Today is the day for the latest iOS update for your iPhone and iPad, plus an update to the macOS default web browser, Safari. Here are a few of the things to expect with the updates.
iOS 12
With iOS 12, Apple has included the usual performance improvements and fixed a few bugs in this 1.51GB update. Some users can expect to find an increase in responsiveness with the camera, keyboard display, and app launch. If you are a heavy user of FaceTime, you will now be able to group chat with 32 users at once. You basically could host an entire class using FaceTime. There is also an improvement to Apple’s augmented reality (AR) with the ARKit2, allowing multiple people to share the experience and even send AR object via Messages and Mail.
Beyond the system improvements, there are several new features including Memoji – to create a more customized and personal animated emoji, Screen Time – to help manage you and your family’s time on your mobile device, and improved notifications – now easier to view and manage. For a complete list of all the updates and improvements, please see Apple’s About iOS 12 Updates page at https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209084.
Of course, before installing any of these iOS system updates, it is highly recommended you backup your device. Instructions are available on Apple’s How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch page.
One of the things missing from this update is support for some popular older devices. If you have an iPhone older than the iPhone 5s, an iPad older than the iPad Air, the original iPad mini, or even an iPod Touch – are those even around still? – 5th generation or older, you are out of luck.
Here is the complete list of supported devices for iOS 12:
| iPhone | iPad | iPod touch |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone XS | 12.9-inch iPad Pro 2nd generation | iPod touch 6th generation |
| iPhone XS Max | 12.9-inch iPad Pro 1st generation | |
| iPhone XR | 10.5-inch iPad Pro | |
| iPhone X | 9.7-inch iPad Pro | |
| iPhone 8 | iPad 6th generation | |
| iPhone 8 Plus | iPad 5th generation | |
| iPhone 7 | iPad Air 2 | |
| iPhone 7 Plus | iPad Air | |
| iPhone 6s | iPad mini 4 | |
| iPhone 6s Plus | iPad mini 3 | |
| iPhone 6 | iPad mini 2 | |
| iPhone 6 Plus | ||
| iPhone SE | ||
| iPhone 5s |
Safari 12
One other update of note is the update to Safari. Safari 12 is really focused on improving your security when online. Safari will now automatically suggest a strong unique password when creating or changing your password and will even flag the password if it has been used before. It will now prevent the tracking of you across sites without your permission. No more looking at a pair of boots online and then seeing ads for those same boots on every site you visit. Safari has also discontinued support for older NPAPI plug-ins and legacy Safari Extensions that have not been reviewed by the team at Apple. The should not only help keep you safe but also improve browser performance.
