Great new features have arrived on the iPad and iPhone

Surprise, surprise! Another iOS update arrived overnight last night, and it has some great new features!

As an owner of an Apple HomePod (which we love - the sound is amazing, and we love that we can ask it to play anything), I am particularly excited that I can now pair two HomePods for even better sound. HomePod #2 might just have to go on my birthday list. 

Also in this major update is the 'Messages in iCloud' feature, where you will be able to sync all your messages between your devices using iCloud. MacOS 10.13.5 also arrived on Friday June 1st, and includes the same 'Messages in iCloud' feature.

I'll be curious to see how this one goes down in families that have a case of 'iCloud Confusion' - where more than one person is using the same email account. There could be all sorts of interesting messages merged and appearing on various devices, if the family members turn on this feature! I can almost hear the angst this could generate from here!

If you have iCloud issues in your family, I would suggest sorting these out before turning on Messages in iCloud. iTandCoffee can help with this if you need assistance to unravel the mess.

I have been using iOS 11.4 since Wednesday and have not encountered any issues.  

​If you would like to read more about iOS 11.4, here are just a couple of the many articles published today about this update.

• iOS 11.4 is here: It's all about AirPlay 2 and Messages in iCloud
• iOS 11.4: What you need to know about Messages in iCloud​

Not sure how to update? Here's a quick 'how to' video from our new iOS Tutorial Series

And here's what Apple says is in iOS 11.4 ...

Here are the features of iOS 11.4, as listed in Settings -> General -> Software update, Learn More option.

AirPlay 2

• Control your home audio system and AirPlay 2-enabled speakers throughout your house
• Play music at the same time on multiple AirPlay 2-enabled speakers in your house, all in sync
• Control AirPlay 2-enabled speakers from Control Centre, the Lock screen or AirPlay controls within apps on your iPhone or iPad
• Use your voice to control AirPlay 2-enabled speakers with Siri from your iPhone or iPad, HomePod or Apple TV
• Take a call or play a game on your iPhone or iPad without interrupting playback on your AirPlay 2-enabled speakers

​HomePod stereo pair

• This update supports setting up your HomePod stereo pair using your iPhone or iPad
• HomePod pair automatically senses its location in the room and balances the sound based on the speakers' locations
• Advanced beamforming provides wider soundstage than traditional stereo pair
• HomePod will automatically update to support stereo pairs, unless auto updates are disabled in the Home app

Messages in iCloud

• Store your messages, photos and other attachments in iCloud and free up space on your devices
• All your messages appear when you sign into a new device with the same iMessage account
• When you delete messages and conversations, they are instantly removed from all your devices
• To turn on Messages in iCloud, enable Messages in iCloud settings (Settings > [your name] > iCloud)
• Your conversations continue to be end-to-end encrypted​

Other improvements and fixes

• Enables teachers to assign their students reading activities in iBooks using the Classwork app
• Fixes an issue where certain character sequences could cause Messages to crash
• Addresses a Messages issue that could cause some messages to appear out of order
• Addresses an issue that could prevent logging in or accessing files on Google Drive, Google Docs and Gmail in Safari
• Fixes an issue that could prevent data syncing in Health
• Fixes an issue that could prevent users from changing which apps can access Health data
• Resolves an issue that could cause an app to appear in an incorrect location on the Home screen
• Fixes an issue Where are you? CarPlay audio could become distorted
• Fixes an issue Where are you? selecting music from your iPhone could fail when playing music over Bluetooth or when connected to USB in some vehicles