Yesterday, Apple released an update to the operating system for the iPhone and iPad: iOS 12.3. Apple also updated its operating systems for the Apple Watch, Apple TV, and Mac. The main new feature for the iPhone and iPad is support for Apple’s new Apple TV app, but even if you don’t planning on using that app, I encourage you to update all of your devices to take advantage of numerous security updates that are included with this update.
The primary new feature is an update to the TV app on iOS. Like before, you can use this app to find and watch video that you have purchased or transferred to your library from elsewhere like a computer. But now the TV app tries to provide personalized recommendations of what you would enjoy watching next based upon your viewing history and other preferences.
Additionally, the app now supports Apple’s new Channels feature which allows you to subscribe to subscription services from within the app. For now, these channels include Comedy Central Now, EPIX, HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, Starz, PBS Living, Acorn TV, Sundance Now, Smithsonian, Lifetime Movie Club, UMC, MTVHits, CuriosityStream, and Tastemade, but Apple hopes to add more in the future. If you already subscribe to one of these services, you can also use the TV app, but if you start a subscription within the TV app you get the added ability to download a show and watch it offline. Some services currently allow you to do this, but many such as HBO do not. (You can cancel a current stand-alone subscription and then start a new subscription from within the app if you want to take advantage of this.). It looks like you can try any channel for free for 7 days, which might be more than enough time to binge watch one or more good shows on a channel before you have to start paying.
For services not currently part Apple’s new Channels service such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu, you continue to use their individual iOS apps just like before.
If you have a new smart television set that supports AirPlay 2, with iOS 12.3 you can easily share content from your iPhone or iPad to the TV — something that previously could only be done if you had an Apple TV hardware box attached to the TV.
If you update your Apple Watch to watchOS 5.2.1, you will also get security updates. Additionally, there is now a new version of the Pride watch face showing bands of color. If you tap a band or shake your wrist as you wake up the watch screen, the bands will appear to move around with a ripple effect.
I suspect that there are additional, more minor improvements to the new versions of iOS and watchOS, but I haven’t yet discovered anything else that is interesting.
Apple will show off the next major version of iOS at its WWDC developer conference next month, and I expect that the next major version of iOS (iOS 13?) will come out this Fall. Thus, while Apple may update iOS 12 over the next few months to provide security updates, this is probably the last of the new features that Apple will add to iOS 12.