Apple’s in-house messenger, the Messaging app, is facing a small revolution with iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and macOS 15 Sequoia: the manufacturer will add a whole series of functions that users have wanted for years because they have long been available in competing apps. Anyone who handles the bulk of their communications via iMessage can be happy
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Reply with emoji and send later
Apple has thus upgraded its Tapback function. The currently limited ability to react to individual messages will be significantly expanded. Instead of being able to react only with hearts, thumbs up/thumbs down, laughter, exclamation marks and question marks, the entire emoji catalog is now available, as has long been known from WhatsApp or Signal. Apple has also optionally redesigned and colored the original Tapback. Users without the new operating system will be notified via text that they have reacted with a specific emoji.
The “Send Later” feature is also new and long-awaited. It allows a message to be sent later, at a pre-programmed time (as long as the device is active). In the current beta, the feature is still somewhat hidden and can be found through the Messages app Plus menu under “More”. Finished messages can be found in chats and can also be changed there if necessary.
Mark texts and live sentence parts
Another innovation is so simple it makes you wonder why it took so long: for the first time, Apple is offering to mark up iMessage messages in a rich text style. There’s underlining, bolding and italics. Individual text areas or parts of sentences can now be animated with various effects such as “boom”, “explode”, “get bigger” or “get smaller”, as well as ripple effects and shaking. Until now this has only been possible on a screen-wide basis.
With the new operating system, it will still be possible to communicate in the messaging app using the RCS protocol for the first time. Starting with the iPhone 14, Apple also allows sending SMS and iMessage via satellite when there is no cellular reception. This feature is still free to use, but will become a subscription service in the near future. It is expected to arrive in the fall in iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS 15. Apple has not yet changed anything about the controversial menu navigation in the Messages app on iPhone in the developer beta.
(B.Sc.)
