Apple iOS 12 release: Key features, list of iPhones, iPads, iPod eligible for new update

Cupertino-based technology giant Apple is all set to roll-out the latest iOS 12 to all eligible iPhones, iPads and iPod series later today.

The company first announced the iOS 12 at the World Wide Developer Conference (WWDC) 2018 and since then it has been under beta testing. Now, the public version will be released in a few hours.

List of Apple devices eligible for Apple iOS 12.0:

 Apple iOS 12: Key features you should know

Performance improvements:

Like previous versions, Apple's new iOS 12 has been optimised to make the iPhones and iPads to perform faster than before. Once upgraded to the new software, apps will load 40 percent faster, the camera 70 percent quicker and the keyboard will open 50 percent faster.

Group FaceTime: After upgrading to the iOS 12, Apple device owners can do Group FaceTime chatting with up to 32 people at the same time. Participants can also be added at any time or join later if the conversation is still active and can choose to join using video or audio from an iPhone, iPad or Mac — or even participate using FaceTime audio from Apple Watch.

Siri Shortcuts: This is one of the new features introduced for the first time of Apple devices. With the new iOS 12, virtual assistant Siri will be able to deliver a new, much faster way to get things done with the ability for apps to work with just the voice commands.

The user can even customise shortcuts by creating a simple voice command to trigger a task or download the new Shortcuts app to create a series of actions from different apps that can be carried out with a simple tap or customised voice command.

Screen Time:

This iOS 12 feature will help individuals track their activities on their phone with details of most-used apps and time spent on it so that they can limit their usage over time. It also offers parents to control screen time of their children on Apple devices. They can set the timer for particular apps or the screen time of the device and once it hits zero, the device's screen turns off. So, children can go to sleep or study for that matter.

New Notifications options:

Apple fans have been waiting for this feature for several years and the long wait finally ends with the iOS 12. Apple is offering more options in iOS 12 on controlling how notifications are delivered. They can instantly manage notifications to be delivered quietly or turned off completely. Most importantly, grouped notifications make it easier to view and manage multiple notifications at once.

The Do Not Disturb option in the Bedtime feature also helps people get a better night's sleep. Once activated, the devices' display gets dimmed and hides all notifications on the lock screen until prompted in the morning.

New Photo share:

Apple iOS 12 brings a 'For You' tab to place favourite moments in under one roof, combining Memories and iCloud Shared Albums. This new sharing suggestions option comes with a new prompt feature that tells the device and their friends (provided they have Apple device), share back any photos and videos they have from the same trip or event.

Search suggestions surface the most relevant Events, People, Places, Groups, Categories and recent searches, and new search functionality lets users combine multiple search terms to find just the right photos.  

Privacy and security:

After the fallout of Cambridge Analytica scandal, Google, Facebook, Apple and other several technology companies announced to make their services compliant to European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Act to safeguard user data in social media websites and mobile apps.

Now, the Cupertino-based company is going a step further to secure their loyal users' privacy. The company has incorporated enhanced Intelligent Tracking Prevention in the Safari browser to block social media "Like" or "Share" buttons and comment widgets from tracking users without permission.

Also, Safari now comes with simplified system information prevents data-mining company or social media platform to track users based on their system configuration.

Furthermore, Safari automatically creates, auto-fills and stores strong passwords when users create new online accounts and flag reused passwords so users can change them.

Memoji: One of the key features of the iPhone X that made fans felt awed was the Animoji. It even intimidated rival brands to copy and launch their own version, which never matched to the standard of the Apple.

Now, the company is bringing cool interactive feature Memoji, which allows iPhone X owners to create a custom caricature of their self. With iPhone X's advanced front camera, Memoji and even Animoji accurately detects the users' winks and tongue to capture and offer personalised expressions and send them across to friends and family on the iMessage app.

Also, Apple expanded Animoji portfolio with the ghost, koala, tiger and T. rex.

The company has also brought in new camera effects bringing filters, text and stickers to messages and FaceTime. The new filters like comic book and watercolour add personality to photos and videos, new labels and shapes. It lets users add captions and titles to highlight parts of an image and stickers can be placed using iMessage sticker packs, the company said.

Other notable features of iOS 12 are as follows:

• With iOS 12, Apple is bringing Stocks app to iPad. It illustrates how the market is moving with easy-to-understand quotes and high-quality news.

• The new iOS 12 will make CarPlay for Automobiles support third-party navigation apps displayed right on the dashboard joining music, messaging, calling and automaker apps.

• Apple iOS 12 also brings Voice Memos to the iPad and adds iCloud support to sync recordings and edits across devices. A new design makes it easier to capture, share and edit recordings.

• Siri translation expands to more than 40 language pairs and brings more knowledge of sports, celebrities, food and nutrition. With improved machine learning algorithm, Siri will now be able to bring out favourite photos by person, place, event, time and topic.

• Apple iOS 12 improves the Wallet app to support syncing of student ID cards. With this, students gain access to places including the library, dorms and events, and pay for snacks, laundry and dinners around campus simply by adding their ID cards to Wallet on Apple Watch. However, this will be limited to select schools in the US.

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