Tag: Home Screen Customization

  • iOS 18 launches with Dark Mode for app icons and revamped Control Centre

    iOS 18 launches with Dark Mode for app icons and revamped Control Centre

    Apple has officially unveiled iOS 18, the latest significant update for the iPhone operating system, packed with new customisation options, a revamped Photos app, and much more.

    One of the standout features of iOS 18 is the enhanced customisation tools for the Home Screen. Users can now apply Dark Mode to app icons and tint them with colours for a personalised appearance. Additionally, apps can be positioned freely anywhere on the Home Screen.

    The Control Center has been completely redesigned and offers extensive customisation options through a new gallery. Developers can now integrate tools for their apps directly into the Control Center. Users can continuously swipe to navigate between different Control Center screens. Customisation options are also available for Lock Screen controls.

    In the Messages app, tapbacks have been revamped, allowing users to react with any emoji. Messages can now be scheduled for later delivery, and text formatting options include bold, italics, underline, and strikethrough.

    New text effects provide automatic suggestions to highlight words and phrases. Additionally, users can now send and receive messages via satellite connectivity.

    The Mail app introduces automatic sorting of emails into categories to help prioritise messages. The Maps app now features topographical maps with detailed trail networks and hiking routes. In Wallet, the new Tap to Cash feature enables users to send money by simply holding iPhones together.

    The Photos app has undergone a comprehensive redesign in iOS 18. The new unified view features a photo grid at the top that displays the entire library, with collections organised by theme below. Users can filter photos by Months and Years views, and a filter button allows for the hiding of screenshots and other sorting options.

    Below the grid, users can browse Collections by topics such as Time, People, Memories, and Trips. The Recent Days section shows photos from the past few days, with automatic filtering of items like receipts.

    The People and Pets section now groups photos of individuals and allows for reordering or pinning of collections. Swiping right from the grid reveals a new carousel with Featured Photos and other favourite collections, which automatically refreshes to display new images.

    iOS 18 introduces app locking with authentication, hiding information from Search and Siri. It also offers a new method for connecting accessories more seamlessly.

    RCS messaging support has been added, along with larger Home Screen icons and calendar integration in Reminders. Game Mode makes its debut on the iPhone, minimising background activity to maintain high frame rates and providing more responsive connections to AirPods and wireless game controllers.

    The first developer beta of iOS 18 is available today, with a public beta set for release in July and a general public release in the autumn.

  • Apple to unveil extensive home screen customisation options in iOS 18

    Apple to unveil extensive home screen customisation options in iOS 18

    In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, tech analyst Mark Gurman has revealed exciting details about the forthcoming iOS 18 update.

    According to Gurman, Apple is set to revolutionise the iPhone user experience by introducing extensive customisation options for the home screen, a departure from the current fixed aligned grid system.

    One of the key highlights of iOS 18 will be the newfound ability for users to freely arrange icons on their home screens, breaking away from the constraints of the existing rigid layout.

    Additionally, Apple will be introducing native support for customising app icons, marking a significant departure from the previous reliance on third-party solutions.

    Gurman’s insights suggest that iOS 18 will empower users to personalise their device like never before, with the ability to alter the color of app icons to suit their preferences.

    For example, users could opt to unify all social networking apps under a distinctive blue hue, while assigning a different color scheme to finance-related applications.

    Although rudimentary home screen customisation has been achievable through workarounds such as creating single-action shortcuts, these methods have often been cumbersome and time-consuming.

    With the imminent release of iOS 18, Apple aims to streamline this experience by integrating robust customisation features directly into the operating system.

    However, the extent of icon customisation remains somewhat ambiguous. While it’s clear that users will have the option to adjust colors, the specifics regarding the potential for entirely new icon designs or limited palette changes have yet to be clarified.

    The eagerly anticipated iOS 18 is scheduled to be officially unveiled at Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 10.

    Alongside this announcement, Apple is expected to showcase a range of innovative features, with a particular emphasis on advancements in artificial intelligence technology.