Apple announced the new iOS 12 software at its Worldwide Development Conference in San Jose, Calif., on June 4. The company's CEO Tim Cook revealed a lineup of improvements and features that promise to make the update a useful one for all users, including musicians and music fans alike.
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The good news out of the gate for existing users is that the new software will focus on improving the performance of older devices, such as iPhone 6 Plus, and will be available to all iPhones and tablets from 2013 to present. Faster CPU performance will also reduce load time, making the tools you use more readily available.
Many musicians and songwriter rely heavily on one of the simplest apps on their device: Voice Memos. Apple has done a sleek redesign of the app and made it available on the iPad for the first time. Users will also be able to sync their files to iCloud, meaning those inspired song ideas that come to you at the most unusual times will not only be captured, but also backed up to the cloud.
Group FaceTime, a feature many users have desired for years, finally arrives with iOS 12, allowing a whopping 32 people to join a single FaceTime call simultaneously. Users will be able to start a FaceTime call with the existing members of a group chat in iMessage, and when someone on the call is speaking their icon will automatically enlarge, shifting the focus to their face. It's easy to see this feature becoming the new norm for band meetings and friend groups alike.
Perhaps surprisingly, Apple introduced a feature that will help users monitor and control the time they spend on their devices. Screen Time allows users to set a customized time limit for any app and notify them when that daily limit is reached. The feature will also generate daily and weekly reports, providing data on how much time you spend on your phone and how you spend that time. In an age where our world seems to revolve around our devices, this feature could be crucial in helping users understand their own habits. Screen Time is potentially a valuable tool for up-and-coming artists who must split their time between managing a social media presence and mastering their craft.
Similarly, a more sophisticated Do Not Disturb feature will enable users to set parameters during certain parts of their day such as studio time, writing time, or bedtime, so that pesky notifications and distractions are held at bay.
Augmented reality has been coming down the pike for a while, but with iOS 12, it sees the second version of Apple's AR software improve face tracking, realistic rendering, object detection and shared interaction in a serious way. One handy application of this feature is that while shopping online, you can view an object's actual size, color, and texture against your real-world surrounding environment, which could help recording studio builders, costume designers, and gear heads pick out the perfect item online.
Lastly, Apple has doubled down on the rising use of custom emojis by introducing Memoji, a more personalized version of Animoji that uses the front-facing 3D camera to create more realistic looking depictions that are, of course, customizable. Emoji lovers will also appreciate the new tongue detection feature, a technology for which Apple enthusiast Gene Simmons would be proud.
With these new features, plus Siri enhancements, photo sharing improvements, third-party CarPlay integration (Waze and Google Maps, for example) and the streamlined news and stocks apps make iOS 12 more than your average software update.
The new iOS 12 will be available this fall. For more information on these latest developments and more, visit Apple's website.
