While Apple’s new AI features might have been centre stage at WWDC, the company also introduced several major changes to the iPhone’s operating system.
Due to launch in autumn this year, iOS 18 is set to give Apple users even more options to customise their devices.
But from the ability to lock or hide apps to new ways to send messages, some of these features have left Apple fans divided.
While some tech fans have praised the ‘mind boggling’ new tools, others say they will make cheating in relationships easier.
One commenter on X, formerly Twitter, even wrote: ‘The new Apple iOS is designed purely for cheating’.
At WWDC yesterday evening, Apple revealed the details of iOS 18 – its latest major software update
However, tech fans have been divided by the new features with some saying that they have been ‘designed purely for cheating’ in relationships
Customisation
One of the biggest changes in iOS 18 is that iPhone users will now have a number of ways to customise the apps and widgets on their home screen and Control Center.
Users will even be able to change the way that app icons appear for the first time with options to give them dark or tinted effects as well as adjust their size.
iOS 18 has also overhauled the Control Centre with more flexibility and customisation.
Rather than the usual torch, timer, or calculator icons, users can choose exactly what controls to add and how they are arranged.
That includes the addition of controls from third-party apps such as those for your car or smart home.
Fans were impressed by the level of customisation to the home screen and Control Centre
However, not everyone believed that giving people control over their home screen was a good idea
On X, some complained that people would make their phones ugly if given the option to customise the design
On social media, many fans have welcomed the option to set up their phone just how they like it with one calling the new Control Center ‘mind boggling’.
But not everyone was so sure giving users more control was the right idea for a company known for its excellent design.
On X, one commenter wrote: ‘iOS will now give you the option to make your home screen ugly.’
Another even added: ‘The thing that made Apple so successful, and what Steve Jobs deeply understood, is that the masses have terrible taste’.
However, the option that has caused the most stir online is the option to lock or hide apps from the home screen.
Most controversially, iOS 18 now gives users to the ability to hide or lock apps on the homescreen
Apple says: ‘Users can now lock an app; and for additional privacy, they can hide an app, moving it to a locked, hidden apps folder.
‘When an app is locked or hidden, content like messages or emails inside the app are hidden from search, notifications, and other places across the system.’
Apps that a user chooses to hide will be kept in a folder labelled ‘Hidden’ which can only be opened using Face ID.
Apple says this is designed to ‘offer users peace of mind’ that information will not ‘inadvertently be seen by others’.
But, on social media, many commenters suggested that this would make iOS 18 perfect for those cheating in a relationship.
Hidden apps are placed in the ‘Hidden’ folder and will not trigger notifications or alerts
However, many commenters said that the hidden app option would make it easier for people cheating in a relationship
Some joked that an APple executive must be keen to hide their own infidelity based on the privacy updates
On X, one commenter wrote: ‘Whoever is coming up with these updates at Apple is cheating on their spouse because what is this????’
Anotherr added that ‘Apple just made cheating so much easier’.
While another joked: ‘Some exec at Apple probably got caught cheating and pushed this as necessary features.’
Messages app
iOS 18 will also update the Messages app with more expressive options and more functionality.
iMessage users will be able to use animate text effects to bring any word, character, phrase or emoji to life.
The dynamic animations include options such as ‘explode’, ‘bloom’, ‘jitter’, or ‘ripple’ and are automatically suggested as the user types.
Just like WhatsApp, Apple users will now also be able to add formatting options such as bold, underline, italics, and strikethrough to their text.
But the feature that has tech fans most divided is the introduction of new ‘Tapback’ options.
The update will give users the ability to respond to a message with any emoji or sticker with just a tap.
Yet while the new feature has been welcomed by many, some fans complained that it had taken Apple so long to implement.
‘Bout time, sick of the thumbs up and haha, it don’t hit hard enough,’ one commenter wrote on X.
Another added: ‘Why does it take so long to add a feature like the tap back customize thing? You’ve been able to do that on IG forever.’
While one commenter simply wrote: ‘About time!’.
Apple users welcomed the addition of new Tapback options but said they had not come soon enough
Some commenters asked why it had taken Apple such a long time to introduce the option available elsewhere
However, Apple users were happy to finally see new emoji and sticker options in the iMessage Tapback menu
iOS 18 introduces new formatting and reaction options in the the Messages app including more emojis and stickers in Tapback
Fans were impressed by the new ability to send text messages via satellite, calling the update ‘insane’
Yet while some of the features divided fans, the new option to schedule messages to send ahead of time has been universally welcomed.
On X, one commenter wrote that the ability to schedule messages was ‘literally the best feature’ in the update.
Another added that it was ‘The most underrated iOS 18 feature.
While one commenter excitedly asked: ‘Wait for real? Hype. Been wanting this.’
Likewise, the new ability to send text messages via satellite was hailed by one commenter as ‘insane’ and ‘something that WhatsApp can’t compete with.’
However, the feature Apple users were most excited for was the option to schedule messages in iMessage
Users were elated to see they could now plan messages in advance, calling it ‘the most underrated iOS 18 feature’
Apple users reacted with excitement to the changes in iMessage, hailing the improved convenience and customisation
Apple Intelligence
Apple’s biggest announcement of the day is, of course, the new suite of AI tools and integration known as Apple Intelligence.
The company describes Apple Intelligence as a ‘personal intelligence system’ for the iPhone, iPad and Mac.
This update will incorporate AI into almost every part of the operating system, giving it the power to act across acts and draw on context to help in various tasks.
On iOS 18, users will get access to AI photo editing tools, writing tools, AI-generated emoji and ‘Memory Movies’.
One of the biggest changes is the integration of OpenAI’s ChatGPT into Siri.
This update not only gives Siri improve voice recognition but also massively expands the context it can draw on and the actions it can take.
The biggest announcements of the day were all about Apple’s new AI features which include photo editing, writing tools, and image generation
However, some raised privacy concerns over Apple’s new partnership with Open AI, the company behind ChatGPT
X CEO Elon Musk even threatened to ban all Apple devices from his companies if the integration of ChatGPT and Apple’s operating system went ahead
Siri will now feature ‘onscreen awareness’ letting it access information on your phone and act in apps on the users behalf.
While this brings Siri far closer to becoming a true AI personal assistant, some have also raised privacy concerns over the collaboration between Apple and OpenAI.
One commenter wrote: ‘Imagine what ChatGPT will be able to do with all this influx of data from Apple.’
While on X, Elon Musk even threatened to ban any Apple devices from the premisses of his companies if the update goes ahead as announced.
The Tesla CEO wrote: ‘If Apple integrates OpenAI at the OS level, then Apple devices will be banned at my companies.
He added: ‘That is an unacceptable security violation.’