Release date confirmed, iOS 18.2 Live beta

Updated October 25 with details about the new developer beta.

Apple Intelligence is almost here, and Apple has just confirmed when. We already knew it would be sometime in October, and now Apple has said it will be next week. And on Wednesday, October 23, Apple just released the first beta of iOS 18.2 to developers.

While the release of iOS 18.1 is highly anticipated, it’s the iOS 18.2 developer beta (which will be the next update if no bug fixes are needed in the meantime) that will likely generate more excitement since it’s loaded with new features.

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Early users of the new software have already commented on the features they liked. John-Anthony Disotto Techradarfor example, talked about the AI ​​features coming to the Mail app, saying: “While this may not be as headline-grabbing as ChatGPT integration with Siri, Visual Intelligence or Genmoji, I think it’s a common use of AI. the average consumer will appreciate it the most. I’ve been using the new Mail app in the iOS 18.2 developer beta for about 24 hours now, and while it’s still in development, it makes me optimistic about Apple Intelligence.”

Disotto’s enthusiasm comes from powerful summarization tools, new categorization, and improved design. Together they sorted out the “mess in the mailbox.” It also warns that since this is a developer beta, it should not be installed on top of your main driver. I agree, early beta versions may be unstable or reduce battery life.

While he’s not sure how often he’ll use the summarization tools, he was impressed with how much detail they captured when sorting through a thread of seven messages.

As discussed below, this Mail feature is just one of many new features coming later this year. These include visual intelligence, which works with the camera controls on iPhone 16 series phones. Pressing and holding a button means the iPhone will share more information about what the camera can see, or translate a sign, recognize an address or phone number, and more. Apple said the iPhone 16 was the first to be designed from the ground up for Apple Intelligence, and this is an example of just that.

While the iOS 18.1 updates are impressive, it looks like iOS 18.2 will be the biggest yet in terms of Apple Intelligence capabilities. In addition to the details listed below, this update will also include Image Wand, which uses image generation tools to, for example, create an image in a note in the Notes app. For example, if you draw something using the Apple Pencil on your iPad, it can turn a rough sketch into a more beautiful image.

New details have also emerged about a key element of Apple Intelligence: the waitlist. When you update to iOS 18.1, the Settings app includes a new additional feature called Apple Intelligence & Siri. You can sign up for Apple Intelligence here. When you do this, you will be asked to join the waitlist, just like those using the developer betas or public betas did.

During this time, the waiting list changed quickly: I waited a full 10 minutes. This may change when the software reaches the critical mass that a general release brings with it. However, if you’ve already used Apple Intelligence in beta, Apple said you don’t need to wait again.

So, as Ryan Christoffel points out in 9to5MacThis is a sneaky way to bypass the waiting list. “You can join the Apple Intelligence waitlist today. How? By installing the public beta version of iOS 18.1. Apple just released iOS 18.1 RC beta Today. RC stands for Release Candidate, which means the software will likely be identical to what will be released to all users next week… once you install iOS 18.1 RC, you’ll be able to join the Apple Intelligence waitlist without having to wait any longer one day.” This means you’ll be able to upgrade to the general version of the software next week, but you won’t have to join the waitlist again.

iOS 18.1 release date

Next week means Monday, October 28, Tuesday, October 29, or Wednesday, October 30. I believe the exact release date will be at 10am PT on October 28th.

iOS 18.1: first experience of Apple Intelligence

The first features of Apple’s personal intelligence system are almost here. There will be more coming in the next few months, but initial features include writing tools that will allow you to improve what you’ve written. You can proofread the text, and iPhone can rewrite or summarize what was said. These tools are available on iPhone, including Mail, Notes, Pages, and some third-party apps.

Photos has a new cleaning tool that can remove people and objects that are ruining your photo, and also uses several machine learning tools to leave the background intact, as if it never existed.

You can already record and transcribe audio, but iOS 18.1 adds the ability to record phone calls with automatic notifications to participants. A summary is also generated after the call ends.

Siri will get a new design that looks more relevant to the iPhone and will offer a more intuitive interaction.

At first, Apple Intelligence on iPhone will only work with devices that have Siri’s language set to US English. But now Apple has released a developer beta that will extend this to other versions of the English language.

iOS 18.2 beta for developers is now available

A new developer beta of iOS 18.2 has just been released, bringing more English speakers to use Apple Intelligence, specifically English for Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa and the UK.

It also provides many more features, as well as improvements to existing writing tools—you can specify what you’re looking for using the Describe Your Change item.

New features include Image Playground, which lets you create images from images in your photo library. You can save them in a new offline app that will automatically update across all devices under one Apple account.

And in iOS 18.2, the long-awaited Genmoji appeared, allowing you to create completely new emoticons using just a text prompt. There is also the first opportunity to integrate with ChatGPT. If Siri thinks ChatGPT can help, it will ask if you want to connect to it. Apple emphasized that it secures every request and does not require a ChatGPT account. Visual Intelligence, which integrates with iPhone camera controls, is also in a new beta version.

Apple iOS 18.2 will be released in December, Apple has confirmed.

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