After iOS 18 comes iOS 18.1 – if there is not a bug fix update iOS 18.0.1 in advance: Apple is currently working intensively on the first major update of the new iPhone operating system. This time the beta phase had already begun before iOS 18.0 was released, as iOS 18.1 is supposed to bring Apple Intelligence for the first time. This is not the only planned innovation that can be expected in October. An overview.
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Record phone calls, convert the control center, take selfies with camera control
iOS 18.1 should make it possible for the first time to record phone calls directly on the device. In the future, the operating system will display a recording button as soon as the conversation is in progress. The iPhone automatically informs the person being called that the recording has started via a voice announcement. This then ends up in the notes app. Automatic transcripts are also planned, but it is still unclear whether they will also be in German – Apple usually takes a little longer here.
The control center will be a little easier to control in the future. If you made a mistake during the configuration, you can now switch back to the standard view with one click (reset). With iOS 18.1, the camera control built into all four iPhone 16 models brings a new selfie function that allows you to create self-portraits without touching the screen. All you have to do is press the button and swipe.
Many functions in Apple Intelligence – but not for Europe
Furthermore, iOS 18.1 brings central Apple Intelligence functions to the iPhone for the first time. These include the so-called writing tools for generating, correcting and reformulating texts, summarizing emails and notifications, answering questions about Apple products using AI, and smart replies to emails and messages. The Photos app can create movies from photos based on prompts and remove unwanted objects from images. Thanks to AI, new focus modes only allow important messages to pass through. The AI can also summarize audio transcripts.
All of the features mean that they will not be available in the EU – at least as of now. In addition, they will initially support US English as the only language, with more to follow next year. Although Siri will have a new design and interact (slightly) better (among other things, you can interrupt the voice assistant and start new sentences), the “real” new Siri will only come later. The same applies to the ChatGPT integration. iOS 18.1 could appear in the second half of the month towards the end of October – at least that was the case with iOS 17.1.
(bsc)