Apple WWDC 2018: iOS 12 with Memoji, Screen Time unveiled; know everything

Cupertino, US-based technology giant Apple on June 5 announced the iOS 12 operating system for iPhones and iPads at the WWDC 2018. Starting today, June 5, the OS will be available to Apple Developer Program members at developer.apple.com, and a public beta program will be available to iOS users later this month at beta.apple.com. The iOS 12 will go live this fall as a free software update for the iPhone 5s and, later, all iPad Air and iPad Pro models, iPad 5th generation, iPad 6th generation, iPad mini 2 and later and iPod touch 6th generation.

With a focus on speed and performance, the iOS 12 also brings new features like improved artificial reality, animated personalised emojis, group FaceTime and Screen Time. The new operating system also gets new Siri shortcuts, which now enables it to work with any app.

Here is what's new in the iOS 12:

Faster performance

The iOS 12 is designed to make everyday tasks on iPhone and iPad faster and more responsive with performance improvements across the system. According to company’s claim, the camera launches up to 70 per cent faster, the keyboard appears up to 50 per cent faster and typing is more responsive. Even when there is a lot going on across the system, apps can launch up to twice as fast.

Enhanced AR experiences

The new ARKit 2 now enables developers to create AR-ready apps with new tools to integrate shared experiences, persistent AR experiences tied to a specific location, object detection and image tracking, making AR apps even more dynamic. Designed in collaboration with Pixar, a new open file format – USDZ -- makes it easy to experience AR nearly anywhere in iOS, including apps like Messages, Safari, Mail, Files and News, delivering powerful graphics and animation features.

Camera effects and Memoji

The iOS 12 enables Memoji, along with Animoji, which was unveiled with iOS 11. The Memojis can be created within Messages by choosing from a set of inclusive and diverse characteristics to form a unique personality. The existing set of Animoji also expands with ghost, koala, tiger and T. rex. All Animoji and Memoji now feature winks and tongue detection to capture even more expressions.