Apple iOS 18.4 public beta 2: Features we did not expect

Apple has released public beta 2 for iOS 18.4, introducing numerous new features and changes for users enrolled in the public beta program.

The latest beta enhances the features first introduced in the initial iOS 18.4 beta. Key updates include:

• Visual Intelligence expands: Users of the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16e can now utilize Visual Intelligence without needing Camera Control.
• New emoji: Seven new emojis have been added to the emoji keyboard, including one that depicts an exhausted face.
• Apple Vision Pro app: A dedicated Apple Vision Pro app is now available for browsing spatial content.
• Shortcuts app actions: New actions added to the Shortcuts app suggest forthcoming Siri enhancements.
• Control Center additions: In addition to the Ambient Music controls introduced in beta 1, beta 2 adds controls for Visual Intelligence and Talk to Siri.
• Custom Priority Notifications: Users can select apps to include or exclude from the AI Priority Notifications feature.
• EV routing improvements: Apple Maps will enhance its support for EV chargers.

In addition to the major updates, various minor changes have also been included, further expanding the capabilities of iOS 18.4.

Users who previously installed the iOS 18.4 public beta or another recent public beta can easily update by navigating to Settings ⇾ General ⇾ Software Update on their iPhone, where beta 2 will be available.

New users interested in joining Apple’s public beta program can enroll via the designated webpage.

For those hesitant to install beta software that may contain bugs or performance issues, Apple has announced that the public launch of iOS 18.4 is scheduled for early April, allowing users to access these new features shortly.

Previously, Visual Intelligence was accessible only on the iPhone 16. Now, the new beta enables users of older phones to set up and utilize this feature, which allows for web searches and inquiry about people, places, and things viewed through the camera.

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On the iPhone 15 Pro models, which lack a physical Camera Control button, users can now activate Visual Intelligence using the customizable Action button or directly from Control Center. The updated Control Center features a new Apple Intelligence section where users can activate Siri, use the Type to Siri option, or trigger Visual Intelligence.

To set up Visual Intelligence on an iPhone 15 Pro, users can navigate to Settings, select Action Button, and choose the Visual Intelligence action. With this configured, users can point their phone at any interesting object and use the Action button or Control Center to initiate a search or ask questions about the object via ChatGPT.

Last month, Apple representatives confirmed that the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max would receive Visual Intelligence with the arrival of iOS 18.4, as noted by Daring Fireball’s John Gruber. As beta 2 is only the second developer beta, several more iterations are anticipated before the official release in April.

Featured image credit: Kerem Gülen/Ideogram