iOS 11 will arrive on iPhones and iPads at 6pm UK time, probably
APPLE WILL RELEASE iOS 11 to iPhones and iPads later today, a hefty update that brings with it augmented reality (AR) apps, Siri improvements and support for P2P payments.
iOS 11 was first announced at this year’s WWDC and has been in the hands of those on Apple’s beta programme for some months now.
Chief among the update’s features is support for ARKit apps, which means which means augmented reality-based software will soon start cropping up in the App Store.
“Hundreds of millions of people can now experience AR apps on iPhone and iPad and view virtual content on top of real-world scenes for interactive gaming, immersive shopping experiences, industrial design and more,” Apple said .
“These apps deliver high-quality AR experiences using the built-in camera, powerful processors and motion sensors in iOS devices.”
iOS 11 also delivers a much-needed update to Siri. Not only has Apple given the digital assistant new ‘natural and expressive’ male and female voices, but Siri has also been upgraded to use ‘on-device learning’ to become more contextual. This means that if somebody messages to ask where you are, for example, Siri is now clever enough to serve up your location.
Native translation is also coming to Siri in iOS 11, which will support English to Chinese, French, German, Italian and Spanish at launch.
At the unveiling of iOS 11,Apple also boasted that iOS 11 would support peer-to-peer (P2P) payments through a new iMessage app, with transactions authenticated using Touch ID, or presumably Face ID on the iPhone X. However, the firm admitted this week that this feature won’t be available until later in the year.
The biggest changes are coming to iPad users, though, with Apple introducing a new dock that can be accessed even when you’re in an app, a Drag and Drop tool and wider support for the Apple Pencil.
iOS 11 isn’t available to download yet, and while Apple hasn’t said when it will be available or responded to our request for confirmation, the firm typically releases major iOS updates at 6pm UK time.
Apple hasn’t said how much storage iOS 11 will require, either, but when INQ upgraded from Apple’s public beta programme the update weighed in at 1.9GB.
The update will be compatible with the iPhone 5S and above, the iPad 5th generation (2017); Mini 2,3 and 4; all Air models and all Pro Models, and the 6th-generation iPod Touch. µ
