Apple has introduced the eagerly anticipated first beta version of iOS 18.4 for developer testers. The announcement was made in a press release today that highlights the advancements in Apple Intelligence.
Apple Intelligence, the personal assistant system designed to offer helpful and pertinent insights, is set to be available in additional languages, including French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese, along with localized English for Singapore and India.
These language options will be accessible across nearly all global regions with the launch of iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS Sequoia 15.4 in April, while developers can start testing these updates today.
iOS 18.4 beta 1
Details on what’s new in iOS 18.4 beta 1 are yet to be disclosed. Apple is focusing on three major enhancements to Siri as part of its Apple Intelligence initiative:
On-screen awareness:
Apple Intelligence equips Siri with on-screen awareness for understanding and acting on content displayed. For instance, if a friend sends you their new address via text, you can instruct Siri with “Add this address to their contact card,” and it will handle it for you.
Personal context:
With awareness of your personal context, Siri can assist you uniquely. If you’re trying to recall whether a friend shared a recipe in a note, text, or email, or if you need your passport number while booking a flight, Siri leverages the information on your device to locate what you need, all while respecting your privacy.
In-app actions:
Interact effortlessly within and across apps using Siri. You can request, “Send the email I drafted to April and Lilly,” and Siri will recognize which email you’re referring to, and the app involved. Furthermore, Siri can perform actions across apps—after enhancing a photo by saying, “Make this photo pop,” you can direct Siri to save it in a specific note in the Notes app—all hands-free.
However, recent reports from Bloomberg suggest that Apple may be experiencing delays in the development of these features. It remains uncertain if they will debut in the first beta of iOS 18.4.
According to today’s press release from Apple:
Apple Intelligence is set to grow with new features in the forthcoming months, including more enhancements for Siri.
We will soon provide more updates on the new features in iOS 18.4. Have you noticed any changes in the current release of iOS 18.4 beta 1 or iPadOS 18.4 beta 1? Share your findings in the comments below or on Twitter @DMN and on Threads @DMN. Stay tuned for comprehensive hands-on coverage of the new releases right here at DMN today and throughout the week.
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