On Sept. 16, iPhone users around the world were able to update their compatible devices to the newest software model iOS 18. The update was highly anticipated and would allow users to access multiple new features such as: reacting with any emoji to messages on the texting app, disability accessibility features added and homescreen customization. Students have been waiting for the release for quite some time however, not all expectations were met.
The iOS 18 update was set to include a place where users could create their own emoji. Users could simply type in the description and the emoji would be made, but this was not seen once since the update. Additionally, home and lock screen accessibility were said that apps could be placed anywhere on the screen, not just in lines, to allow users more freedom, but to change the colors of the apps, users had to add a tint which affected their whole screen.
“I liked the new iOS update because of all the new customization features but I feel like the features felt incomplete,” sophomore Liv Grieger said. “I didn’t like the way that customization on the home and lock screen wasn’t as great as they advertised it to be.”
Many students felt upset about the new features being misinterpreted to the users. Some changes came without warning, such as the updates to the photos app; where the update combined the photos app into one giant section.. Many students were unable to locate certain photos and rearrange them back to how they were before.
“Somethings I don’t like [about] the update was the new rearranging of the photos app,” sophomore Isabella Meregildo said. “It messed things up and it looks weird.”
However, updates in the text messaging app were seen as useful and fun, allowing users to make their text messages jump up and down or have letters move. In this setting, italics and bold were added, as well as, allowing users to react to messages with any emoji. Users could choose any emoji to attach to a message in reaction.
“I can be more expressive I think with my texting, and can get the point across better with some of the new features,” junior Devan Sprenkel said. “[They] gave us some cool features on messaging.”
In the end, the new update was not all it seemed. It included many unwanted advancements while also coming along with fun tools to better adapt the iphones to the growing media age.
“I feel like this update hasn’t affected the way I use my phone very much,” Grieger said. “It is definitely the small details that have made using my phone easier and more fun.”
