Apple has just rolled out the first public beta of iOS 12, the latest iteration of its mobile operating system. The tech giant had officially announced iOS 12 three weeks ago, during its annual Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC). Because this latest iOS release is a public beta, anybody can basically download and install it on their Apple handset, unlike developer beta versions which can only be accessed by way of a developer account (which fetches for a hundred bucks). It should be said though that despite the deployment of the public beta version of iOS 12, the final version will not hit iOS devices until September later this year.
So what exactly does the public beta of iOS 12 bring?
The most fun is probably Memoji and the addition of new Animoji (for iPhone X users only). Memoji is essentially an iOS mobile user’s own personalized avatar. Creating memoji can be be accomplished through tools found in the Messages app and in FaceTime. As for the new Animoji, they include a dinosaur, a ghost, a koala, and a fearsomely cute tiger cub.
As for those worrying about the possibility that their lives are being controlled by their iPhones, they should be able to take full advantage of the Screen Time tool in order to determine if indeed they are spending too much screen time. Indeed, the tool can generate a chart that shows the level of app usage, or the frequency in which the phone is unlocked. Then there is also the Downtime feature, which allows users to set a specific period of time wherein mobile apps are disabled. The deactivation can be snoozed, or even let people completely shut off an app.
iOS 12 also promises improved deliver of alerts. Notifications can be grouped together (especially if they belong to the same social media feed). On top of this, Apple users can also mute notifications, and there is even a Do Not Disturb setting that device owners can use when they want to be left alone for real.
Apple is also launching group FaceTime through iOS 12, and this nifty little feature is able to switch automatically to whoever is talking. But we suspect many will be excited at the chance of having super large video chats using all those cool Memoji and Animoji.
Other notable improvements also include an enhanced Voice Memos app, plus the presence of Photos search and recommendations.
