RCS for Enterprise Messaging, numerous bug fixes

On Monday, Apple made the discharge candidate model of iOS 18.1 out there to builders, forward of the software program’s public launch on October 28. Much like earlier developer betas, Monday’s launch candidate introduces assist for a brand new software program characteristic and consists of key bug fixes.

Along with the assorted points the replace resolves, the RC model of iOS 18.1 enhances the present enterprise messaging characteristic by including assist for the RCS protocol.

Enterprise Messaging, beforehand generally known as Enterprise Chat, made it potential for customers to speak with companies straight inside the Messages app, by iMessage.

This characteristic was initially launched as a extra handy method of communication, versus customers counting on electronic mail and corporations’ proprietary web-based chat techniques.

iOS 18.1 additional improves the Enterprise Messaging characteristic by including RCS assist. RCS, brief for Wealthy Communication Providers, is a textual content messaging protocol that gives higher compatibility with Android units, and likewise brings substantial enhancements over conventional SMS messages.

RCS is now out there for Enterprise Messaging in iOS 18.1.

Whereas Apple already launched RCS assist for Messages with the general public launch of iOS 18, the corporate’s iOS 18.1 launch candidate makes it potential to make use of the RCS protocol in enterprise chats as nicely.

With RCS, movies and GIFs keep their full high quality when despatched from iPhone to Android and vice versa, whereas group chats, learn receipts, and typing indicators additionally work between the 2 platforms.

Together with the enhancements to Enterprise Messaging, the iOS 18.1 replace additionally introduces numerous bug fixes. The replace resolves a frequent restart difficulty affecting units within the iPhone 16 vary, amongst different issues.

iOS 18.1 resolves a problem reported by a number of iPhone 16 house owners, the place the units would repeatedly freeze up and restart themselves throughout regular day-to-day use. The bug was mostly encountered on iPhone 16 Professional and iPhone 16 Professional Max models, which might typically crash even when in standby mode.

iOS 18.1 fixes a problem with random restarts on units within the iPhone 16 vary.

In accordance with the iOS 18.1 RC launch notes, revealed by Apple on Monday, the replace addresses just a few different bugs beforehand current inside the iPhone working system:

• Fixes a problem in Podcasts the place unplayed episodes are marked as performed.
• Fixes a problem the place movies recorded at 4K 60 whereas the machine is heat may expertise stutter whereas scrubbing the video playback in Photographs.
• Fixes a problem the place digital automobile keys might not unlock or begin a automobile with passive entry after restoring from a backup or transferring straight from one other iPhone.

iOS 18.1 shall be launched to most people on October 28, 2024, every week after the roll-out of Monday’s launch candidate model. Whereas AirPods Professional 2 will obtain a brand new listening to help characteristic with the discharge, the principle focus of iOS 18.1 is Apple Intelligence, which makes it potential to edit and summarize textual content or modify pictures by using generative AI software program.

It is value stating, nevertheless, that Apple Intelligence options are solely out there for units with an A17 Professional chip or newer, or iPad and Mac units with an M1 or newer Apple Silicon chip.

Whereas iOS 18.1 introduces a variety of Apple Intelligence options, similar to electronic mail categorization and summarization, Good Replies, and Writing Instruments, some AI-related enhancements, similar to Picture Playground, will solely make their debut with future iOS releases later in 2024.