Apple has released the fifth beta of iOS 18 with several notable features. We’ll keep you updated as more changes are discovered in future beta releases.
Photos App Redesign
Apple has responded to feedback from early adopters and made significant changes to the Photos app design. The carousel that previously allowed users to scroll through different collections of photos from the main photo grid has been removed. This change makes the app less confusing and eliminates repeating elements.
When opened, the photo grid is now displayed, fitting more photos on the screen. Users can scroll down the grid to access collections. Those with multiple albums will find them higher in the app’s interface. Recently saved content is now integrated into the Recent Days collection, providing easier access to new photos. Additionally, users have the ability to change the order in which collections are displayed, offering more customization options.
Safari and Interface Enhancements
Safari introduces a new option to hide distracting elements on web pages. This feature allows users to remove cookie settings pop-ups, GDPR compliance notifications, newsletter sign-up banners, autoplaying videos, and other potentially annoying elements. It’s important to note that this is not an ad blocker. While users can hide ad banners while browsing a page, reloading the page will cause the ads to return, as the feature only works with static elements.
To use this new Safari feature, users need to go to Settings and select “Hide distracting elements.” From there, they can choose which specific elements to hide. There’s also an option to “Show hidden elements” if needed. It’s worth mentioning that this feature doesn’t support synchronization, so users will need to hide elements on each device separately.
Other interface improvements include a new “Edit pages” option when long-pressing on the home screen and selecting “Edit.” This allows users to delete or hide entire home screen pages from view. Apple has also redesigned some dark mode options, including the design of the Maps and Find My icons, adds NIX Solutions. The app search interface has been fixed in dark mode, addressing a previous issue where it appeared light.
Lastly, Apple has made adjustments to various smaller interface elements, including the icons in Control Center, further refining the overall user experience in iOS 18.