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First public beta of iOS 12 released

Image: Apple
Image: Apple
Apple just released the first public Beta of iOS 12. Committed Apple users can download the Beta for free from Apple's site, but be warned - as beta software, there are quite a few bugs still being worked out. Still, this is the only way to get some of the new features in iOS 12 for free.

Apple showed off the new version of iOS earlier this month at WWDC. While there weren’t many new features to brag on, the main purpose of iOS 12 is to breath new life into Apple’s older iPhones and iPads while bringing some refinement to their newer devices. The first public beta of iOS 12 is now available to everyone, and if you’re brave, you can head over to Apple’s site now to download it.

Be warned - this is still Beta software. As such, there are a fair amount of bugs, specifically affecting location data, CarPlay, and FaceTime. Also, some of the features showcased at WWDC are still in development and are not included in this Beta. Of note, Siri Shortcuts, arguably one of the most useful features of iOS 12, is absent.

Some of the new items in the first iOS 12 Beta include Apple’s new Measure app, which allows a compatible iPhone or iPad take 3-dimensional measurements of real-world objects. First impressions around the net are good, stating that measurements are fairly accurate. FaceTime group calling (which allows up to 32 people to video chat in a single call) is also onboard, although performance is buggy in this release. Apple’s Screen Time feature is also present, allowing iPhone and iPad users to get a detailed breakdown of how they use their device and what apps eat up the most time. Screen Time also lets users limit access to specific apps. And yes, the update to Animoji is here in all of its tongue-detecting glory.

There are a few other tweaks and features included in this Beta, but keep in mind that Apple is still developing iOS 12. As such, we cannot recommend you download iOS 12 Beta to your primary iOS device. However, if you’re not faint of heart (read: willing to deal with the headache of system instability) or have a spare iPhone or iPad lying around and are curious about what iOS 12 has to offer, you can sign up to download the Beta at Apple’s site here.

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Sam Medley, 2018-06-26 (Update: 2018-06-26)