iOS 12 public beta released: 4 reasons to try it
After being revealed at WWDC 2018 and going through a few rounds of developer testing, the iOS 12 public beta is officially here. Though most iPhone and iPad users will receive the update when it officially launches later this year (likely in September), there are quite a few reasons to check out the newest version of iOS today. iOS 12 actually seems to be one of the most exciting iOS releases we've had in a while, but here we'll highlight just a few of the reasons to try it.
1. Benefits for older iOS devices
Perhaps the coolest thing about iOS 12 is that it'll be compatible with every device that supports iOS 11. That was a surprising announcement back at WWDC, as it means that iOS 12 will be compatible with all iPhones dating back to the 5S and iPads going back to the original iPad Air and iPad Mini 2. All of those devices are turning five-years-old this year, so to see Apple supporting them with new iOS releases in 2018 is definitely an exciting thing.
There's more than just the novelty of seeing your aging device supported for another year, though. Apple promises performance improvements for iOS devices across the board, with apps launching up to 40% faster and the keyboard launching up to 50% faster on the iPhone 6 Plus. That's a little more recent (and powerful) than the iPhone 5S and iPad Mini 2, but we should still see boosted performance with those devices, too.
2. Siri Shortcuts and Suggestions
Siri is getting smarter in iOS 12. At WWDC, Apple announced that Siri will be getting new AI-based capabilities in Suggestions and Shortcuts. Third-party developers will able to build Siri Shortcuts into their apps, opening the door to a ton of quick actions she simply couldn't do before. iOS users will even be able to create their own Shortcuts through Workflow, and in iOS 12, Siri will also surface quick action suggestions based on your location and routines.
3. Memoji
It isn't a true iOS 12 feature list if it doesn't feature Memoji, right? While these probably aren't the game changers that other iOS 12 features are, Memoji are still worth checking out. An alternative to Animoji, iOS 12 users will be able to create various Memoji in their likeness and use them in iMessage. Given the unexpected popularity of Animoji, we can probably expect many iOS users to take warmly to Memoji as well.
4. Group FaceTime
If you're a big FaceTime fan, then iOS 12 is definitely worth checking out. Apple will be launching support for Group FaceTime in iOS 12, allowing up to 32 different people to participate in a single call. Of course, in order to take full advantage of that functionality, everyone you want to call will need to be on the iOS 12 preview as well. We're also not sure about the actual logistics of managing 32 people in the same video call, but regardless, the feature is still pretty neat.
Wrap-Up
There's more to iOS 12 than what's outlined here, but these are a few of the features we're particularly excited about. To get started with the iOS 12 preview, simply head over to the Apple's beta site, sign up as a tester, and then enroll your device in the iOS 12 public beta. Once you've done that, you'll be able to install the beta through "Software Update" in your phone or tablet's Settings menu, though you'll definitely want to back up your device to iTunes before you do. Which features are you looking forward to most in iOS 12? Head down to the comments section and let us know!