Everything New in the iOS π€ π€ 18 Messages π App π https://images.macrumors.com/article-new/2024/06/iOS-18-Messages-Feature-1.jpg π€ iOS π€ π₯ 18 is π bringing π major changes π€ to the Messages app, with Apple adding π€ Tapback reaction π π changes π₯ new π― formatting, updated effects, satellite support, better π₯ texting π with π₯ green π― bubble people, and eventually, several fun Apple π€ π Intelligence features. π π This guide π π€ highlights π₯ everything that's new π π₯ in π― the βiOS 18β Messages app, and what's coming later. π€ Send π₯ Later π βiOS 18β adds π the option to schedule π an iMessage π to be sent to someone at a π later time π€ or date. π If π₯ you π₯ π know π₯ someone's π― birthday is π coming π up, for π example, π€ you π can schedule a π π happy π€ birthday π₯ π€ π text to them ahead of π― the date so π€ it's ready to π go. π€ Scheduling a π message can π π be only be π done in conversations π₯ with other iMessage users, and it is not π― an π option when texting with π π an π€ Android π user. π π It works π in both individual and group chats, as π― long as π₯ π all participants π have π₯ π an Apple π― device and access to iMessage. To schedule π a π₯ message, π follow these steps: π Open π€ up π― π€ a conversation in the Messages app. π Tap on the "+" π button π on π π the left side of the π text box. Tap on π More. π― Choose Send π₯ Later. Type in your Message. To change the send time, tap on the blue bubble that defaults to Tomorrow 9:00 am. From there, you π― will π have π₯ a π€ slider that π₯ lets π you input a π₯ π date π€ π and π― a time. π With π your π π― time π€ π₯ selected and your π π message π₯ typed in, tap on the blue π arrow π to schedule it. π€ iPhone π is π₯ offline without π a Wi-Fi or cellular connection. π Scheduled π messages are displayed at the π bottom π₯ of π― a π conversation. If π you π₯ π€ want to π change the π π time of a message π π or π cancel it, π tap on the π "Edit" button. You will have π options to edit the π time, delete the message, or send π― it π immediately. Tapback π Reactions π π₯ Tapbacks are π those π little characters you can use to respond to π€ a π message π by long pressing π on it, π so π€ π€ π you don't need π₯ to π π₯ type π out a whole response π to something that can be answered with π― π a π π thumbs up or π₯ a π heart. π₯ βiOS π€ 18β has two π₯ key π€ π― updates π π€ π€ for π€ π Tapbacks. Updated Design The six standard Tapback π icons now feature color and more detail. You π can see the new look π€ π― when π long π― pressing π― on a text to π respond, π and in the Tapbacks π π₯ that you receive. When you π π tap on a π π₯ Tapback you've received on a π message, you π π can now see π π who sent what, which is useful if you are in π a group chat π₯ and get multiple π― π₯ Tapback responses. π₯ Emoji Support Along with the six classic Tapback responses, you can π€ now π choose π any π― emoji character when using π π― Tapback. π After π― π long π pressing π to π₯ respond to π― a message, swipe π to the left to π see common emoji π responses or π€ tap on the generic emoji π icon thought π π bubble to bring up the π― emoji picker. π You can π π€ choose π π any emoji, but π you can also select from your π stickers or your Memoji. π Tap π€ on the π― Memoji icon π at the bottom left π π€ to π get to π Memoji, or the π sticker icon to π see your π― sticker π― selections. To π― π€ add one as π― a Tapback, π― just tap on your selection. Stickers can be hard π π to see π at π₯ the small size of a π π Tapback, but most emoji π₯ characters and π Memoji work π well. π― π― RCS π RCS, or Rich Communication Services, is a π new text message protocol replacing SMS π€ π and π₯ MMS. You'll see it when texting people π who π don't π π have π π₯ iMessage, such π― π as π Android users. βRCSβ π has nothing to π do with π π€ iMessage conversations, aka the conversations π π― you have with other Apple π― device π owners (blue bubbles), π π π₯ but π€ it π€ does improve π― texts with green bubble Android users. βRCSβ is π₯ a more π modern π π technology π€ π― than SMS, π and it allows for more feature parity in βiPhoneβ to π₯ Android text message conversations. π Many π€ of the π π₯ frustrations you might π have encountered π when texting π€ π₯ someone with an π₯ Android device are resolved with π€ π₯ βRCSβ, π such as errors sending photos and videos. Here's π what you'll get with π βRCSβ: Support π― for π₯ higher resolution π€ photos and π― videos. Support π π for larger file π sizes and π file π sharing. Audio messages. π Real-time typing indicators. Read receipts. Ability to π₯ send π messages π over cellular or Wi-Fi (SMS is cellular π only). There π₯ is no cost to send an βRCSβ message over Wi-Fi. Improved group π chats. Again, π₯ π βRCSβ π π only π π comes into π― π play when π you're texting someone who has an Android π device. iMessage π€ is still the default π for π― π conversations π between Apple device π owners, π π₯ and blue π€ bubbles and π π green bubbles are not changing. have π a π€ full guide on RCS π if you want π π to know π more about what π π to expect. π Messages via Satellite Messages via satellite is a new π π π― feature that π― lets π you π send texts even when you π₯ don't have π a Wi-Fi or π― cellular connection, π leveraging the satellites that π Apple π uses for the Emergency SOS via π satellite π feature. Messages π via π― satellite is available π on π― the π€ iPhone 14 or later, and you π can π€ send and π receive π both iMessage and SMS messages, so π you're not limited π π to texting with π― π€ π just βiPhoneβ users. π π Right π now, π Messages π via π satellite is π free, just π like Emergency SOS π π― via π π― satellite. Apple offers two π π free π years π of satellite π access π― with an βiPhone π 14β or later, but π the company π has expanded free access for the π€ βiPhone 14β π until November 2025. Apple has not provided π any insight into how much it will π eventually charge for satellite access. Smart π π₯ Replies (Apple Intelligence π - iOS 18.1) Using Apple Intelligence, your π€ π βiPhoneβ can analyze π the π― π content in π₯ a message that π π₯ you've received, suggesting π Smart Reply π options that you π can π tap for a quick response. π If π― someone asks a π π question like "Do you π― want to go π to the movies?" π Messages π suggests π responses π― like π€ "Sure!" or "Sorry, busy tomorrow." π Smart Replies aren't π― an option for π π every message that you π― π― receive, but π Apple often π₯ has π a π₯ suggestion. Smart π₯ Replies π show π π up at the top of π₯ π π₯ the keyboard, where suggestions have π been in prior π― π versions of π― iOS. Smart π Replies π are π similar π to suggestions, π₯ π but are π more intelligent π― π€ and are π€ often π― π complete phrases and responses rather than π word π suggestions that π₯ pop π π up π as π you type. π To π π₯ use a π€ Smart Reply, just tap π― it and it'll π― π₯ populate the text box so π π you can π π send π it. π If you π₯ don't care for π₯ the suggestion, just ignore it, and π type π in your own response. You'll π π― still see suggestions π once you π disregard a Smart π₯ Reply. Smart Replies are π€ an Apple Intelligence Messages feature in iOS 18.1, which π π Apple is π₯ currently beta testing. Writing Tools (Apple Intelligence - iOS π 18.1) π₯ Writing π π Tools aren't π specific π to the Messages app, π― but are π― a systemwide π€ option anywhere you π₯ can input π π₯ π text. In Messages, π₯ you can write out π a text and then select it π with π a π₯ tap and π drag gesture to bring π€ up the Writing Tools π₯ π interface. Here's what Writing π Tools can π do for a text message: Proofread what you've written for spelling and grammar π errors, including word choice and sentence structure. Rewrite with a π€ different tone, with options that include Friendly, Professional, π and π Concise. Summarize what you've written. π€ You can π― get a π quick summary, pull π out π key π― points, π create π a π― π list π₯ of topics, or π make π a π€ table. π You can tap on the π€ various options π to π― use π the Writing Tools, and you can preview π― changes π₯ and decide not to use them π or π swap π them in π for what you've written. The Writing Tools π π― feature is set to be available in π― iOS 18.1. π Notification Summaries π (Apple π Intelligence π - iOS 18.1) π π If you have π― multiple π notifications from the Messages app, π Apple π€ Intelligence will π₯ summarize π them for you π― so you π― can catch π― up π π€ at a glance π π― and π€ π€ see π₯ π what's π€ most important without having to read through everything. This works π for both individual conversations and group conversations, and you can see the summaries π― on π the Lock π π€ Screen. You'll π₯ get notification summaries in π iOS π 18.1. Emoji π― Design Updates π€ When π you send a single π π emoji to someone π in βiOS 18β, the emoji now appears much π larger π₯ π than before so the π detail is π₯ easier to see. Emojis in π π π― other quantities are π₯ still π displayed π₯ at the π same size. Apple has π π also π updated π π the emoji π picker. Emoji are displayed π€ π π larger and π with more π€ π space π between π― them, plus the π π Sticker and Memoji interfaces have π been π integrated π― into the emoji π€ π€ window. Tapping on the two icons on π the bottom left π of the emoji picker π will π₯ take you π π π€ to Memoji and π π€ Stickers, respectively. π₯ You can create π₯ Memoji and make new π stickers π directly from π the π π₯ two sections π€ that are in the emoji π€ picker. π€ For stickers, π select the sticker section and tap on the blank sticker icon. For Memoji, tap into π― π€ the Memoji π₯ section, tap the three dots, and then choose New, Edit, or Duplicate. Stickers and π Memoji as π Emoji Stickers and Memoji have new dedicated π€ sections π π π₯ in π π π the emoji picker π π― because you π can now π€ use a sticker or a Memoji just like an emoji. π If π you add a sticker π π₯ π when π π typing a text, for example, π it π― is π added to the end of π€ your π― text rather than sent as a π€ separate π π― image. You can still send a full-size π€ sticker π₯ as π€ π long as you send it π separate π― from text. Stickers and π Memoji sent as π€ π₯ emoji only display as emoji π π on devices π π running βiOS π₯ 18β, iPadOS 18, macOS π Sequoia, visionOS π€ 2, and π watchOS 11. On earlier versions π― π of π iOS, π stickers π₯ π₯ are sent as π₯ separate images as before. Text Formatting You can enhance your text π₯ messages with π€ new formatting π options. After typing something, tap on π the π "A" π₯ icon π above the keyboard. What π€ you've π typed is selected, and you can add π bold, italic, underline, or strikethrough formatting. π To add π formatting to just π€ one word, double tap π on the word to select it π₯ and π then tap π on the π "A" icon. You π€ can also use π€ π the Text Effects option from the popup menu. Formatting can be π₯ used with π emoji, but π the bold and italic options π π₯ don't π π do anything. π π Text Effects π Along with the π₯ π― π bold, italic, underline, and strikethrough formatting, there are new animated π text effects π π₯ that π can π π be applied to π your π€ π entire message, a single word, π₯ a phrase, π or even π an emoji or π π― sticker. π Just π π€ select the text that you π€ want to add an effect to with a π π₯ double π€ tap and then π tap on π the π "A" π₯ icon to π get to the π text π effects interface. Options π€ include Big, Small, Shake, Nod, Explode, π₯ π₯ Ripple, π Bloom, and Jitter. π€ In a π conversation π π₯ with π₯ π someone running π€ βiOS 18β π or one π of π its π π π sister updates, π the π€ text or π€ emoji π π that has an effect applied π π to it will π― continually π animate π when π€ viewed. π These effects do π₯ not π work on earlier versions π₯ π€ of π π Apple's operating π systems and simply don't π₯ π― show up. Math π Notes The systemwide π€ π Math π Notes feature that π lets your π βiPhoneβ π€ solve π equations for you works in π Messages. To π π see π it in π action, π type π€ in an equation and you'll π π get an π immediate answer when you π add π in an equals π₯ sign. Math π― Notes also π works for conversions in the Messages app, π including π― currency conversions, π€ temperature π conversions, π measurement π conversions, and more. You π₯ can use it by π₯ typing π in π π your conversion, such π₯ π as "20 euros π to π dollars" and then adding π in an π π₯ equals sign π― π to get π€ the result. π€ Link π Card π₯ Update Apple π tweaked the design of link π cards π€ in the Messages π app, and π the cards now have colorful backgrounds π that π match π the π π color π of the main image in the link, if available. You π― can see π link π― card previews π before π a link is π π sent, π― and if π you long press, you can get customization π€ options. π Link π€ cards can be converted to π a simpler card style π or transformed into a text link π π― that π π€ only π shows π the hyperlink with no π₯ preview π π€ at all. π€ Image π Playground (Apple Intelligence - Coming Later This π Year) Image Playground π₯ π is an π upcoming Apple Intelligence feature π π€ that is designed to let you create π images π using text-based prompts, much like you can do π₯ with π other π AI image π π generation platforms. Apple is π π integrating Image Playground π― into π the π₯ Messages π app, π so you can create and send images without π π€ having π π to swap over to π another π π app. Apple Intelligence can glean π the gist π₯ of your π conversation π from the Messages app π― and come up with π₯ suggestions for π€ images π that you might π want to send. Image π― Playground can even incorporate images π₯ π of π€ your friends and family, π€ so π₯ if you're π chatting with π a friend, you can π create a silly π image that π uses the friend's contact photo. Apple π adds a style π₯ π to π each image, π so there is no option π to generate π something that could be mistaken for π a real photo. You π π₯ can π€ choose π€ π from Animation, π€ Illustration, and π Sketch styles, and all image generation is π― π done π π on-device. Genmoji π (Apple Intelligence π― - π Coming π― Later π This Year) Based π― π€ on Image π π Playground, Genmoji lets π€ π you create custom π emoji π with π₯ a π text π prompt. π Have you π always wanted an π emoji of a mint chocolate chip ice cream cone? It can be made π with π Genmoji. Need a cat π π₯ made from pizza, or π a flower that's not π a π rose or a sunflower? π€ Genmoji will π₯ make π€ it possible. With the π π₯ Genmoji π interface, you can describe π― π a Genmoji and Apple Intelligence π will generate π several options π π for you to choose from. You can even create an emoji based on π the contact π image π π of a friend π or family member, similar to Image π Playground. Genmoji π€ behave just π like π π emoji π and π₯ can π― be used in place of emoji. Apple Intelligence Notes To π₯ use π― the upcoming Apple Intelligence features π₯ Apple π will π₯ add to βiOS π€ 18β π₯ in iOS 18.1 π₯ and beyond, π π― you need π₯ an π― iPhone 15 Pro, π βiPhone 15β Pro Max, π or π any π iPhone 16 π₯ π model. M-series iPads and Macs also π π support Apple π Intelligence. Read More Additional information on new π features π that π π₯ π₯ Apple has added π in βiOS 18β can be π€ found π₯ in our π― π₯ iOS π€ 18 roundup. π Related Roundups: π iOS π 18, iPadOS 18 Related π Forums: π iOS π€ 18, π π iPadOS 18 This π₯ article, "Everything π π₯ New in the iOS π₯ 18 π Messages App" π― first appeared π on MacRumors.com Discuss this π article in our forums https://www.macrumors.com/guide/ios-18-messages/ π
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