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Apple Daily | Apple Unveils New iOS 18 Beta with Safari Distraction Control, Redesigned Photos App, Home Screen Edits

AInvestTuesday, Aug 6, 2024 4:00 am ET
3min read
【iPhone】

Apple has introduced notable new features in the fifth beta of iOS 18, including design updates to the Photos app and a new Distraction Control feature in Safari. The Photos app now has a more streamlined design, with the carousel removed and more grid images visible at once. Users can customize the order of Collections and see Recently Saved content integrated into the Recent Days collection.

Safari's new Distraction Control feature allows users to hide static elements like sign-in windows and cookie preference popups. It is not an ad blocker but can temporarily hide ads. Users must hide elements separately on each device, and hidden items can be revealed through the settings.

A new 'Edit Pages' option has been added to the Home Screen, allowing users to delete or hide entire pages. Dark Mode icons for Maps and Find My have been redesigned, and Control Center icons have larger graphics and updated designs. Several icons, like Orientation Lock and Screen Recording, have new appearances.

The fifth beta of iOS 18 introduces several changes, including a customizable Control Center, a redesigned Photos app, and new Safari features. Safari now includes Distraction Control for hiding static elements, and the Photos app has a simplified grid view and improved album visibility. Other updates include new Home Screen options and redesigned icons for Dark Mode and Control Center.

【iPad】

Apple has introduced a new Safari feature called Distraction Control in iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, which hides distracting webpage elements like popups and autoplay videos. It is not an ad blocker but can temporarily hide static elements. The feature can be accessed from Safari's page menu and does not sync across devices.

The Photos app in iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia has a new design to better surface high-quality images. The carousel has been removed, and the app now displays more of the photos grid. Albums are positioned higher up, and Recently Saved content is integrated into the Recent Days collection. Apple has kept the unified Photos app redesign with customizable Collections.

Apple has released the fifth betas of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 to developers, with new features like Apple Intelligence, a customizable Control Center, and Rich Communication Services support in Messages. The updates also include a redesigned Photos app, rearrangeable Home screen apps, and improved Safari features.

【Mac】

Apple plans to update its MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and iMac lines with the new M4 chip later this year, according to Mark Gurman. The M4 overhaul will focus on making Apple's machines more powerful with an enhanced neural engine for AI tasks. One Mac model will receive more dramatic changes.

Apple has released the fifth beta of macOS Sequoia to developers, featuring a new 'Sequoia Sunrise' wallpaper. The wallpaper is not officially released but can be found in the system files. It may be fully added in a later beta.

【Apple Watch】

The next-generation Apple Watch SE is expected to feature a plastic chassis, according to Mark Gurman. The plastic material will help reduce costs and could appeal to parents buying watches for their children. Apple may offer the device in various colors and at a lower price point.

Apple has released the fifth beta of watchOS 11 to developers, introducing a new Vitals app for health metrics, a Training Load feature, and updated Smart Stack widgets. The Photos watch face now suggests the best images, and users can customize Activity Rings and pause them for rest days.

【Vision Pro】

Disney+ has launched a new Immersive Environment for Vision Pro users, featuring views of Thingvellir National Park in Iceland. The environment includes interactive elements and sounds, captured using photogrammetry and gigapixel panoramas. Disney+ has also added new 3D movies for Vision Pro.

Apple has released the fifth beta of visionOS 2 to developers, introducing new features like 3D photo conversion, customizable Home View, and support for Bluetooth mice. The update also includes Travel Mode for trains, and Mac Virtual Display will support higher resolution later in the year.

【Others】

Apple's stock price dropped over 4% amid a broader technology sector sell-off, influenced by Berkshire Hathaway halving its stake in the company and escalating recession fears. The tech sector collectively lost nearly $900 billion in market value. Some analysts remain optimistic about Apple's market position due to its services revenue growth and upcoming Apple Intelligence features.

WhatsApp has introduced a new feature for organizing events within group chats. Users can create events, set details, and receive notifications as the event approaches. This feature, previously available only in Communities group chats, is now rolling out to all groups.
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