Buzz
At the event unveiling Apple's latest product lineup in New York, alongside the introduction of the new iPad Pro and 2018 Macbook Air, the company officially rolled out the iOS 12.1 update for iPhone and iPad. The noteworthy aspect of this latest upgrade is the previous version's numerous shortcomings for iPhone and iPad users. Therefore, if iOS 12.1 doesn't address these issues, it's a significant drawback for Apple.
WHAT ISSUES DOES iOS 12.1 ADDRESS?
The iOS 12.1 update may not introduce many positive changes, but it does provide temporary solutions to lingering problems from previous versions, such as:
+ Group FaceTime
- Added support for up to 32 participants in video and audio calls simultaneously.
- Bidirectional encryption to ensure conversation privacy.
- Start Group FaceTime directly from a group message or join an ongoing call anytime.
+ Emojis
Over 70 new emojis, including new characters with red hair, silver hair, and curly hair, new emojis for bald people, more expressive smiley emojis, and additional emojis representing animals, sports, and food.
+ Dual SIM Support
Introducing dual SIM with eSIM, allowing the use of two phone numbers on one device for iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR.
Note: Update 12.1 introduces dual SIM support for the trio of iPhones: iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max. While it sounds like you can use 2 SIMs, in reality, our local carriers still do not support eSIM, folks.
+ Other Improvements and Bug Fixes
- Introduces depth control in Camera preview for iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR.
- Improves mobile connectivity for iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR.
- Adds the ability to change or reset Screen Time passcode using Face ID or Touch ID.
- Fixes an issue where the sharpest reference frame may not always be selected in front-facing photos for iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR.
- Addresses an issue where mails may be merged into one thread when two users are signed in with the same Apple ID on multiple iPhones.
- Resolves an issue preventing some calls from appearing in the Phone app.
- Fixes an issue in the Phone app that may cause phone numbers to appear without corresponding contact names.
- Fixes an issue that may prevent Screen Time from reporting specific websites in the activity report.
- Addresses an issue that may prevent adding or removing family members from Family Sharing.
- Adds a performance management feature to prevent sudden shutdowns, including the option to disable this feature if an unexpected shutdown occurs, for iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus.
- Adds the ability to notify users of the battery health feature's inability to verify whether an Apple battery is genuine in iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR.
- Improves VoiceOver reliability in Camera, Siri, and Safari.
- Fixes an issue that may cause Device Enrollment Program to report an Invalid Profile error for some enterprise users.
Guide to Download and Update iOS 12.1 Operating System on iPhone and iPad
First, open the Phone app on your iPhone. Then go to Settings, General, and tap on Software Update. Tap Download and Install, and follow the on-screen instructions.
Note: Ensure your phone is charged during the update process and do not let your home Wi-Fi network disconnect, or else you won't be able to update.
Because the iOS 12.1 update is still quite new, there may be some glitches while we use it.
I advise those using locked iPhones to hold off on updating to this latest upgrade for now.
