Apple has revealed a host of highly-anticipated features for iPhone users in its iOS 11.3 software update.
Among them is the ability to turn off a controversial ‘throttling’ feature which slows down phones as their battery ages.
The latest version of the operating system also delivers new Animoji on iPhone X, an ARKit update and the ability to view health records in the Health app.
Meanwhile, improvements have been Apple Music, Apple News, and HomeKit.
Apple says iOS 11.3 will be available to users in the spring, and developer test version will be released today.
Apple is introducing new ways to experience augmented reality this spring, with the release of iOS 11.3. ARKit 1.5 can turn posters, signs and artwork into interactive AR experiences
Batteries and Performance
Tim Cook hinted at it last week, and it has now been confirmed. iOS 11.3 will let you turn off the throttling of older iPhones.
The new 11.3 includes an option to disable Apple’s performance throttling feature that is used to slow iPhones that contain old batteries.
With the feature, Apple says users will be able to ‘see if the power management feature that dynamically manages maximum performance to prevent unexpected shutdowns, first introduced in iOS 10.2.1, is on and can choose to turn it off.’
More detailed information on battery health for the iPhone 6 and later will also be provided in the update, and will recommend if a battery needs to be serviced.
These can be found in Settings -> Battery.
The move follows criticism of the firm last when it was discovered that the company throttles the performance of older iPhones to prevent unexpected shutdowns caused by ageing batteries.
The firm still faces several lawsuits from customers in states including California, New York and Illinois, as well as customers in Israel and France.
In response, Apple issued a public apology and reduced its fee for battery replacement from $79 (£79) to $29 (£25).
New AR Experiences
The introduction of ARKit with iOS 11 put augmented reality into the hands of hundreds of millions of iPhone and iPad users, making iOS the world’s biggest AR platform.
Apple continues to build on this technology, bringing ARKit 1.5 to developers to provide even more immersive AR experiences.
These aim to better integrate with the world and give developers the tools to power a new generation of AR apps.
In addition to horizontal surfaces like tables and chairs, ARKit can now recognise and place virtual objects on vertical surfaces like walls and doors, and can more accurately map irregularly shaped surfaces like circular tables.
Using advanced computer vision techniques to find and recognise the position of 2D images such as signs, posters, and artwork, ARKit can integrate these real world images into AR experiences.
That includes filling a museum with interactive exhibits or bringing a movie poster to life.
The view of the real world through the camera now has 50 per cent greater resolution and supports auto-focus for an even sharper perspective.
iOS 11.3 introduces four new Animoji, giving iPhone X users the ability to express themselves as a dragon or skull
iPhone X users can now send Animoji messages as one of 16 different characters, including the new lion and bear avatars
Messages Gets New Animoji
Animoji have been a hit with iPhone X users, who’ve used their voice and facial expressions to record and send Animoji messages and even create Animoji karaoke videos.
iOS 11.3 introduces four new Animoji, giving iPhone X users the ability to express themselves as a lion, bear, dragon or skull.
Working with the A11 Bionic chip and TrueDepth camera in iPhone X, over 50 different facial muscle movements are captured, analysed and then animated.
iPhone X users can now send Animoji messages as one of 16 different characters.
Business Chat
Business Chat is a new way for users to communicate directly with businesses from directly within the Messages app.
This feature will launch in Beta iOS 11.3 goes public this spring.
It will feature support of select businesses including Discover, Hilton, Lowe’s and Wells Fargo.
Business Chat lets users communicate directly with businesses like Lowe’s right within the Messages app
With Business Chat, users can have a conversation with customer service representatives, schedule appointments or make purchases using Apple Pay in the Messages app.
Business Chat doesn’t share the user’s contact information with businesses and gives users the ability to stop chatting at any time.
Health Records in Health App
The new Health Records feature brings together hospitals, clinics and the existing Health app to make it easy for consumers to see their available medical data from multiple providers.
Patients from participating medical institutions will have information from various institutions organised into one view.
They will also receive regular notifications for their lab results, medications, conditions and more.
Health Records data is encrypted and protected with a passcode.
The new Health Records feature brings together hospitals, clinics and the existing Health app to make it easy for consumers to see their available medical data from multiple providers
Additional iOS 11.3 Features
Apple Music will soon be the home for music videos.
Users can stream all the music videos they want without being interrupted by ads.
They can also watch the hottest new videos, the classics or ones from their favourite artists back-to-back in new music video playlists.
Apple News now makes it easier to stay up-to-date on the most important videos of the day with a new Video group in For You, and improved Top Stories.
HomeKit software authentication provides a great new way for developers to add HomeKit support to existing accessories while protecting privacy and security.
Support for Advanced Mobile Location (AML) to automatically send a user’s current location when making a call to emergency services in countries where AML is supported.