Key new features in Apple iOS 12

New features in iOS 12 

Screen time

iOS 12 brings a new feature 'Screen Time', allowing you to manage how you spend time on your phone. The app allows you to see how much time you've spent on your phone and shows a breakdown of how this time is spent across individual apps. You can then tap the new hourglass icon to limit time spent in each. Whether you want to monitor your own downtime, limit your employee's social media usage on company devices or manage distractions when it's homework time for your kids. 

Need a hand with DIY?

Apple has introduced a new app called 'Measure'. Using augmented reality technology, Measure gives you the ability to accurately measure objects or walls around you. Simply place the object in the camera frame, tap and drag out a line, and the app will measure it. 

More from Adobe

Not only is Apple utilising breakthroughs in Augmented Reality (AR) technology, the likes of Adobe, Autodesk and Sketchfab are following suit and have announced they are integrating and building apps around Apple's new file format, 'USDZ', specifically designed for AR applications. 

Conferencing abilities 

Apple's FaceTime app will soon be able to host more than one-on-one conversations. iOS 12 will allow you to hold FaceTime sessions with up to 32 people, whether you're using your iPhone, iPad or Mac device. Video windows will increase in size depending on who is speaking and decrease when they're not. Finally, you'll be able to use Animoji and Memoji (Your new virtual avatar that can be personalised from hair colour to skin tone) characters rather than your face whenever you wish. 

New competition for Google Photos

Apple has taken their Photos App up a notch, introducing all new features such as automatic search suggestions, a new "For You" tab that will suggest edits including filters and effects you may wish to apply to  your images. The app will also include sharing suggestions, for example, for photos and videos from the same event.

More compatibility for Car-Play

Apple's Car-Play platform will now support two of the most popular navigation apps - Google Maps and Waze, once iOS 12 is launched.

New Short-cuts from Siri

Finally, iOS 12 will allow you to create your own shortcuts to make custom demands. For example "Hey Siri, let's go on a bike ride" could bring up the weather, directions on a map and a set reminder to pack your helmet. This will be manageable from a new Shortcuts app that will allow you to choose suggested actions from a list and set a phrase to trigger those actions.