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Apple has officially launched iOS 18 to the public on September 16, marking the culmination of months of beta testing. This significant update introduces features aimed at advancing what Apple refers to as a new era of Apple Intelligence, offering deeper levels of customization, support for RCS messaging, an upgraded Photos app, and much more.
Having skipped the beta phase, this public release is my first encounter with all its new functionalities—except for the anticipated Apple Intelligence features, which are set to debut in iOS 18.1 next month.
While the excitement for a new iOS update is palpable, my experience reveals a concerning disconnect between expectation and reality regarding several key features I had eagerly anticipated.
Challenges with Home Screen Customization
One aspect that draws me to Android has always been its extensive home screen customization options, allowing for a freeform arrangement of apps and widgets.
With iOS 18, Apple has made strides to allow more flexibility in how users arrange their home screens, enabling the placement of app icons and widgets in a grid layout. Control Center customization has also become a reality for users.
However, my attempts at customization have been less than seamless. It seems as though iOS is resisting my efforts to make changes, which is surprising given Apple’s reputation for user-friendly experiences.
For years, I have maintained a specific home screen layout using Shortcuts, resulting in a relatively uniform look. As I excitedly prepared to redesign my interface with iOS 18’s new Dark theme for icons, I quickly realized the process was cumbersome. Although the option to place apps and widgets freely exists, the reality felt like an afterthought. For instance, dragging an app from the App Library to the center of a home screen page often results in it snapping back to the top-left corner, reminiscent of earlier layouts.
Despite the claim that apps can be positioned “anywhere,” limitations remain. The grid system persists, preventing elements from being arranged freely. It’s impossible to have a 2×2 widget perfectly centered with apps on either side, leaving me feeling constrained by the very features designed to provide freedom.
Control Center Customization Disappoints
My experience with the newly customizable Control Center has been equally frustrating. While I appreciate the opportunity to revise its layout, the implementation is baffling. Resizing or repositioning a control seems to trigger a chaotic reshuffling of other elements, often resulting in a layout that makes no logical sense.
This frustrating experience occurs consistently, forcing me into a cycle of rearranging elements that never holds. Additionally, I’ve encountered problems syncing apps with specific Focus modes; for example, the 1Password icon occasionally fails to appear on my Work Focus screen, which was not an issue on iOS 17.
Concerns About iOS 18’s Readiness
Given the anticipation surrounding this upgrade, I find myself disappointed by the home screen and Control Center functionality. Despite months in beta, the final release feels unfinished, lacking the polish one would expect from Apple. Current implementations seem to echo a beta experience, rather than a completed product.
Moreover, the absence of the full suite of Apple Intelligence features until iOS 18.1 adds to the feeling of incompleteness. As I navigate my iPhone 15 Pro with iOS 18, I sense that something significant is still missing.
Looking forward, I truly hope that the upcoming iOS 18.1 update addresses these significant issues while finally delivering on the promise of Apple Intelligence. Until then, I may hold off on making any further modifications to my home screen and Control Center, unless I want to test my patience.
Source
www.yahoo.com