2nd RC Build of iOS 18.2, MacOS Sequoia 15.2, iPadOS 18.2, Released for Testing
A second release candidate build of iOS 18.2, MacOS Sequoia 15.2, and iPadOS 18.2, has been made available for all beta testers. The 2nd RC build follows after issuing the first RC build a week prior. RC, or Release Candidate, are usually the finalized beta version of system software that is made available to beta testers before the final version is released to everyone in the public. This suggests the final release of iOS/iPadOS 18.2 and MacOS Sequoia 15.2 is soon, perhaps even this week.
iOS 18.2 and MacOS Sequoia 15.2 will include a round of bug fixes and security patches, along with new AI features, a few smaller features like the ability to use iPhone Mirroring with Personal Hotspot, a weather widget for the Mac menu bar, and sharing for devices in Find My.
By far the biggest change coming in iOS 18.2 and macOS Sequoia 15.2 are the inclusion of more Apple Intelligence AI features, including ChatGPT integration and Image Playground which allows for generating images with AI. Currently, Apple Intelligence features are mostly summarization abilities and various useful writing tools. Apple’s AI features are strictly limited to newer devices however, meaning those capabilities will not be available for all users.
How to Install iOS/iPadOS 18.2 RC 2
RC 2 build is available to beta testers through Software Update:
- Open “Settings”, and then go to “General”
- Select “Software Update”
- Choose to update to iOS 18.2 / iPadOS 18.2
How to Install MacOS Sequoia 15.2 RC 2
The RC 2 build is available in Software Update to beta testers right now:
- Go to the Apple menu, then go to “System Settings”
- Select “General”, then go to “Software Update”
- Select to “Update Now” to install MacOS Sequoia 15.2
When will iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and MacOS Sequoia 15.2 be released for everyone?
Because this is the second RC build, it’s likely the final version of iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and MacOS Sequoia 15.2, will be available quite soon, perhaps by the end of this week, or next week.
MacOS Sequoia 15.2 release notes
Release notes included with the RC 2 build of MacOS Sequoia 15.2 are as follows:
This update introduces new features powered by Apple Intelligence, the personal intelligence system that unlocks powerful new ways to communicate, work, and express yourself, all while protecting your data with an extraordinary step forward for privacy in AI. New features include Image Playground which lets you create delightful, fun images, ChatGPT support integrated right into Siri and Writing Tools, and more. This release also includes enhancements to Photos and Safari, as well as other features, bug fixes, and security updates for your Mac.
Apple Intelligence (Mac with Apple silicon)
•
Image Playground
• A new app that lets you use concepts, descriptions, and people from your photo library to create fun, playful images in multiple styles
• Swipe through previews and choose from as you add concepts to your playground
• Choose from animation and illustration styles when creating your image
• Create images in Messages and Freeform, as well as third party apps
• Images are synced in your Image Playground library across all your devices with iCloud
ChatGPT support
• ChatGPT from OpenAI can be accessed right from Siri or Writing Tools
• Compose in Writing Tools allows you to create something from scratch with ChatGPT
• Siri can tap into ChatGPT when relevant to provide you an answer
• A ChatGPT account is not required and your requests will be anonymous and won’t be used to train OpenAI’s models
• Sign in with ChatGPT to access your account benefits, and requests will be covered by OpenAI’s data policies
Additional Apple Intelligence features
• Describe your change in Writing Tools allows you to suggest how you’d like something rewritten, for example as a poem
Photos
• Favorites album appears in the Utilities collection in addition to Pinned Collections
• Recently Viewed and Recently Shared album history can be cleared
Safari
• New background images to customize your Safari Start Page
• HTTPS upgrade tries to use secure HTTPS on all websites
• Simplified import and export for history, bookmarks, and passwordsThis update also includes the following improvements and bug fixes:
• Share Item Location in Find My helps you locate and recover misplaced items by easily and securely sharing the location of an AirTag or Find My network accessory with trusted third parties, such as airlines
• Natural language search in Apple Music and Apple TV app lets you describe what you’re looking for using any combination of categories like genres, moods, actors, decades, and more
• Favorite Categories in Podcasts allows you to choose your favorite categories and get relevant show recommendations that you can easily access in your Library
• Personalized Search page in Podcasts highlights the most relevant categories and editorially curated collections tailored to you
• Sudoku for News+ Puzzles provided in three difficulty levels and available for News+ subscribers
• Presenter preview lets you choose what to share — an app or your whole screen — before you share it when connecting to an external display or using AirPlay
• Pre-market price quotes in Stocks lets you track NASDAQ and NYSE tickers prior to market open
• Weather in menu bar allows you to get current weather conditions from the menu bar on your Mac and click through to quickly access detailed forecastsSome features may not be available for all regions, or on all Apple devices.
For detailed information about the security content of this update, please visit: https://support.apple.com/100100
Currently, the latest versions of system software for Apple devices are iOS 18.1.1, iPadOS 18.1.1, and MacOS Sequoia 15.1.1.
Mmmh…
Are they going to improve their ver 18.1 Photos app for IOS?
I hate this version
There are some slight changes in the Photos app, but I wouldn’t count on major adjustments to the UI like many hope for
I hope this update addresses some significant battery drain on my iPad Air M2. I definately know 18.1.1 was a big step back in battery life. I have become less pro Apple these days even talking myself out of buying a Mac Mini. I have even become disenchanted with my iPad Air and think maybe I should have just purchased a base iPad. I cannot remember when I have experienced so much buggy issues with these IOS and iPad OS releases. Might be a argument for becoming more obscure and just running a laptop on Linux. Its certainly not perfect, but it does tend to go under the radar. Apple to me needs to slow down on its OS development or end up like Windows.