Apple shared iOS 18 beta release notes on its developer website last week, and they reveal some smaller changes related to FaceTime, Siri, and the Wallet app.
iOS 18 is currently in beta for Apple Developer Program members, with a public beta to follow in July. The update should be widely released in September.
FaceTime
Apple says FaceTime will use more data in Low Power Mode on iOS 18 when network conditions are good, for improved video call quality.
Siri
iOS 18 includes a new setting that can “significantly” improve Siri’s audio quality in Bluetooth-enabled vehicles that lack CarPlay, according to Apple.
The new option can be found in the Settings app under Siri → Siri Responses → “Respond over Media Source.” The description for this setting says that “Siri will respond over A2DP car stereos, which is ideal while listening to media from your phone.”
Wallet
As noted by Nicolás Álvarez, the notes indicate that users adding an ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone may now be asked to take a Live Photo instead of, or in addition to, conducting a series of head and facial movements. Apple says the Live Photo will be evaluated by the device to ensure that the real and rightful person is adding the ID.
Apple first announced the ability to add a driver’s license or ID to the Wallet app in 2021, but only four U.S. states have rolled out the feature so far, including Arizona, Maryland, Colorado, and Georgia. The feature provides a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports, businesses, and venues.
Popular Stories
iOS 18 Adds These 5 New Features to CarPlay
Apple did not mention CarPlay during its WWDC keynote this week, but iOS 18 includes a handful of new features for the in-car software. Overall, there is not a whole lot new for CarPlay on iOS 18, with changes seemingly limited to the Messages and Settings apps so far. Below, we recap everything new for CarPlay on iOS 18. New for CarPlay on iOS 18 1. Contact Photos in Messages App…
Kuo: Apple Watch Series 10 to Get Larger Screen and Thinner Design
This year’s Apple Watch Series 10 will be thinner and come in larger screen sizes than previous models, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In his latest industry note -10-and-98075c44ce92″>shared on Medium, Kuo said the screen size options on the next-generation Apple Watch will increase from 41mm to 45mm, and from 45mm to 49mm, while being encased in a thinner design. For reference,…
Apple Developing Thinner MacBook Pro, Apple Watch, and iPhone
Apple intends to slim down the MacBook Pro, Apple Watch, and iPhone, with the new ultra-thin M4 iPad Pro a sign of the company’s new design trajectory, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. When the M4 iPad Pro was unveiled last month, Apple touted it as the company’s thinnest product ever, and even compared it to the 2012 iPod nano to emphasize its slim dimensions. Writing in the latest …
You Can Give Siri a New Name With iOS 18’s Vocal Shortcuts
Apple in iOS 18 added a Vocal Shortcuts accessibility feature, and now that iOS 18 is available in a beta capacity, users have figured out that this option can be used to give Siri a new wake word. With Vocal Shortcuts, you can assign a custom phrase that Siri can understand to launch shortcuts and complete “complex tasks,” and one of the shortcuts you can set up is an alternative for “Hey…
Here’s What’s New in Apple Wallet on iOS 18 for Event Tickets and More
iOS 18 includes a handful of enhancements to the Wallet app on the iPhone, with new features for Apple Pay, Apple Cash, event tickets, and more. Below, we outline everything new for the Wallet app on iOS 18, based on information from Apple’s press release and a WWDC 2024 coding session. Redesigned Event Tickets Event tickets have an all-new design in the Wallet app on iOS 18, complete…