible handsets. Screenshot: Apple
iPhone users who install iOS 18.3 after the upgrade launches next week will find that Apple Intelligence is now on by default for those who use a compatible handset.
Previously, using the suite of AI-powered functions required opting in, but no longer. It’s a seemingly subtle but important change.
iOS 18.3 is likely only a week away. Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple seeded the release candidates for iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3 and macOS Sequoia 15.3 to developers Tuesday. In addition, the watchOS 11.3 RC, tvOS 18.3 RC and visionOS 2.3 RC went to developers at the same time. These bring only minor modifications to the various devices, though.
Release candidates are generally the final phase before the operating system upgrades go to users.
The inaccurate notification summary that sparked the criticism. Photo: BBC News
Following major criticism from major media outlets, Apple is making changes to how its AI-powered notifications summaries work with iOS 18.3 beta 3.
The newest iOS 18.3 beta disables notification summaries for apps in the news and entertainment categories. It also makes several other changes to highlight the feature being in beta and potentially generating summaries with errors.
No, the iPhone SE 4 won't launch in January. Photo: Filipe Alves
Apple is hard at work on iOS 18.3, iPhone SE 4 and iPad 11, but the company won’t launch the new devices alongside the operating system update, which should drop later this month or in early February.
Instead, the new budget iPhone and iPad reportedly will land in April.
Your iPhone needs iOS 18.2.1. And there’s an iPadOS version, too. Photo: Cult of Mac
iOS 18.2.1 went out Monday with the intent of removing bugs that snuck into the earlier version of the iPhone operating system. Apple also released an iPadOS equivalent.
Apple recommends both to anyone who installed the previous versions.
iOS 18.3 beta 1 is here, but consider leaving it alone. Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple seeded the first beta of iOS 18.3, macOS Sequoia 15.3 and iPadOS 18.3 to developers Monday. However, the unusual timing of the release means all but the most committed — and best-equipped — beta testers should probably wait until beta 2 arrives.
Still, there are plenty of new Apple Intelligence features that might make their debut in these new versions.
iOS 18's slow rollout of AI features is causing a domino effect. Photo: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac
Apple is gradually rolling out many of the big iOS 18 features showcased at WWDC24. iOS 18.1 marked the debut of Apple Intelligence, and with iOS 18.2, the company brought more AI features. This slow rollout is supposedly leading to many internal delays in iOS 19 features.
Expect to wait until 2026 for some new iOS 19 additions.
The iOS 18.2 release date is also brought the major upgrades to macOS Sequoia and iPadOS 18.2. Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2 and macOS Sequoia 15.2 release date is here. They bring in the second wave of Apple Intelligence features, including Genmoji, the Image Playground, optional ChatGPT integration and more.
watchOS 11.2, tvOS 18.2 and visionOS 2.2 also went out, though these don’t include any AI features.
iOS 18.2 is coming, but the release date isn’t Monday as some had hoped. Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
Monday isn’t the iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2 and macOS Sequoia 15.2 release date, as some had hoped. Instead, Apple sent out another round of pre-release versions for testing, a slightly unusual step.
UPDATE: Apple just announced that iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 are set to launch on Wednesday, December 11. They are not yet out at the time of this writing, and the most likely time is 10 A.M. Pacific/1 P.M. Eastern.
When they debut, these operating systems bring to iPhone, iPad and Mac a new collection of Apple Intelligence features, including Genmoji, the Image Playground and more, so there’s plenty of anticipation.
A bunch of Apple Intelligence features — and, more excitingly, sudoku. Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
iOS 18.2 drops a huge number of new features onto the iPhone. The second major iOS 18 update, available now, expands the capabilities of Apple Intelligence — and adds plenty of goodies for everyone else, too.
Keep reading or watch our video on the new features awaiting iPhone owners in iOS 18.2.
Don’t wait: you can safely and easily put iOS 18.2 on your iPhone now. Here’s how. Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
iOS 18.2 will go out to iPhones everywhere next week, but you don’t need to wait. It’s possible to go ahead and install the iOS 18.2 release candidate — the final version before Apple pushes it to the public — this weekend. That way you’ll have time to play around with the AI-powered Image Playground and other new Apple Intelligence features.
Getting iOS 18.2 now doesn’t require doing anything dodgy or risky. You’ll download the final version of the upgrade straight from Apple … just a little earlier than scheduled.
iOS 18.2 brings a range of new AI features. AI image: ChatGPT
iOS 18.2 will make searching on Apple Music and Apple TV much easier with natural language support. This means you can use natural language to describe and search for TV shows or music you are looking for.
The revamped Photos app gained support for similar search capabilities with the iOS 18.1 update.
The wait for iOS 18.2 and new Apple Intelligence features is almost over. Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
With Thursday’s introduction of the release candidates for iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2 and macOS Sequoia 15.2, we’re likely a week away from the debut of the second wave of Apple Intelligence features, including Genmoji, the Image Playground and more.
Release candidates for watchOS 11.2, tvOS 18.2 and visionOS 2.2 also went out.
The iOS 18.2 release date is soon — just not as soon as had been rumored. AI image: ChatGPT
A rumor from early November said the iOS 18.2 launch day would be the week of December 2, but that’s now impossible. There are steps that must take place before the operating system can be introduced, and not all of them have happened yet.
The release will probably be in the second week of December. Right now, the earliest likely date is December 10, though December 11 is looking increasingly likely.
Whenever the launch finally happens, it’ll usher in some of the most-anticipated new Apple Intelligence features, including Genmoji, the Image Playground and more.