Apple unveiled iOS 12 at WWDC, the company’s annual gathering for app and software developers, in June 2018. Since then, a number of testers have opted to try out its beta version that Apple has released to optimize the OS before its official release in September this year. The beta version has since been receiving regular updates, the latest of which, iOS 12 beta 7 OTA, has been accused of denting the performance of testers’ phones, prompting Apple to withdraw the software and halt further updates.
The accusations leveled against the software include increased time taken to load apps, stopping users from logging in via the lock screen, and causing several other bugs. Some users have taken to social media to accuse the update of ‘bricking’ their phone altogether, which means that the device stopped functioning completely.
Michael Gillig, a tech YouTuber, had the following to say about his experience with the latest software:
iOS 12 Beta 7 just BRICKED my iPhone X. Can’t turn on after trying EVERYTHING. And not detected by iTunes.” However, the tech expert was able to employ a time-honoured tactic to fix this issue, following which he said, “Fixed it by holding the power button down for FIVE MINUTES without stopping. It was finally detected by iTunes.- Michael Gillig, Tech YouTuber
iOS 12 is all set to usher in a number of new features with its September launch. It will allow users to have group Facetime video chats that shall use AI to foreground the most ‘prominent’ people. It shall also up to Apple’s emoji game by releasing a fresh range of emojis and animojis, along with a brand new set of personalized animated icons called Memoji, which can be customized by “choosing from a set of inclusive and diverse characteristics to form a unique personality.”
We’re very excited about the new communications features we’re bringing to iPhone and iPad with Memoji, a more personal form of Animoji, fun camera effects and Group FaceTime. With iOS 12, we’re enabling new experiences that weren’t possible before. We’re using advanced algorithms to make AR even more engaging and on-device intelligence to deliver faster ways to get things done using Siri. – Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering
The update will group together notifications from the same app, and a new app called ‘Siri Shortcuts’ will allow users to select a few tasks which can then be completed using voice commands. Another key feature called ‘Screen Time’ will be ushered in by iOS 12 which will show users their daily and weekly activity reports to help them monitor device use and tackle tech addiction.
The OS shall boost the overall performance of the devices, making Camera launches up to 70 percent faster, keyboard loading 50 percent faster, and typing more responsive. iOS 12 shall function well on any iPhone produced after the 2013 iPhone 5S.
