Apple has started rolling out the iOS 18 beta 4 update to developers after over a couple of weeks to the third beta installment. The new update comes with fewer major changes but focuses on refining many features introduced on iPhones earlier. There’s also a hint of Apple expanding is generative AI tool to Apple Music.
Even more ways to save your camera controls
Among the new additions, one of the notables is Controls Menu in the camera preserve settings. Similar with the other features in the section, it also preserves your camera controls when using the camera app. Specifically, it saves the last camera tools you’ve used when you’re accessing again the expanded controls menu rather than presenting all tools.
The Controls Menu feature is disabled by default, so you’ll need to toggle it on from the camera settings if you want to take advantage of it.
Faster way to access iCloud from the settings
In iOS 18 beta 4, Apple is also tweaking the way you access your iCloud+ dashboard. Before the update, you’ll need to go head to your Apple account then selecting iCloud from the menu. Now, tapping your account from the settings lets you jump straight to the iCloud dashboard. There is also a new animated badge on top for subscribed users.
RCS comes to more carriers
Unlike on RCS for Android, Apple’s push for RCS on iPhones is carrier dependent. However, the latter continues to expand the list of carriers. With the latest update, it adds RCS support for more carriers globally. These include Rogers and Fido in Canada, T-Mobile and Orange in the UK, and Vodafone and Orange in Spain, among others.
AI-generated album and playlist covers
As hinted through the codes in iOS 18 beta 4 (via 9to5Mac), there’s a hidden and inactivated feature dubbed as “Create Image” in Apple Music that lets users create playlist cover or artwork. It is described that clicking on the feature opens up Apple’s Image Playground where they can subsequently type prompts to generate images.
Three different home screen layouts in Dark Mode, illustrating how the interface adapts to different themes and user preferences. / © Apple
Minor visual changes
Additionally, the look of hidden apps folder in the app library has also been changed, which now shows a transparent home screen layout instead of a crossed out eye.
Another related to visual change is on home screen customizations, particularly it is now possible to keep dark widgets and icons in light mode or without the wallpaper and interface turning into dark.
Elsewhere, the iOS 18 beta 4 optimizes many features including when customizing the home screen icons. At the same time, the firmware addresses numerous known bugs such as with the toggle to turn to Help Apple Improve Search and the stuck video icon being highlighted in the phone app during phone calls.
Apple is expected to release iOS 18 beta 4 to public testers in the coming days or around next week while the last beta installment could arrive next month. A release candidate of iOS 18 is expected to be shipped before the final update in September.
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Are you enrolled in Apple’s Beta Program? Have you spotted other major changes from the beta 4? We’ll be glad to see your findings in the comments.
