Apple released the third beta versions of iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2 and macOS Sequoia 15.2 on Monday. They are available to developers and beta testers. In addition, the company released the second beta versions of watchOS 11.2, tvOS 18.2 and HomePod Software 18.2.
Image source: Macrumors
In new builds of operating systems, Apple continues to expand the capabilities of the Apple Intelligence ecosystem of AI functions. The Image Playground feature is a text-based image generator. Users can describe the desired image or select ready-made query options to generate images offered by Apple (clothing, places, and more). Images can also be generated based on messages from the Messages app or notes from the Notes app.
Image Playground lets you create digital images of characters that look like your friends or family members. You can also upload photos from which new linked images will be created. The application has a preview function, as well as the ability to undo changes and return the image to its previous version. Although Image Playground is a standalone app, it also supports integration with the Messages app. Apple’s AI generator cannot produce photorealistic images and is limited to animation styles or illustrations.
The Image Wand feature is bundled with Image Playground and is available as part of the Notes app on iPads. It can recognize a sketch drawn in the Notes app and turn it into a quality illustration. To do this, you simply need to trace your finger (or Apple Pencil) around the sketch.
The Genmoji unique emoji generator allows you to create your own emoji using a text description for a neural network. You can even choose a real person from the Photos application library as a model for the emoticon. At the time of the release of the second beta versions of iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2, the Genmoji generator was only available on these operating systems. However, it will also appear in macOS Sequoia.
The Siri digital assistant can integrate with ChatGPT for certain queries, but only with user approval. If Siri is unable to respond to a request, the digital assistant will pass the request to ChatGPT and present its response.
ChatGPT can be used to create content, including text and images. No account is required to use the ChatGPT integration, and Apple and OpenAI do not store user requests.
IPhone 16 users now have access to Visual Intelligence, a feature that provides information about what’s around them. By launching the camera and pointing it, for example, at a restaurant, you can see its opening hours and reviews from visitors. Other Visual Intelligence features include reading text aloud, searching for phone numbers and addresses to add to Contacts, and copying and summarizing text. A Google search function is also available, for example product information. Using the camera, you can obtain additional information from ChatGPT about a particular object in the frame. Apple plans to expand the capabilities of Visual Intelligence.
Functions for working with text have also been expanded. While iOS 18.1 and its beta versions allowed you to change the overall style of an email message to be professional, friendly, or simple, iOS 18.2 now allows you to make more specific changes to your writing style, such as adding more verbs or turning text into a poem. Apple has also expanded language support. In addition to US English, options have been added for users in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland and the UK.
Beta program participants will have access to new Apple Intelligence features, including ChatGPT and Visual Intelligence integration, automatically. However, Genmoji, Image Playground, and Image Wand testing will require a separate application. Features for generating images will become available in the coming weeks.
The new beta versions of iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2 and macOS Sequoia 15.2 are supported on most Apple devices. However, Apple Intelligence features require an iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 16, an iPad with an M-series chip or an A17 Pro chip, or a Mac with an M-series chip.
Also in the new beta version of tvOS 18.2, Apple has added support for projectors with an aspect ratio of 21:9. Apple TV can automatically detect the best aspect ratio for your device and select the optimal settings (available in 16:9, 21:9, 2.37:1, 2.39:1, 2.40:1, DCI 4K, and 32:9).