Apple iOS 12 Siri Shortcuts Library, Image/Apple

Available as a free software update this fall* for iPhone 5s and later, all iPad Air and iPad Pro models, iPad 5th generation, iPad 6th generation, iPad mini 2 and later and iPod touch 6th generation, iOS 12 is maintaining its status as the most advanced mobile operating system around.

With camera launches 70 percent faster, keyboard appearance 50 percent faster and twice as fast apps, performance improvements result in a more faster and more responsive operating system.

In the area of AR (augmented reality), ARKit 2 allows developers to develop AR apps “with new tools to integrate shared experiences, persistent AR experiences tied to a specific location, object detection and image tracking, making AR apps even more dynamic.” Pixar’s new open file format, usdz increases AR participation in current iOS apps like Messages, Safari, Mail, Files and News.

For iPhone X users, new Animoji and personalized Memoji characters make conversing with friends and family a joy. Camera effects include Animoji, Filters, Text and Stickers when using Messages and FaceTime. Speaking of FaceTime, Group FaceTime now allows group conversations when chatting on the app. Video or audio are available on Group FaceTime from an iPhone, iPad or Mac.

Strides in security have greatly improved in iOS 12. Tracking protection for social media “Like” or “Share” buttons and comment widgets and when users browse the web are now inherent in Safari browser. Safari also “automatically creates, autofills and stores strong passwords” for online account creation and determines and warns of password reuse.

Siri Shortcuts uses Siri intelligence to orchestrate actions for users. Customizing Shortcuts is a cinch using “simple voice command to kick off the task” or using the Shortcuts app to “create a series of actions from different apps that can be carried out with a simple tap or customized voice command.”

A new For You tab features favorite moments in one place, Memories and iCloud Shared Albums. The tab features a sharing function that is enabled after one shares photos with others. A prompt is surfaced to the recipient of photos to encourage them to send similar photos. New search functionalities are also present in photos.

iOS interaction is now controlled using Do Not Disturb restrictions, notification customization and screen time usage. Screen Time monitors Daily and weekly Activity Reports assessing “the total time spent in individual apps, usage across categories of apps, how many notifications are received and how often iPhone or iPad are picked up.”

Changes in Apple Books, Apple News, Stocks, CarPlay, Voice Memos, Siri translation and Wallet round off iOS 12 advancements.

* The developer preview of iOS 12 is available to Apple Developer Program members at developer.apple.com, and a public beta program is available for iOS users now at beta.apple.com.