Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority
TL;DR
- A final-minute leak of iOS 18 options suggests we might see an app locking system and darkish house display screen icons.
- Notably, the app locking system seems to solely work with first-party apps.
- Each of those options exist already on Android.
Tomorrow, Apple will unveil iOS 18, the subsequent main model of the working system powering the corporate’s most essential product, the iPhone. We’ve already seen a ton of leaks for this, so we all know we must always anticipate many AI-powered options, extra customization instruments, and redesigns of Management Heart and Settings, which haven’t seen refreshes in years.
As we speak, although, we’ve two last-minute leaks of iOS 18 data. Because of MacRumors in each instances, we hear {that a} new app locking system and darkish house display screen icon instrument may very well be introduced tomorrow.
Let’s begin with the app locking system. Allegedly, this may permit you to lock an app behind your Face ID/PIN/password, including an additional layer of safety for apps with delicate data. At present, iPhone customers have workarounds for this, equivalent to through the use of the Shortcuts function, however that can not be essential. Now, even when somebody grabs your unlocked cellphone, they’ll nonetheless want your face, PIN, or password to entry the apps you’ve chosen to lock.
Sadly, this function feels like it will likely be fairly restricted in perform. Allegedly, it should solely work with first-party apps, i.e., these made by Apple. It additionally appears that you just gained’t be capable to make a novel PIN/password for the lock, so if an individual has your PIN/password for the cellphone itself, locking the apps behind those self same credentials turns into a trivial roadblock.
Notably, a extra highly effective model of this function has existed on Samsung telephones for years within the type of Safe Folder. Additionally, Google launched Non-public House at this yr’s Google I/O, which does function each the power to lock any app and make the PIN/password utterly totally different out of your cellphone’s.
Exterior of the app locking system, iOS 18 will even apparently get darkish house display screen icons. iPhones have lengthy had a darkish mode, however switching it on doesn’t have an effect on icons. In tandem with the beforehand leaked customizable icons function coming to iOS 18, switching on darkish mode ought to change icons to raised match that mode. Firstly, nonetheless, this may solely work with first-party apps.
After all, this has additionally been accessible on Android for fairly a while, because of Android 12’s launch of Materials You in 2021.
We’ll be taught all the pieces there’s to find out about iOS 18 tomorrow on the keynote for WWDC 2024. The occasion begins at 10:00 AM PT.
