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iOS 18 Rumored to Add New Features to These 15 Apps on Your iPhone

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Apple is expected to announce iOS 18 during its WWDC keynote on June 10, and new features have already been rumored for many apps, including Apple Music, Apple Maps, Calculator, Messages, Notes, Safari, and others.

iOS 18 Apple Music Messages and Notes Feature
Below, we recap iOS 18 rumors on a per-app basis, based on reports from MacRumors, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, and others:

While they are not dedicated apps, it has also been rumored that generative AI technology will allow the iPhone’s virtual assistant Siri and built-in search tool Spotlight to respond to more complex questions and search queries.

For even more rumors, read our iOS 18 roundup.

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Apple Event Rumors: iPad Pro With M4 Chip and New Apple Pencil With Haptic Feedback

In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman outlined some of the new products he expects Apple to announce at its “Let Loose” event on May 7. First, Gurman now believes there is a “strong possibility” that the upcoming iPad Pro models will be equipped with Apple’s next-generation M4 chip, rather than the M3 chip that debuted in the MacBook Pro and iMac six months ago. He said a …

Apple ID Accounts Logging Out Users and Requiring Password Reset

There are widespread reports of Apple users being locked out of their Apple ID overnight for no apparent reason, requiring a password reset before they can log in again. Users say the sudden inexplicable Apple ID sign-out is occurring across multiple devices. When they attempt to sign in again they are locked out of their account and asked to reset their password in order to regain access. …

iOS 18 Rumored to ‘Overhaul’ Notes, Mail, Photos, and Fitness Apps

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman today said that iOS 18 will “overhaul” many of Apple’s built-in apps, including Notes, Mail, Photos, and Fitness. Gurman did not reveal any specific new features planned for these apps. It was previously rumored that the Notes app will gain support for displaying more math equations, and a built-in option to record voice memos, but this is the first time we have…

iOS 18 Rumored to Add These 10 New Features to Your iPhone

Apple is set to unveil iOS 18 during its WWDC keynote on June 10, so the software update is a little over six weeks away from being announced. Below, we recap rumored features and changes planned for the iPhone with iOS 18. iOS 18 will reportedly be the “biggest” update in the iPhone’s history, with new ChatGPT-inspired generative AI features, a more customizable Home Screen, and much more….

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The MacRumors Show: Apple’s iPad Event Finally Announced!

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iOS 18 might revamp many built-in iPhone apps

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iPhone 15. New iPhones will get Presto iOS updates.
iOS 18 could bring some big upgrades to Notes, Mail, Photos, and Fitness.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple could upgrade many of iPhone’s built-in apps with iOS 18 later this year. Reportedly, this includes Notes, Mail, Photos, and Fitness.

However, there’s no word on how Apple will improve these core iPhone apps and what features to expect.

Notes, Mail, and other apps could get big upgrades with iOS 18

Apple could upgrade many iPhone system apps in iOS 18 with AI features to improve their functionality. Google is reportedly testing a Summarize feature for long emails in the Gmail for Android app. Apple could offer a similar functionality on its Mail app with iOS 18. Similarly, the Notes app could get an auto-summarize feature along with the ability to use AI to format a note automatically.

In his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman revealed the planned “overhaul” of iOS 18’s built-in apps.

While there are plenty of great third-party email and note-taking apps on the App Store, many iPhone users prefer the stock apps because of how neatly they integrate with the OS. Plus, they are more privacy-focused than other options from the App Store.

iOS 18 could pack a lot of exciting features

Besides AI, Apple may focus on enhancing its system apps in iOS 18. This could explain a recent rumor that indicated iPadOS might finally get a native Calculator app. You can already use Siri as a calculator, but most people are not aware of it. There’s even a hidden calculator on your iPad that you probably don’t know about.

Reports claim iOS 18 could be the most significant update to the OS since its inception. Apple could give Home screen customization a much-needed upgrade and let you finally place apps anywhere you want. The company is also supposedly talking to OpenAI and Google to power iOS 18’s generative AI features. Siri will purportedly also get AI enhancements with the upcoming iOS release, hopefully making it usable. As for the AI features, many of them will seemingly run entirely on-device for privacy reasons.



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iOS 18 Rumored to ‘Overhaul’ Notes, Mail, Photos, and Fitness Apps

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Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman today said that iOS 18 will “overhaul” many of Apple’s built-in apps, including Notes, Mail, Photos, and Fitness.

iOS 18 General Notes Feature 2
Gurman did not reveal any specific new features planned for these apps. It was previously rumored that the Notes app will gain support for displaying more math equations, and a built-in option to record voice memos, but this is the first time we have heard about updates planned for the Mail, Photos, and Fitness apps.

Gurman also corroborated our exclusive MacRumors report last week about Apple finally planning a Calculator app for iPadOS 18.

A recap of iOS 18 rumors:

  1. Smarter Siri: iOS 18 is rumored to include new generative AI features for Siri, Spotlight, Shortcuts, Apple Music, Messages, Health, Keynote, Numbers, Pages, and more. These features are expected to be powered by Apple’s on-device large language model (LLM), but Apple has reportedly also discussed partnerships with companies like Google, OpenAI, and Baidu.
  2. More Customizable Home Screen: One of the design changes rumored for iOS 18 is a more customizable Home Screen, including the ability to place app icons anywhere on the Home Screen grid. This change will allow for blank spaces, rows, and columns between app icons.
  3. Improved Texting With Android Users: Apple announced that it will support the cross-platform messaging standard RCS in the Messages app on the iPhone starting “later” in 2024, so it will likely be an iOS 18 feature. Compared to SMS, RCS support will improve the texting experience between iOS and Android devices by allowing for higher-resolution photos and videos, audio messages, typing indicators, read receipts, Wi-Fi messaging, and more.
  4. Calculator Revamp: iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS 15 are expected to feature a revamped Calculator app with several new features, including a sidebar that lists recent calculations, an improved interface for converting units, integration with the Notes app, and more. Yes, this means that Apple will finally be making its Calculator app available on the iPad.
  5. Math in Notes App: With iOS 18, the Notes app is expected to gain support for displaying mathematical notation, allowing users to include more types of algebraic equations and formulas in notes.
  6. Custom Routes in Apple Maps: At least two new Apple Maps features are expected on iOS 18, including custom routes and topographic maps. Custom routes would allow users to choose specific roads to travel on while navigating, while topographic maps include details such as trails, contour lines, elevation, and points of interest for hiking and other outdoor uses. Apple already introduced topographic maps on the Apple Watch with watchOS 10.
  7. Safari Browsing Assistant: Another new generative AI feature potentially coming with iOS 18 is a browsing assistant in Safari, but no specific details are known yet. There are already multiple iPhone web browsers with AI tools, such as Microsoft Edge and its GPT-4-powered Copilot, and Arc Search, which can summarize web pages to provide concise information.
  8. AirPods Pro as Hearing Aid: iOS 18 will reportedly include a so-called “hearing aid mode” for AirPods Pro, but it is unclear how it would differ from Apple’s existing Conversation Boost feature that launched in 2021.
  9. Next-Generation CarPlay: Apple’s website says the first vehicles with next-generation CarPlay will arrive in 2024, so the platform might debut alongside iOS 18 later this year. However, it is possible that next-generation CarPlay will also be compatible with some iOS 17 versions.
  10. Freeform Scenes: iOS 18 is rumored to add a new “Scenes” option to Apple’s drawing app Freeform. This feature would allow users to select specific sections or “scenes” on the canvas for easier navigation.

For additional rumors and expectations, read our comprehensive iOS 18 roundup, which we routinely update with the latest information.

Apple will announce iOS 18 during its WWDC keynote on June 10, and the update should be widely released in September.

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Apple Announces ‘Let Loose’ Event on May 7 Amid Rumors of New iPads

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Apple’s Regular Mac Base RAM Boosts Ended When Tim Cook Took Over

Apple used to regularly increase the base memory of its Macs up until 2011, the same year Tim Cook was appointed CEO, charts posted on Mastodon by David Schaub show. Earlier this year, Schaub generated two charts: One showing the base memory capacities of Apple’s all-in-one Macs from 1984 onwards, and a second depicting Apple’s consumer laptop base RAM from 1999 onwards. Both charts were…

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Nonconsensual AI nude apps kicked out of the App Store

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Creepy AI nude apps are not allowed in the iPhone App Store.
Creepy AI nude apps are not allowed in the iPhone App Store.
Photo: Danielle Reese/Cult of Mac

Applications that advertised the ability to use AI to turn regular images into nudes have reportedly been removed from the iPhone App Store.

Apple needed to be notified of their existence, though.

Apple doesn’t allow nonconsensual AI nude apps in App Store

2024 is turning into a banner year for artificial intelligence. It’s in Google search results, in most Microsoft products, Samsung built it into its latest high-end phones, and Apple CEO Tim Cook promised to make some big AI-related announcements soon — likely at WWDC24 in June.

But the company recently got a reminder that the technology has as many negatives as positives. 404 Media reported Friday that:

“Apple has removed a number of AI image generation apps from the App Store after 404 Media found these apps advertised the ability to create nonconsensual nude images, a sign that app store operators are starting to take more action against these types of apps.”

The removed applications apparently allowed users to upload pictures of people wearing clothes then use to AI turn the image into a nude.

404 Media says it reported three such applications to Apple and all of them were subsequently kicked out of the App Store.

It’s likely these violate the App Store guidelines that state, “Apps should not include content that is offensive, insensitive, upsetting, intended to disgust, in exceptionally poor taste,” which includes “overtly sexual or pornographic material.”

It’s unlikely Apple needed a reminder that artificial intelligence has downsides — the problems get at least as much attention as the benefits. Still, it’s something for developers to keep in mind when working on new AI features in iOS 18, macOS 15, etc.



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New iOS 17.5 Beta Lets EU iPhone Users Download Apps Directly From Websites

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With the second beta of iOS 17.5 that’s available today, iPhone users located in the European Union are able to download apps directly from the websites of Apple app developers without going through the App Store or an alternative app marketplace.

Apple EU iOS Changes Orange 1
Since March, Apple has been working on support for downloading apps from websites, and the feature is finally ready for testing. Apple started letting developers offer their apps through alternative app marketplaces in the EU in iOS 17.4, but the website option adds a new method for acquiring apps.

App developers that want to offer iOS apps from their websites in the European Union need to meet specific criteria to ensure the safety of ‌iPhone‌ users. Apps must undergo Apple’s Notarization process, and developers need to be a member of the Apple Developer Program for two continuous years or more.

Only apps that have had one million annual first installs or more on iOS in the EU in the prior year are eligible for download from a website. Developers that meet these terms will be able to use an API for web-based app downloads. Apps downloaded through the web using the API can be backed up, restored, and updated as standard apps can.

When an ‌iPhone‌ user in the EU visits a website to install an app, users will need to grant express permission for that developer to install apps to Settings. A system sheet will display the app name, developer name, app description, screenshots, and more.

Developers are only able to offer apps from their developer account, and are required to publish transparent data collection policies so users are aware of how data is collected and used. Apps distributed outside of the ‌App Store‌ need to provide customer support, refunds, and offer a way to manage apps.

While developers do not have to pay a cut of app sales to Apple for apps distributed through websites, there is a 0.50 euro Core Technology Fee for each annual install over one million in the past 12 months. The fee is waived for nonprofit organizations, accredited educational institutions, and government entities.

Downloading apps outside of the ‌App Store‌ is limited to ‌iPhone‌ users who are located in the European Union, and Apple has implemented these options to comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act. The functionality is not available on the iPad, nor is it open to ‌iPhone‌ users in other countries.

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The new Sonos app just leaked – and it might just fix the S2 app’s many problems

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Audio brand Sonos may soon completely redesign its S2 app by making it easier to set up its devices as well as “strengthen connectivity between its many speakers.” It’ll also introduce several new customization options. This nugget of information comes from TheVerge which claims to have received screenshots of the revamp from sources close to the matter. 

According to the report, the company is removing all the navigation tabs at the bottom, replacing tabs with a search bar to help soundbar owners find music quickly. The home screen will serve as a central hub consisting of “scrollable carousels” housing playlists and direct access to streaming services. 

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Apple Updates App Store Guidelines to Permit Game Emulators, Website Links in EU Music Apps

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Apple today updated its App Store guidelines to comply with an anti-steering mandate levied by the European Commission. Music streaming apps like Spotify are now permitted to include a link or buy button that leads to a website with information about alternative music purchasing options, though this is only permitted in the European Economic Area.

iOS App Store General Feature JoeBlue

Music Streaming Services Entitlements: music streaming apps in specific regions can use Music Streaming Services Entitlements to include a link (which may take the form of a buy button) to the developer’s website that informs users of other ways to purchase digital music content or services. These entitlements also permit music streaming app developers to invite users to provide their email address for the express purpose of sending them a link to the developer’s website to purchase digital music content or services. Learn more about these entitlements.

In accordance with the entitlement agreements, the link may inform users about where and how to purchase those in-app purchase items, and the price of such items. The entitlements are limited to use only in the iOS or iPadOS App Store in specific storefronts. In all other storefronts, streaming music apps and their metadata may not include buttons, external links, or other calls to action that direct customers to purchasing mechanisms other than in-app purchase.

The European Commission in March fined Apple $2 billion for anti-competitive conduct against rival music streaming services. The fine also came with a requirement that Apple “remove the anti-steering provisions” from its App Store rules, which Apple has now done. Apple is restricted from repeating the infringement or adopting similar practices in the future, though it is worth noting that Apple plans to appeal the decision.

Apple has accused Spotify of manipulating the European Commission to get the rules of the ‌App Store‌ rewritten in its favor. “They want to use Apple’s tools and technologies, distribute on the ‌App Store‌, and benefit from the trust we’ve built with users – and pay Apple nothing for it,” Apple complained following the ruling.

In addition to updating its streaming music rules, Apple today also added games from retro game console emulator apps to the list of permitted software allowable under guideline 4.7. Guideline 4.7 permits apps to offer HTML5 mini apps and mini games, streaming games, chatbots, game emulators, and plug-ins.

Apps may offer certain software that is not embedded in the binary, specifically HTML5 mini apps and mini games, streaming games, chatbots, and plug-ins. Additionally, retro game console emulator apps can offer to download games. You are responsible for all such software offered in your app, including ensuring that such software complies with these Guidelines and all applicable laws.

Game emulators have managed to sneak onto the ‌App Store‌ several times over the years by using hidden functionality, but Apple has not explicitly permitted them until now. The rule change that allows for game emulators is worldwide, as is support for apps that offer mini apps and mini games.

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iOS 17.5 Lets EU iPhone Users Download Apps From Websites

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Apple today released the first beta of iOS 17.5 to developers, and as expected, the update introduces support for downloading apps from developer websites in the European Union.

Apple EU iOS Changes
In iOS 17.4, Apple began allowing developers to offer their apps through alternative app marketplaces in the European Union to comply with the Digital Markets Act. Apple initially intended for apps to only be available through these marketplaces, but in March, Apple said that it would in fact be adding support for downloading apps directly from websites.

To offer an app for download from a website in the European Union, developers need to meet specific criteria. Developers need to be a member of the Apple Developer Program for two continuous years or more and must have an app with more than one million first installs on iOS in the European Union in the prior year. Other requirements include submitting to Apple’s notarization process and publishing transparent data collection policies.

Apple will provide authorized developers with an API that allows them to offer their apps for download via the web. Apps downloaded this way will be able to be backed up, restored, updated, and more.

This is the first time that Apple has sanctioned downloading an app directly from a website. Support for this feature will allow apps like Spotify, Fortnite, and others to be downloaded directly on iPhones should the developers behind those apps opt in to Apple’s terms.

Apps offered through the web do not have to pay any commission to Apple, but they are subject to the 0.50 euro Core Technology Fee.

As with alternative app marketplaces, app downloads from the web are available in the European Union only under the terms of the DMA. Note that apps can only be downloaded this way on the iPhone as the changes do not apply to the iPad.

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Apple Updates iWork Apps With New Features on Mac, iPad, and iPhone

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Apple today updated its trio of iWork apps Keynote, Numbers, and Pages for the Mac, iPad, and iPhone with several new features and changes.

iWork macOS Trio Feature
The release notes for version 14.0 of the Mac apps follow, and the release notes for version 14.0 of the iPad and iPhone apps are nearly identical.

Keynote

• Add a new look to your slides with the Dynamic Color, Minimalist Light, and Minimalist Dark themes
• Streamlined in-app notifications inform you when a person joins a collaborative presentation for the first time
• Preserve file format and full quality when adding HEIC photos taken on iPhone or iPad
• Press and hold the Command key to select noncontiguous words, sentences, or paragraphs
• Improved compatibility for slide transitions when importing and exporting Microsoft PowerPoint files
• Additional stability and performance improvements

App Store links: Mac and iPad/iPhone.

Numbers

• Streamlined in-app notifications inform you when a person joins a collaborative spreadsheet for the first time
• Preserve file format and full quality when adding HEIC photos taken on iPhone or iPad
• Press and hold the Command key to select noncontiguous words, sentences, or paragraphs
• Additional stability and performance improvements

App Store links: Mac and iPad/iPhone.

Pages

• Press and hold the Command key to select noncontiguous words, sentences, or paragraphs
• Streamlined in-app notifications inform you when a person joins a collaborative document for the first time
• Preserve file format and full quality when adding HEIC photos taken on iPhone or iPad
• Additional stability and performance improvements

App Store links: Mac and iPad/iPhone.

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AltStore for iPhone in EU Will Have Apps Backed By Patreon

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With iOS 17.4, Apple began supporting alternative app marketplaces in the European Union, and the first of these stores will be launching soon to give consumers new ways to install apps without having to use the App Store.

App Store vs EU Feature 2
Developer Riley Testut, known for Game Boy Advance emulator GBA4iOS, is working on AltStore, one of several alternative app marketplaces. As noted by TechCrunch, app marketplaces like AltStore will be able to monetize in ways that aren’t currently possible. AltStore will accept payment through Patreon rather than making money through paid apps or ads.

To use the first AltStore apps developed by Testut, customers will need to pledge $1 to $3 per month through Patreon. Video game emulator Delta will initially be free, and clipboard manager Clip will require a pledge of $1. Later, beta versions of Delta and Clip will require $3 per month to download and use.

With Patreon, Testut is able to offer subscription-based pricing that does not provide a 15 to 30 cut to Apple. Patreon collects between five and eight percent of income earned, depending on Patreon join date, plus a payment processing fee that ranges from three to five percent.

Patreon’s fees come in below Apple’s fees, but should an AltStore app see more than one million first annual installs in a year, Apple will charge a 0.50 euro Core Technology Fee for each additional app install. The Core Technology Fee (CTF) makes it risky for free apps to be distributed through alternative app marketplaces, but Apple recently said that it is working on a solution to avoid bankrupting free apps that go viral and rack up too much in fees.

After AltStore launches and Testut has it working properly, other developers will be able to distribute their apps through it as well. They’ll have the option of using Patreon like Testut does for his apps, or another alternative. Patreon has the benefit of providing reward tiers, exclusive blog posts for subscribers, and other alternative content, plus subscriber numbers can be capped to avoid Apple’s CTF.

Testut plans to launch the AltStore as soon as he gets final approval from Apple, and as with all alternative app marketplaces, it will be limited to the European Union. Apps can only be installed through alternative means on the iPhone, not the iPad, and only in eligible European countries. There are no ‌App Store‌ changes for the rest of the world to allow for alternative app installation.

Last week, the European Commission (EC) opened a non-compliance investigation into Apple to determine if the changes that it made are sufficient to meet the demands of the Digital Markets Act. Apple could be forced to change some of its rules or change the Core Technology Fee if the EC decides that Apple’s updates do not go far enough.

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