The latest version of iOS incorporates many new features that were not mentioned by Apple.
With the move to iOS 12, iPhones have inherited many new features. Apple has revealed the main ones in detail, but has glossed over a number of improvements and changes that have been incorporated into the iPhone’s operating system.
1. Turn on the flash without hands
The iOS voice assistant now knows how to turn the iPhone’s flash on and off to turn it into a torch. Convenient when you have to get up at night, just say “Hey Siri, turn on the flash” and “Hey Siri, turn off the flash” to turn the iPhone into a torch, without your hands.
2. Use AirPods as a hearing aid
Apple headphones can now be used as a hearing aid. To do this, you have to go to Settings, then to Control Center and enter Customize commands.
Scroll through the controls, and then in the Other Controls section, add the Audition command. Once the AirPods are connected to the iPhone, they amplify the sound picked up by the iPhone. Unofficially, the James Bond in you will use it to spy on what is being said in the next room.
3. Scan a QR Code
The iPhone is now able to scan any QR code natively, either by adding the command in the control center, or by activating the feature via a 3D Touch press on the Camera icon.
4. Quickly scan a document
With the arrival of iOS 11 last year, the Notes application had inaugurated the possibility of scanning a document with the iPhone.
A 3D Touch shortcut has been added to the app icon for even faster access.
5. Do not disturb à la carte
From the control center, a 3D Touch shortcut on the Do not disturb option has been added and now allows you to activate this mode only momentarily.
6. More colorful annotations
The annotations module, especially accessible when taking a screenshot, offers an extended color palette.
7. Start a quick call from Messages
When sending a message to someone, tapping once on the contact’s name opens up new options. You can now quickly initiate an audio call or Facetime conversation directly from a message.
8. Favicons in Safari
If this addition may seem anecdotal, the support for favicons in Safari makes it possible to identify the different open tabs more quickly.
Disabled by default, you have to go to Settings, then in Safari, activate the “Icons in tabs” option.
9. “Hey Siri” functional in energy saving mode
The voice command “Hey Siri”, which allows you to wake up the voice assistant of the iPhone can now work in power saving mode.
10. Autofill with third-party password managers
If you are using a password manager other than iCloud Keychain, iOS 12 now allows you to use them for autofill passwords.
Go to iOS Settings, then Passwords & Accounts. Enter the Auto-fill passwords menu, and select the password managers allowed for autofill.
11. Navigate in a text with the space bar
The functionality was until now reserved only for iPhones with 3D Touch. Now all models can take advantage of the Trackpad mode built into the iOS keyboard.
To activate it, make a long press on the space bar. The letters on the keyboard should disappear and by moving your finger from left to right on the screen, you can then easily move the cursor in a text.
12. iOS can be updated automatically
The iPhone operating system can now update automatically, without your intervention, as soon as a new version of iOS is made available by Apple.
To enable automatic iOS update, open Settings, then under General go to the Software Update menu.
Then open the Automatic Updates menu and activate the option.
