It's tough to keep pace with Apple lately. As expected, only one day after the public release of iOS 11.2.5, the company released information on the upcoming iOS 11.3. With new Animoji, more transparent battery information, Apple Music receiving music videos, and more, this update appears to be one to watch out for.
Apple states these changes will come to developers today in a beta preview, and public beta testers will be able to get their hands on it shortly thereafter. While it's not live just yet, it's expected to come out around 10 a.m. (PT) for developers.
There's a lot to be excited about when it comes to iOS 11.3. First off, there are new Animoji for the iPhone X, including a lion, skull, dragon, and bear. This is in addition to the 12 Animoji already available.
After the battery scandal late last year, we knew Apple would be introducing a battery update to "clear the air," and iOS 11.3 appears to be that update. It gives more information about the health of the iPhone's battery, as well as the option to disable the infamous slow-down feature that got Apple in such hot water. If only this were Apple's solution from the beginning.
For any music videos fans, Apple Music just got a lot more enticing. Apple announced that iOS 11.3 brings music videos to the company's Spotify-competitor. While Apple boasts the service will be ad-free, for $9.99 a month, you'd expect it would be.
ARKit also gets a big bump in the newest iOS update, as it moves to version 1.5. Apple claims the augmented reality software can now recognize vertical surfaces like walls and doors and can map 2D objects like posters and paintings onto them. This advancement will allow developers to create more immersive AR apps that can be used from home decor to more realistic gameplay.
Business chat is another feature Apple boasts of in this update. With it, you can communicate with businesses directly in Messages. Currently, Discover, Hilton, Lowe's, and Wells Fargo are on board for the service, which Apple asserts does not share user information. Users can also quit a chat anytime they like.
Other updates include user health records in the Health app, a new video group in the For You tab of Apple News, added protections for HomeKit and its services, and the addition of AML (Advanced Mobile Location), which sends the user's location when a call is placed to emergency services.
One thing noticeably absent from Apple's announcement is Messages on iCloud, an iOS 11 feature promised way back in June. While we hope Apple will find a way to include this much-needed way of syncing messages in 11.3, we may have to wait until another major update to see the change. Cover image via