Apple has released iOS and iPadOS 18.1 Beta 7, bringing a host of updates and fixes aimed at improving the overall user experience and enhancing app performance. This latest beta version addresses several resolved issues while also highlighting some known issues that developers and users should be aware of.
One of the notable changes in this release is related to App Intents. A fix has been implemented for apps that support universal links, which previously might not open correctly and instead redirected users to the browser when navigating to a URL provided by the OpenURLIntent or URLRepresentableIntent APIs. This resolution ensures that users can seamlessly access content within apps as intended.
In the realm of Apple Intelligence, a new feature has been introduced, although it comes with a caveat. The new Siri UI may fail to render in full screen on larger CarPlay displays, which could affect the user experience in vehicles equipped with larger screens.
AVFoundation has seen multiple resolved issues, including fixes for AVCaptureIndexPicker instances that could appear in the Camera Controls overlay, as well as issues with LockedCameraCapture extensions. These fixes enhance the stability and functionality of camera-related features.
The Camera Control framework also received attention, with a fix addressing a potential system crash that could occur when installing an app with a Capture Extension while another Camera Control app was already selected. This improvement helps maintain system stability during app installations.
In the Files app, a fix has been made for an issue that prevented the creation of local files in the visionOS 2 and iOS 18 simulators if the host was not upgraded to macOS Sequoia Beta. This resolution ensures that developers can effectively test their applications in the simulator environment.
HealthKit developers will appreciate the fix for issues that arose with the introduction of Swift 6. Developers updating their projects to use Swift 6 might have experienced app crashes when executing various HealthKit API calls. This fix aims to restore stability for those applications.
Several resolved issues have also been addressed in the Messages app, including a fix for sending attachments via RCS after swapping SIMs. Additionally, Siri has seen improvements, with fixes for result snippets that might have appeared in the wrong position.
Spotlight functionality has been enhanced with a fix for icons that did not match those on the Home Screen, ensuring a more consistent user interface. StoreKit has also been updated, with fixes for transaction updates and subscription renewal information in StoreKit Testing in Xcode.
However, there are some known issues that users should be aware of. Notably, upgrading from iOS 18.0 beta 5 to iOS 18.1 beta may cause all Mail to redownload, which could be an inconvenience for some users. Additionally, there are ongoing issues related to Swift Charts and SwiftUI that developers should monitor.
Overall, the release of iOS and iPadOS 18.1 Beta 7 marks a significant step forward in improving the stability and functionality of Apple’s mobile operating systems. Developers are encouraged to test their applications against this latest beta to ensure compatibility and optimal performance. As Apple continues to refine iOS and iPadOS, users can look forward to a more robust and feature-rich experience in the future.