iOS 18.3 RC 15+ new hidden features, changes, and updates

Summary

iOS 18.3 introduces major improvements, including the opt-out activation of Apple Intelligence, visual intelligence features, and Siri automation groundwork for iOS 18.4. The update enhances the Siri interface, introduces new actions, and makes Siri more aware of personal context. Users will also experience better camera and plant/animal recognition, as well as a redesigned calculator app. With the screen recording feature, live camera, stereo microphone, and HDR support are added. Notification summaries are now more transparent, while a new Zoom transition improves the Shortcuts app. This update marks an exciting step forward in iOS technology and user experience.

Takeaways

• 😀 Apple Intelligence is now enabled by default for new users in iOS 18.3, requiring no manual activation.
• 😀 Siri's new automation features are being laid in iOS 18.3 and will be fully enabled in iOS 18.4, including new app actions and personal context knowledge.
• 😀 Visual intelligence improvements in iOS 18.3 allow users to recognize objects like event flyers and plants with the camera app for immediate action.
• 😀 Siri will soon be able to understand the content on your screen and take actions based on what’s displayed, thanks to new on-screen awareness features in iOS 18.4.
• 😀 The Calculator app now allows users to repeat calculations with the press of the equal button, a feature many users requested to bring back.
• 😀 iOS 18.3 addresses several bugs, including fixing the Type to Siri interface where the keyboard wouldn’t show, and preventing audio from continuing after closing the Music app.
• 😀 Notification summaries in iOS 18.3 now display a warning about potential inaccuracies, making users more aware of errors in news alerts and other summaries.
• 😀 Users can differentiate between summarized notifications and actual alerts thanks to new italicized text and icons, improving the user experience.
• 😀 The upcoming screen recording and streaming features in iOS will include live camera overlays, stereo microphone support, and HDR functionality for enhanced broadcasts.
• 😀 iOS 18.3 temporarily disables some summary notifications due to known inaccuracies, but will automatically re-enable the feature once it’s fixed, ensuring better user control over notifications.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the iOS 18.3 release candidate?

The iOS 18.3 release candidate focuses on enhancing visual intelligence, adding new features to Siri, improving system stability, and resolving bugs. Key updates include integration with Apple Intelligence, new Siri capabilities, improvements in screen recording, and visual intelligence enhancements such as plant and event recognition.

What changes have been made to Apple Intelligence in iOS 18.3?

Apple Intelligence is now enabled by default for all new users and those upgrading to iOS 18.3. This means there's no need to manually enable it. It also introduces new Siri functionalities, such as more intelligent personal context handling and improved app interactions.

How does Siri's new functionality in iOS 18.3 compare to future updates in iOS 18.4?

While iOS 18.3 lays the groundwork for Siri automation, iOS 18.4 will introduce new features like the ability to perform hundreds of actions in Apple apps without opening them, reference personal data like past calendar events, and understand what's on the screen to take relevant actions.

What visual intelligence features are included in iOS 18.3?

iOS 18.3 introduces visual intelligence features that allow the camera to identify objects like plants and animals. It also includes the ability to scan items like flyers and automatically create calendar events with all pertinent data, offering a more seamless user experience.

Can iOS 18.3 now perform automatic recognition of plants and animals?

Yes, iOS 18.3 can now automatically recognize plants and animals using the camera. This feature provides more detailed information about the identified object through a simple tap on the screen.

What new feature was added to the Calculator app in iOS 18.3?

iOS 18.3 brings back the ability to repeat calculations by pressing the equal sign multiple times. This feature had been removed in iOS 18 but was reintroduced in the latest update.

How has Apple improved notification summaries in iOS 18.3?

Apple has made it clear that notification summaries are still a beta feature and may occasionally be inaccurate. In iOS 18.3, the summaries are now highlighted as beta, and users are informed when summaries are temporarily unavailable. There's also a new italicized text style to help differentiate summaries from actual notifications.

What does the zoom transition in the Shortcuts app do in iOS 18.3?

The zoom transition in iOS 18.3 adds a smooth, visually appealing effect when navigating through the Shortcuts app. This new transition makes the user interface feel more polished and modern.

What new capabilities can we expect in the future for screen recording in iOS?

Future updates to iOS will bring advanced screen recording features, including live camera overlays in a picture-in-picture format, stereo microphone support, and HDR capabilities for better quality recordings and streaming.

What bug fixes and improvements are included in iOS 18.3?

iOS 18.3 resolves several bugs, including the issue where the 'Type to Siri' keyboard wouldn't show up and the bug causing audio playback to continue after closing the Music app. It also improves the notification summary feature by better indicating when summaries are unavailable or inaccurate.