The Deepdive
Join Allen and Ida as they dive deep into the world of tech, unpacking the latest trends, innovations, and disruptions in an engaging, thought-provoking conversation. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or just curious about how technology shapes our world, The Deepdive is your go-to podcast for insightful analysis and passionate discussion. Tune in for fresh perspectives, dynamic debates, and the tech talk you didn’t know you needed!
The Deepdive
iOS 18.1 - Transforming Your iPhone Experience
Can your iPhone truly understand you better than ever before? With iOS 18.1, Apple takes a bold leap forward by introducing Apple Intelligence, an on-device AI that revolutionizes Siri, making it contextually aware and capable of understanding your needs based on your current activities. In this episode, we explore how this major update transforms the user experience with three innovative AI-powered writing tools—Proofread, Rewrite, and Summarize—that help you express yourself more effectively. Discover the newfound freedom of home screen customization and the long-awaited control center reset option, promising a truly personalized and user-friendly experience.
Imagine unlocking your car, hotel room, or even interacting with posters using just your iPhone. With enhanced NFC capabilities in iOS 18.1, this futuristic vision is now a reality. We discuss the endless possibilities this technology holds and the excitement for future developer innovations. Additionally, we share our thoughts on the highly anticipated feature allowing users to reset the control center layout to its default settings, a minor tweak that brings significant relief. Join us to hear how these updates are set to transform user interaction and personalization on iOS devices, making your daily tech experience smoother and more intuitive.
Welcome to a deep dive on iOS 18.1.
Ida:18.1. Yeah, yeah.
Allan:It's been a busy week in the world of Apple News.
Ida:It has, hasn't it? People are going crazy for this update.
Allan:They are, and we are too.
Ida:Absolutely.
Allan:So we've been digging into all of the articles, all of the blog posts, everything that we can find about this new update so that we can condense it down.
Ida:Yes To need to know.
Allan:The good stuff.
Ida:All the good stuff. All the meat and potatoes the meat and potatoes of iOS 18.1. That's right. So before we get into the nitty gritty, why?
Allan:don't you give us a high level view of what this update is really all about? Sure, so iOS 18.1,. This is Apple's first sort of big foray into what they're calling.
Ida:Apple intelligence, and this is basically their branding for on-device AI.
Allan:Okay.
Ida:So a lot of the AI stuff that we've seen up until this point has been cloud-based your data gets sent up to a server, it gets processed and then the results get beamed back down to your phone. Right, Apple is taking a different approach here.
Allan:Okay.
Ida:They are putting the AI processing power directly on your device.
Allan:Oh, that's got to be huge for privacy then.
Ida:Huge for privacy, and it also means that these AI features can work offline. Oh, wow Because they don't require a trip to the cloud.
Allan:That's really interesting. Yeah, okay, so they're calling it Apple Intelligence. Apple Intelligence yeah, what's the big deal?
Ida:What can it actually do? So this first iteration of Apple Intelligence? It's kind of like they're dipping their toes in the water, but what they've shown us so far is already pretty impressive.
Allan:Okay.
Ida:The biggest change by far is to Siri. Oh really, siri has gotten a major, major upgrade. In the past, siri has always felt a bit, you know, robotic, like you had to phrase things in a very specific way to get it to understand you. Yeah, with Apple intelligence, siri is now contextually aware what does that? Mean? It means that Siri understands what's happening on your screen, what app you're using, even what you were doing previously on your phone.
Allan:Wow.
Ida:And it uses all of that information to give you more relevant responses.
Allan:So it's like Siri is finally learning how to actually assist me instead of, just like you said, being a robot that I have to talk to.
Ida:in a certain way, it's like having a real assistant who can anticipate your needs. That's incredible, and help you get things done faster.
Allan:That's really cool, yeah, okay, so Siri is way smarter now.
Ida:Siri is way smarter.
Allan:What else can Apple Intelligence do?
Ida:What else can it do?
Allan:Yeah.
Ida:Well, let's talk about the writing tools.
Allan:Okay.
Ida:Because these are really cool. Okay, there are three new writing tools that are powered by Apple Intelligence Proofread new writing tools that are powered by Apple intelligence proofread, rewrite and summarize. Okay, and these might sound like simple features, but the technology behind them is incredibly sophisticated. Okay, this is not your average grammar checker okay this is AI that can actually understand the meaning of your words oh wow and help you express yourself more effectively so how do these tools actually work like?
Allan:give me an example.
Ida:Okay, so let's say you're writing an important email and you want to make sure that it's clear, concise and persuasive. Right, you can use the new rewrite tool to help you rephrase sentences, adjust the tone and even suggest stronger arguments.
Allan:So it's like having an editor Like having a professional editor. Built into my phone.
Ida:Built right into your iPhone.
Allan:That's amazing. It's incredible. That's really cool.
Ida:Yeah, and the summary feature is just as impressive. Imagine being able to instantly summarize a lengthy report or article, or even an email thread, without having to read every single word. That's what this tool can do.
Allan:So you're saying, I can finally achieve Inbox zero, inbox zero.
Ida:Inbox zero is within reach.
Allan:That's a dream.
Ida:It's a dream come true I love it yeah, I love it yeah.
Allan:That's a game changer, for sure. Okay, so you know we've talked about Siri, we've talked about these writing tools. What about some of these design changes that are coming in iOS 18.1?
Ida:Yeah, the design changes are really interesting. I think one of the biggest ones is the new home screen layout options.
Allan:You know how it used to be. You were kind of stuck with that rigid grid of apps Like you can move them around, but they snap to this grid.
Ida:Exactly, yeah, you couldn't really customize it beyond just rearranging the icons right well, ios 18.1 gives you almost complete freedom over the home screen layout oh wow, you can place apps and widgets wherever you want seriously it's like apple finally listened to all the power users who have been asking for more customization options okay, so how does it work?
Allan:like can I literally just put an app icon halfway across the screen?
Ida:pretty much. Yeah, it's a little tricky to get used to it first, okay, but once you get the hang of it, it's really freeing oh that's cool you can create these really unique and personalized home screen layouts that's awesome.
Allan:I'm very excited about that yeah, me too okay, so home screen layouts are a free-for-all now. Yeah. What else is new in the design department?
Ida:well, one small welcome change is the addition of a control center reset option yes, yes, finally this is something that has been needed I know right for so long so, like every time, I go in there and try to customize it yeah, I just end up making things worse yes and then I'm stuck with a messed up control center for weeks until I finally get around to fixing it. Well, now you can just go into the settings and reset control center back to its defaults.
Allan:It's so nice.
Ida:It's such a small thing, yeah, but it makes a big difference.
Allan:It really does.
Ida:Yeah.
Allan:Okay, what else, what else, what else.
Ida:Okay, let's talk NFC.
Allan:Okay.
Ida:Because this is a big one.
Allan:Okay.
Ida:For a long time, apple has been very restrictive with the iPhone's NFC chip. They've basically limited it to Apple Pay, yeah, and a handful of other uses. Right Well, with iOS 18.1, they are finally opening up NFC to developers. Okay, finally opening up NFC to developers.
Allan:Okay, so what does that mean for me?
Ida:It means that we're going to start seeing a lot more cool and creative uses for NFC on the iPhone.
Allan:Okay.
Ida:Imagine being able to use your iPhone as a digital key for your car Okay. Or your hotel room Okay. Or imagine tapping your phone to a poster to instantly download an app Okay. Or view more information Okay. Like interactive information.
Allan:Okay, like interactive posters.
Ida:Exactly.
Allan:That's cool.
Ida:The possibilities are pretty much endless.
Allan:That is very cool.
Ida:Yeah, and I think this is one of those things that it's going to take a while for developers to really wrap their heads around and figure out all the different ways that they can use it Right, but I'm really excited to see what they come up with.
Allan:Yeah, me too. That's use it right, but I'm really excited to see what they come up with yeah me too.
Ida:That's awesome, yeah, so much good stuff in this update so much it's hard to even keep track.
Allan:I know right. Um, okay, so we talked about nfc yeah like you said, huge change there huge but it's gonna take a while yeah, for developers to catch up it's gonna be interesting to see what they come up with next year. Totally yeah. What are you most excited about in terms of the smaller things?
Ida:Oh, the smaller things. Yeah, let me see.
Allan:The quality of life.
Ida:Quality of life yeah, improvements. Well, you know I'm a sucker for a good control center tweak.
Allan:Okay.
Ida:And they've added a really nice one in iOS 18.1.
Allan:Okay.
Ida:You can finally reset the control center layout.
Allan:Thank goodness.
Ida:Back to the defaults.
Allan:Hallelujah. I know Rob Because, as we've just established, I can't be trusted.
Ida:You and me both.
Allan:In the control center.
Ida:It's a dangerous place. It is yeah.
Allan:Okay, so control center reset. That's huge, huge I love that.
Ida:What so? Control center reset that's huge Huge. I love that. What else? What else?
Allan:What else, what else.
Ida:What else is good?
Allan:Give me something else good.
Ida:Oh, this is a big one. Call recording. Finally it's here.
Allan:It only took them like 10 years too long, right, but we'll take it.
Ida:But it's here it works well. Okay, good, you just tap button during a call and it records the audio.
Allan:Is it on by default, or is it something that you have to like?
Ida:No, you have to enable it in the settings. Okay, and it's all above board. There are legal disclaimers.
Allan:Okay.
Ida:It notifies the other party that the call is being recorded.
Allan:That's good. So yeah no more, no more shady business.
Ida:Shady business. We love to see it Exactly.
Allan:Okay, what else? What else? Let me think Anything else up your sleeve.
Ida:I've got one more. One more for you.
Allan:Okay.
Ida:This is specifically for the selfie lovers out there. Okay, on the iPhone 16 Pro, you can now switch between the front and rear cameras using a simple swipe gesture within camera control. Okay, so you don't have to like reach around. Reach around and try to find that little button while you're holding your phone.
Allan:Yeah.
Ida:Very nice, very elegant.
Allan:Okay, cool.
Ida:Yeah.
Allan:Okay, is that everything?
Ida:I think so.
Allan:For iOS 18.1.
Ida:Yeah, I think that's the good stuff.
Allan:Okay, I'm so excited to install this update Me too, to install this update when it comes out.
Ida:I'm already on the beta. It's great.
Allan:How's the battery life?
Ida:Battery life is good. Battery life is good.
Allan:That's always the question.
Ida:Always the question, yeah.
Allan:Awesome. Well, this has been so fun, as always.
Ida:It has.
Allan:Thank you for geeking out with me about iOS 18.1.
Ida:My pleasure.
Allan:And to our listeners. Thank you for joining us for this deep dive.
Ida:Yes, thank you.
Allan:We hope.
