Apple Released iOS 18.1 Update with Apple Intelligence Features Available

Apple has officially released the iOS 18.1 update, bringing a plethora of new features and enhancements to iPhone users, with a particular focus on the introduction of Apple Intelligence.

Apple Intelligence

One of the most significant additions in iOS 18.1 is Apple Intelligence, a feature that leverages personal context to provide users with more relevant and helpful information. Available on iPhone 16 models, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max, Apple Intelligence integrates deeply into various aspects of the iPhone experience. Users can activate Apple Intelligence through a new section in the settings, although they may initially need to join a brief waitlist.

Apple Intelligence enhances Siri with richer language understanding and greater awareness of the user's personal context, making Siri more capable and helpful than ever. The new Siri UI takes over the entire screen, featuring animations that respond to the user's interactions. Additionally, users can now activate Siri using the "Type to Siri" feature by double-tapping the side button.

Phone Call Recording

A highly anticipated feature, phone call recording, has been introduced in iOS 18.1. Users can now record phone calls by tapping a new icon during a call, which will prompt both parties that the call is being recorded. These recordings are saved in a new "Call Recordings" section within the Notes application.

Notification Enhancements

iOS 18.1 also includes a notification counter, which helps users keep track of multiple notifications from the same application. This feature displays the number of notifications received from each app, making it easier to manage and prioritize them.

Shortcuts and Accessibility

The update introduces new shortcut actions, including the ability to access Spotlight search from within any application. This eliminates the need for workarounds like using the Back Tap feature. Additionally, users can now send friend invites directly from the Contacts app and view friend suggestions along with their recent activity in Game Center.

For developers, iOS 18.1 allows access to the iPhone's NFC chip, enabling features such as contactless car and hotel keys, in-store payments, and event tickets.

The update includes TikTok integration with Apple Music, allowing users to share songs as videos, photos, or messages directly from Apple Music. Furthermore, iOS 18.1 adds support for business messages over RCS (Rich Communication Services), a feature previously available only in iMessage.

Lock Screen and Control Center

Users can now customize the Lock Screen controls, swapping out the default options for others like Timer or Calculator. The Control Center has been redesigned with new groups of controls, making it easier to take actions on various features. A controls gallery displays all available options, including those from favorite apps.

Photos and Messages

The Photos app has been revamped to make photo libraries more accessible. Photos are now organized by topics such as Recent Days, Trips, People & Pets, and more. Users can also customize the app using Pinned Collections to quickly access important collections or albums. In Messages, new text effects like bold, italics, underline, and strikethrough are available, along with animated effects for letters, words, phrases, or emojis. Users can schedule messages to send at a specified time and use satellite capabilities to stay connected without Wi-Fi or cellular coverage.

Safari and Passwords

Safari now automatically detects and highlights relevant information on web pages, such as maps, translations, and links. A redesigned reader view includes a table of contents and a high-level summary for articles. The new Passwords app safely stores all passwords, account credentials, and verification codes in one place, automatically adding generated passwords via AutoFill.

Maps and Emergency Features

Maps now include topographic maps with detailed trail networks and hikes, including all 63 U.S. national parks. Users can save hiking maps for offline access with turn-by-turn voice guidance and create custom walking and hiking routes. The Emergency SOS feature has been enhanced to allow sharing of streaming video and recorded media during emergency calls.

Accessibility and Freeform

Eye Tracking is a new accessibility feature that allows users to control their iPhone with just their eyes. Music Haptics syncs the iPhone's Taptic Engine with the rhythm of songs, and Vocal Shortcuts help users with severe atypical speech record sounds to trigger specific actions. Freeform has been improved with scenes to organize and present boards section by section, and users can send a copy of their board to anyone via a link.

Calculator and Calendar

The Calculator app now includes tools like history and unit conversions, as well as Math Notes to evaluate expressions, assign variables, plot graphs, and more. The Calendar app features a redesigned Month view and allows users to create, view, edit, and complete reminders directly within the Calendar.

Additional Features

Other notable features include the ability to drag and drop files between iPhone and Mac, improved iPhone mirroring, and a new lock screen toggle for quick notes. Developers can now access additional RCS features that were not available in iOS 18.0.

These updates and features in iOS 18.1 aim to enhance the overall user experience, providing more personalization, better connectivity, and improved functionality across various aspects of the iPhone.