iOS 12 - Apple Releases First Public Beta For iPhone And iPad

Apple promises faster performance for older phones, plus improvements in augmented reality, Siri, FaceTime, and more. 

- Susie Ochs And Roman Loyola

Apple both sets trends and chases them, and iOS 12, unveiled at the WWDC keynote, is no exception. With this release, Apple is focusing on performance improvements and enhancements, even for older devices. The company is also making important changes to augmented reality that will enable new experiences; improving Siri, FaceTime, and Photos to catch up to the competition; and adding new features like personalized Memoji and weekly reports about how you’re using your device.

iOS 12 will be a free update for all users this fall, and it’s supported by every device that runs iOS 11, all the way back to the iPhone 5s released in 2013. Here’s a rundown of the biggest improvements in iOS 12.

iOS 12 PUBLIC BETA 1 RELEASED

Apple released the first public beta of iOS 12 to beta testers. If you want to run the beta software on your iPhone or iPad, head to beta. apple.com (go. macworld.com/bt12) using the device on which you want to run the beta software. You can enroll in the beta test there using your Apple ID, and download a special profile that will allow your iPhone or iPad to download beta releases over the air. After that, new beta releases will be delivered just as regular iOS updates are: You’ll get a notification when a new update is ready, and can check manually by going to Settings → General → Software Update.

AUGMENTED REALITY AND THE MEASURE APP

Apple created a brand-new file format with Pixar called USDZ that will enable easier sharing of the 3D graphics and animations used in augmented reality apps. Developers and users can share these USDZ files like any other files: Store them in the Files app, send them in Messages and Mail. When you receive a USDZ file, you can open it and place the 3D object in the real world. “It’s sort of like AR Quick Look,” explained Craig Federighi on stage.