Key features of iOS 18 and How to use it ?

Key Features of iOS 18

1. Interactive Widgets

One of the standout features of iOS 18 is the enhancement of widgets. Unlike previous versions, interactive widgets in iOS 18 allow users to perform tasks directly from the home screen without opening apps.

How to Use Interactive Widgets:

  • Press and hold anywhere on your home screen until the apps start to jiggle.
  • Tap the “+” icon in the top left corner.
  • Browse through available widgets. Look for apps with interactive capabilities such as Music, Weather, and Notes.
  • Tap on the widget and place it on your home screen.
  • Once set, you can control music playback, take notes, or check your calendar right from the widget.

2. Live Activities 2.0

Live Activities 2.0 takes real-time notifications to the next level. With deeper integration, you can now track live updates—such as sports scores, delivery updates, or transit status—right from the lock screen or Dynamic Island (for iPhone models that support this).

How to Enable and Use Live Activities:

  • Go to Settings > Notifications > Live Activities and toggle it on.
  • For apps like sports or delivery apps, make sure Live Activities are enabled under the app’s notification settings.
  • When active, you’ll see a widget on your lock screen or Dynamic Island with real-time updates, allowing you to track progress without unlocking your phone.

3. Smart Autofill for Forms

iOS 18 brings a more intelligent autofill system that works across apps and browsers. This feature predicts and automatically fills in forms based on your stored data, such as addresses, credit cards, and passwords.

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How to Use Smart Autofill:

  • Ensure your information is saved by going to Settings > Passwords > Autofill Passwords and enabling autofill for both passwords and credit cards.
  • When you encounter a form, tap the field, and a suggestion will appear above your keyboard. Select the appropriate suggestion, and the form will be filled in automatically.

4. Personal Voice Assistant

iOS 18 introduces a personal voice assistant feature, allowing users to create a digital version of their voice. This is particularly useful for accessibility, enabling the system to speak in your voice for apps like Messages and FaceTime.

How to Set Up and Use Personal Voice Assistant:

  • Navigate to Settings > Accessibility > Personal Voice.
  • Follow the prompts to record your voice over a series of phrases. iOS 18 will use this data to synthesize your unique voice for future interactions.
  • Once set up, the personal voice assistant can speak for you in apps like Messages, or you can enable it in Accessibility Shortcuts for broader use.

5. Proactive Health Monitoring

With the integration of improved health sensors in the latest iPhones, iOS 18 introduces proactive health monitoring that goes beyond traditional tracking. iPhones can now detect irregular heartbeats, monitor blood oxygen levels, and send alerts if any abnormalities are detected.

How to Enable Health Monitoring:

  • Open the Health app and go to Browse > Heart or Respiratory.
  • Enable notifications for irregular heartbeat detection, respiratory rate tracking, and more.
  • Customize your settings by choosing which metrics to track actively, and ensure that alerts are set to notify you in case of any concerning data.
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6. Enhanced Privacy Features: App Activity Transparency

iOS 18 builds upon Apple’s strong privacy focus by introducing App Activity Transparency, a feature that allows you to see exactly how your apps are using your data in real-time.

How to Use App Activity Transparency:

  • Go to Settings > Privacy > App Activity.
  • Toggle on the feature to track which apps are accessing your location, camera, microphone, and more.
  • You can review detailed reports on app behavior, and choose to restrict access for apps that misuse your data.

7. Live Text in Video

Live Text, introduced in iOS 15, now works in videos as well. You can pause a video and interact with the text displayed, such as copying it, looking up definitions, or translating it.

How to Use Live Text in Video:

  • Play any video in your Photos app, pause at a frame where text appears.
  • Tap on the text to interact. You can copy it, search the web, or translate it in real time.

8. FaceTime Enhancements: Reactions and AR Effects

FaceTime in iOS 18 brings a new level of fun with real-time reactions and augmented reality (AR) effects. You can now react with gestures like thumbs-up, and the system will trigger corresponding effects like floating thumbs-up emojis.

How to Use FaceTime Reactions:

  • During a FaceTime call, perform a gesture like a thumbs-up or peace sign.
  • FaceTime will detect the gesture and trigger an appropriate AR effect in real-time, adding an extra layer of interaction to your conversations.

9. Contact Posters

This new feature allows you to create personalized contact posters that will appear when you call someone. These posters can include images, memojis, and custom fonts for your contact details, making it a fun way to display your identity when calling someone.

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How to Create Contact Posters:

  • Go to Contacts and select a contact to edit.
  • Tap on Add Photo or Memoji and customize it with a picture, memoji, or a design of your choice.
  • Choose a font and color to display the contact name, and save your changes. The poster will now appear when you call others with iOS 18.

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