Apple has released the first public beta versions of iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2, offering users an early glimpse into the future of their devices. These updates introduce a range of new features powered by Apple Intelligence, promising to revolutionize how users interact with their Apple products.
Apple Intelligence Takes Center Stage
The star of this update is undoubtedly the expanded Apple Intelligence suite. Here are some of the standout features:
Image Playground
This new app allows users to create images based on text descriptions. Whether you're looking to design a character or craft a unique scene, Image Playground turns your words into visual art. The app even suggests elements like costumes and locations to enhance your creations.
Genmoji
Genmoji brings a new level of personalization to emojis. Users can now create custom emoji characters based on descriptions or even model them after friends and family. These personalized emojis can be easily accessed through the emoji keyboard.
ChatGPT Integration with Siri
Siri gets a significant upgrade with ChatGPT integration. When Siri encounters a question it can't answer, it can now defer to ChatGPT (with user permission) to provide more comprehensive responses. This feature also enables Siri to generate text and images on demand.
Visual Intelligence
Exclusive to iPhone 16 users, Visual Intelligence turns your camera into an information hub. Point your camera at a restaurant to see reviews, or at an object to search for it online. This feature promises to make interacting with your surroundings more intuitive and informative.
Additional Features and Improvements
Beyond Apple Intelligence, the new betas introduce several other noteworthy updates:
- A redesigned Mail app with automatic categorization of emails
- The ability to change default apps for Messages and Phone
- A new Volume Limit feature in Settings
- Enhanced Voice Memos with multi-track layering for iPhone 16 Pro users
- Improved Writing Tools for more flexible content creation
Availability and Compatibility
The public betas are available for download through Apple's beta testing website. However, it's worth noting that some features, particularly those related to Apple Intelligence, are limited to newer iPhone models and specific regions.
Apple Intelligence is currently available on iPhone 16 models, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. It supports localized English in several countries, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and others. However, it's not yet available in the EU or China.
Looking Ahead
While these betas offer an exciting preview of what's to come, it's important to remember that they may contain bugs and unfinished features. Apple is expected to release the final versions of iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 in early December.
As Apple continues to refine these updates based on user feedback, the full release promises to deliver a more intelligent, creative, and personalized experience across Apple devices.