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Everything iOS 12 from Apple's WWDC 2018 keynote

Apple has given us our first look at iOS 12 at its annual WWDC conference. This is the software that will grace all the latest iPhones and iPads, including the new ones likely to be released in 2018. Here's what to expect when iOS 12 comes to iOS devices later this year.
By Elyse Betters Picaro, Managing Editor
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7 of 19 Elyse Betters Picaro/ZDNET
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8 of 19 Elyse Betters Picaro/ZDNET

iOS 12: ARKit 2

Apple also unveiled a major update to ARKit. The improvements range from face tracking, to realistic rendering, to 3D object detection, to persistent experiences, and to shared experiences, according to Apple. That last bit lets you have a single AR experience on multiple iPhones.

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9 of 19 Elyse Betters Picaro/ZDNET

iOS 12: Lego is here with shared AR

Expanding on the shared AR experience aspect, Martin Sanders, director of innovation for Lego, came onstage to show a Lego kit on a table and a new app he called Assembly Square.

It can identify a Lego model and turn it into a moving Lego world. You and others can then manipulate the world, by zooming in on buildings, etc. Apple and Lego said more Lego experiences will be available in the App Store later this year.

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10 of 19 Screenshot/Apple

iOS 12: Siri Shortcuts

Apple mentioned SiriKi by introducing Shortcuts, a new tool and app.

With this tool, Apple said, any app will be able to have an "Add to Siri" button with your own search phrase, so you can say, "Siri I lost my keys," which could then launch Tile. As for the app, there you'll see hundreds of Shortcuts you can download to create a multistep routine. So, on your way to the store after work, you'll be able to automatically send a reminder to your family.

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11 of 19 Elyse Betters Picaro/ZDNET

iOS 12: Time to talk Photos

Apple updated the Photos app with a new "For You" menu that suggests new editing tools to try. It also has an "On this day" section featuring memories, Live Photos, Portrait photos, and more.

Search is about to be improved, too, apparently. You can do multiple search terms and get suggestions for multiple search terms. It also indexes events by time and place and categories.

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12 of 19 Screenshot/Apple

iOS 12: Screentime and digital well-being

This new Screentime feature reminds us of the new digital well-being dashboard in Android P.

Apple is basically adding screen time controls. It shows you how much you use your phone. You can get a weekly activity summary report, and you can set time limits for each app. When time is up, the app will show "time's up" alert. If you have kids, Apple said you can set allowances.

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17 of 19 Screenshot/Apple

iOS 12: Grouped notifications

It's happening! Grouped notifications are coming. You will be able to group notifications from same app into one notification and customise notifications from the lock screen. You can also swipe and group all the notifications as one, grouping them by app.

You can even press in and skip your lock screen to look at notifications. Apple said it wants to "give you more control" over notifications, and to do so, it'll also introduce a new "Do not disturb during bedtime," which will hide your notifications from the lock screen at night.

You can also hard-press this function so you can easily set a time limit for it. There will be instant adjustments, too. You "press in" to a notification and see different options, including the ability to send to the notification center.

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19 of 19 Screenshot/Apple

iOS 12: Animoji and Memoji

Messages is getting an update, too.

The app's Animoji feature will soon support "Tongue Detection," more Animoji characters, and something called Memoji. It reminds us of Snapchat's Bitmoji and Samsung's AR emoji features.

Anyway, with the new Memoji builder, you can create an Animoji of yourself. And then you just pull up the camera in the iMessage app, and there's a star button you can tap to access effects.

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