iOS 18.4 was presupposed to carry new Apple Intelligence Siri options, however Apple ended up needing to drag these capabilities from the replace to proceed testing. There are fewer new Apple Intelligence additions now, however there are nonetheless some new options that can make the replace value putting in when it comes out in April.
Precedence Notifications
Apple launched Precedence Notifications again on the June 2024 WWDC, and it is one other Apple Intelligence function that we have been ready on because the September iOS 18 launch.
With Precedence Notifications, Apple analyzes your incoming notifications and highlights those which are essential, based mostly on context and time. When you’ve ordered meals and your order is approaching, Apple will spotlight that notification as a precedence, inserting it above different notifications. The identical goes for something that has a time-based element, or one thing else that wants quick consideration.
Precedence Notifications is opt-in within the iOS 18.4 beta, so it must be turned on by going to Settings > Notifications > Prioritize Notifications.
When turned on, Precedence Notifications present up first in your record of notifications on the Lock Display, in a separate field with an icon that stands out. You may nonetheless see your entire different notifications by swiping.
Picture Playground
When the Picture Playground app launched, it solely had Animation and Illustration types to select from for the photographs you make, however there have been at all times meant to be three choices.
With the iOS 18.4 beta, the third “Sketch” choice is out there as nicely. Sketch is a method that appears extra like a hand drawn picture, and it’s distinct from Animation, which is a 3D fashion, and Illustration, an easier 3D picture.
Apple describes Sketch as a “extremely detailed and educational” fashion that “produces beautiful drawings on stark backgrounds,” whereas the illustration fashion options robust outlines, daring colours, and easy shapes. Apple says the animation fashion has a “whimsical, 3D cartoon look.”
New Languages
iOS 18.4 provides Apple Intelligence assist for brand new languages, together with French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese language (simplified), plus localized English for Singapore and India.
iOS 18.4 Launch Date
Apple has seeded one beta of iOS 18.4 to builders and public beta testers to this point. A second beta will come subsequent week, and it will likely be beta examined by way of the month of March.
Apple plans to launch iOS 18.4 in early April.
Apple Intelligence Siri Options
There’s an opportunity that we might nonetheless see the Apple Intelligence Siri options applied in a later beta of iOS 18.4, however that is trying unlikely given that there is only a month till the replace is about to come back out.
As an alternative, Apple will possible add the Siri capabilities in an iOS 18.5 replace. It’s uncommon for main new options to come back in a .5 replace as these updates typically come out across the time when Apple transitions focus to a brand new model of iOS, but it surely’s not extraordinary. Apple has been releasing iOS 18 options progressively, and we’ll in all probability see the same tactic with iOS 19. Rumors already counsel iOS 19 improvement is being pushed again in order that Apple can proceed to work on iOS 18.