iOS 18.2: These improvements are available for camera controls

Many users are still unfamiliar with one of the main innovations in the iPhone 16: camera controls. The touch-sensitive button is intended to help you take photos and videos faster and easier, but unfortunately it’s not self-explanatory. As part of iOS 18.2, there will be a number of amendments and improvements so that users do not resort to the radical method and simply turn off the function, known in English as Camera Control.

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Camera controls are powerful, but also complex

Apple’s already Official Camera Control Guide Is comprehensive for iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. The switch found at the bottom right can do more than just open the camera and take a photo or video. So you can select and adjust six different settings, which you can achieve with two light presses of the button. Exposure, depth of field, zoom, camera selection, photographic style and image tint can be set directly using a button and swipe gestures.

However, what was not possible until now was to open the camera directly when the iPhone screen is inactive. So you can’t press the button even if you’re not looking at the iPhone. With a new function in iOS 18.2 you can now turn it off: the screen no longer needs to be active, the button opens the camera in all situations. Camera controls can also be used to determine autofocus and exposure. You just have to press the button lightly so that the camera does not change automatically. The image is then released with strong pressure.

iOS 18.2: These improvements are available for camera controls

Better trigger behavior and more AI

Finally, the third innovation is the ability to adjust the trigger behavior of the camera controls. Within the accessibility settings there are three speeds for the all-important double-click: “Standard”, “Slow”, and “Slow”. While the app is primarily meant for people with disabilities, it also helps users who are currently unable to use the buttons. You should try to see if changing the setting helps.

iOS 18.2 also brings a new AI function that can be triggered using camera controls: so-called Visual Intelligence. By long pressing a button the image of the surrounding area is scanned for its content and search results are brought up. Among other things, you should be able to tell about restaurant opening hours, the breed of dogs or the types of plants. Connection to ChatGPT is also planned. As usual, the Apple Intelligence feature is not yet available in Europe, it should not appear here until April 2025.

(B.Sc.)