With so much to announce today at the Apple Event, Apple has already announced that iOS 12.1 will be launching today.
iOS 12 brought sweeping changes to the system and 12.1 brings with it some new things as well.
Emoji!
With 12.1, Apple brings all the new emoji to the system.
More than 70 new emoji come to iPhone and iPad with iOS 12.1, including new characters with red hair, gray hair and curly hair, a new emoji for bald people, more emotive smiley faces and additional emoji representing animals, sports and food. New emoji will also be available on Apple Watch and Mac with a free software update.
Apple.com
Nothing makes people update quicker than new emojis, and with 70 new ones included, I would expect this update to go quickly.
Group FaceTime
Also coming along today will be Group FaceTime.
Group FaceTime is just what it sounds like. You’ll be able to video or audio chat with up to 32 people.
I really love what Apple’s done with this system and I think teenagers especially will flock to it. With Group FaceTime you start a new FaceTime and you can add people to it or you can send out a request inside a group message.
People can drop in and out as long as the call is still going.
The system is smart enough to bring the person speaking to the forefront. Plus you can still use Memoji and stickers inside FaceTime like before.
Depth Control in Camera
If you have a new iPhone XS, Max, or XR you have probably played around with the Depth Control slider on your Portrait Mode Photos. It is the slider that controls the blur in the background.
In 12.1 you can now use that depth slider while taking a picture.
Even if you adjust the depth before you take a photo you can still change the amount later after the shot has been taken.
It’s a nice added feature to view the depth while taking the photo. I imagine those that love to take their pictures will enjoy it.
Dual sims
For those of you with two sim cards or two phones, you’ll now be able to use them both on one phone.
The eSim functionality has been activated so you’ll need to check with your carrier to add it, but you are now capable of doing it.
This will probably be a blessing for those that carrier a work phone and a personal phone. Now you can just have one that has both numbers installed.
Wrap up
Those are the major new additions to 12.1 later today. If you don’t have your phone set to auto-update make sure you check for the update later today, probably after the event.
If you don’t remember how to update, we have you covered!
Stay tuned for more from the event in just 1 hour!
