The best small updates Apple didn’t mention at WWDC

Apple omitted loads of small updates at its Worldwide Builders Convention keynote this yr. It is smart: the corporate had loads to speak about, with a 3rd of its presentation solely dedicated to new AI options. However that doesn’t make the options that didn’t get airtime any much less price speaking about.

From new bezel animations to raised methods to handle widgets, there’s a lot to find within the first spherical of betas for iOS 18, macOS Sequoia, and extra. Listed below are a few of our favorites to this point:

Should you’re not in a spot to look at that video, that’s high-quality. I’ve additionally damaged the brand new options out under (plus a couple of extra).

While you press the aspect buttons whereas operating the iOS 18 beta, there’s a intelligent new animation that makes it appear like you’re pushing the bezel into your display somewhat bit. At first look, there’s not a lot goal right here apart from so as to add somewhat whimsy. Nevertheless it may also be a sensible visible indicator if Apple ultimately releases iPhones with solid-state aspect buttons that don’t transfer once you press them, simulating a click on with vibration as an alternative. And it’s laborious not to think about the inky animations of the Dynamic Island (the pill-shaped selfie digital camera and Face ID sensor cutout from some current iPhones).

Bilingual individuals may be happy to listen to that within the iOS 18 beta, you possibly can sort in two languages directly with out toggling between them repeatedly by tapping the wireframe globe on the iOS keyboard and choosing the brand new language. It takes some setup below iOS keyboards language settings (Settings > Basic > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard), however the change will cease dangerous autocorrect outcomes simply since you wish to sort a fast couple of phrases of Spanish in an in any other case English textual content!

Keep in mind the Motion Button picker that got here with the iPhone 15 Professional? Whereas not fairly so excessive, within the iOS 18 betas, individuals discovered that tapping the flashlight icon brings down a equally enjoyable little animation of a flashlight which you can swipe vertically to lift and decrease luminance. You may also slide your finger left and proper to regulate the precise form of the beam! It solely works with the iPhone 15 Professional telephones, although, as they’ve a particular flash not discovered on different iPhones.

Apple can also be engaged on a greater method to resize widgets in iOS 18. While you long-press, you’ll get a row of dimension choices proper there within the contextual menu, somewhat than having to choose “Edit Widget” and undergo all of the rigamarole of choosing a dimension there.

Among the finest quality-of-life upgrades for the Imaginative and prescient Professional is that the headset will present you your keyboard once you’re totally in a digital setting now. It didn’t try this earlier than, so when you wished to, say, work on high of a mountain, you needed to both use partial immersion within the scene or clumsily paw at your keyboard. It’s not excellent — it’s primarily designed to work with the Magic Keyboard, and in my testing, appears to inconsistently acknowledge my mechanical keyboard. Nevertheless it’s a welcome change all the identical.

Apple is including some new nostalgic “Macintosh” wallpapers in macOS Sequoia, and so they include a really nice animation.

Seeing voicemail transcriptions proper within the notification will prevent so many faucets.

Beta customers have additionally noticed a extra granular set of charging restrict choices for iPhone 15 units — as an alternative of simply selecting to restrict cost to 80 p.c, there’s a slider between 80 and one hundred pc, with stops each 5 p.c alongside the way in which.

Whereas there are tons extra updates hidden all through Apple’s present set of betas, we’ve to cease someplace. Should you’re all for making an attempt out the brand new betas and don’t wish to wait for his or her public releases later, you’ll want to join the developer program after which comply with Apple’s directions. (We have now our personal information, when you discover that simpler!) Be sure to again up your system earlier than you obtain the beta, although, and beware: betas will be buggy, and there’s potential for issues to go significantly flawed. It’s enjoyable to mess with betas on an outdated iPhone, nevertheless it’s not an awesome thought in your main telephone or laptop.