All the new features in iOS 11.4: AirPlay 2, Messages in the Cloud, & much more
Apple has officially released iOS 11.4 for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch which contains many new features, the biggest of which is the long-delayed AirPlay 2.
In our hands on video, we demo all the new features that come in the latest major update before WWDC.
AirPlay 2, which was originally promised with iOS 11, had previously appeared during the iOS 11.3 beta phase before being unceremoniously removed prior to release. This time around, AirPlay 2 has finally made it to the public.
AirPlay 2 is Apple's first major update to its audio/video streaming protocol. Besides the basics like increased throughput, AirPlay 2 brings multi-room audio to iOS and tvOS devices. Now, you can easily stream the same music from an iPhone to multiple AirPlay 2 devices simultaneously.
Initially, AirPlay 2 support is limited to the HomePod, Apple TV 4, and Apple TV 4K. Over time, more third-party manufactures will be adding support to their speakers as well. Many manufacturers have already showed support such as the First Alert with the OneLink Safe & Sound and Libratone with their Zipp speaker (review).
After updating, AirPlay 2 speakers now act as HomeKit accessories and appear within the Home app. Siri can be used to control playing content on AirPlay 2 devices as well, including the Apple TV. Unfortunately, AirPlay 2 speakers currently cannot be used in any automations or scenes, which is a huge limiting factor for smart home owners.
Following the HomePod update included with iOS 11.4, it is easy to setup within the Home app, and lets you amplify your listening experience if you have two of Apple's smart speaker.
Messages in iCloud, which again showed up during the 11.3 beta phase, is also included in 11.4. Now, messages will be completely synced across all devices tied to an iCloud account. Previously, when a new device was set up, no history would be included (unless restoring from a backup) and deleted messages were only deleted on a single device.
Now, any action will apply to all iPhones, iPads, or Macs. It is beneficial for legacy conversations and keeping everything in check.
In our hands on video, we demo all the new features that come in the latest major update before WWDC.
AirPlay 2
AirPlay 2, which was originally promised with iOS 11, had previously appeared during the iOS 11.3 beta phase before being unceremoniously removed prior to release. This time around, AirPlay 2 has finally made it to the public.
AirPlay 2 is Apple's first major update to its audio/video streaming protocol. Besides the basics like increased throughput, AirPlay 2 brings multi-room audio to iOS and tvOS devices. Now, you can easily stream the same music from an iPhone to multiple AirPlay 2 devices simultaneously.
Initially, AirPlay 2 support is limited to the HomePod, Apple TV 4, and Apple TV 4K. Over time, more third-party manufactures will be adding support to their speakers as well. Many manufacturers have already showed support such as the First Alert with the OneLink Safe & Sound and Libratone with their Zipp speaker (review).
After updating, AirPlay 2 speakers now act as HomeKit accessories and appear within the Home app. Siri can be used to control playing content on AirPlay 2 devices as well, including the Apple TV. Unfortunately, AirPlay 2 speakers currently cannot be used in any automations or scenes, which is a huge limiting factor for smart home owners.
Stereo HomePod pairing
AirPlay 2 also enables stereo pairing support for the HomePod. This is another feature that was delayed, initially expected to launch alongside the HomePod.Following the HomePod update included with iOS 11.4, it is easy to setup within the Home app, and lets you amplify your listening experience if you have two of Apple's smart speaker.
Messages in iCloud
Messages in iCloud, which again showed up during the 11.3 beta phase, is also included in 11.4. Now, messages will be completely synced across all devices tied to an iCloud account. Previously, when a new device was set up, no history would be included (unless restoring from a backup) and deleted messages were only deleted on a single device.
Now, any action will apply to all iPhones, iPads, or Macs. It is beneficial for legacy conversations and keeping everything in check.
Other assorted changes
- USB Restricted Mode: Designed to defeat physical data access by third parties
- Support for ClassKit: Apple's framework for helping developers make their educational apps work with Apple's school-based software, including the Schoolwork app.
- (PRODUCT)RED iPhone wallpaper: Only on iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus
- Calendar support on HomePod
- 3D Touch lag was fixed
Comments
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208728
What happens is there are two types of speakers that show under AirPlay. Original AirPlay speakers (where you can only cast to one at a time), and AirPlay 2 speakers where you can cast to many at once.
The designator will be the small circle to the right of the speaker. If it has a circle, you can select multiple. No circle, only one at a time. Unless Audyssey updates the East Side Dock Speaker to AirPlay 2, you will only be able to play to it by itself.
You have to read footnote 1 in https://support.apple.com/en-jo/ht207428 for confirmation that once Messages in iCloud is enabled, messages are now stored in general iCloud storage (which still counts towards your free 5GB or paid storage plan), rather than iCloud Backup storage.
Since most of the storage space is used by images and attachments, it would great to have a one-tap option to select all images / attachments, to delete them in batch (instead of having to select each of them one at a time one before tapping trash, or by deleting the entire conversation)
I did sign out, closed the app, rebooted my iMac (OSX 10.13.4) and still no luck.
Sounds like I'll have to phone tech support if others do not have this issue.
- You buy an iphone and get two years free iCloud storage equivalent to the capacity of your iPhone.
- after two years you start paying, or
- you buy a new iPhone and get free iCloud for another two years
this approach ties into Apple’s whole ecosystem paradigm.it would be interesting to see modelling on which would generate an overall higher ASP, the current approach or this idea.
Apple could do the same with macs with the same 256gb max. But to make up for hurty feelings for those with large Mac storage capacity, make it three years free “quarter of a TB” icloud for macs before you pay for that amount of iCloud or buy a new Mac.
1) 2010 Mac w/macOS Sierra (I can airplay from iTunes and videos within Safari, Quicktime and such, however, this Mac doesn't do AirPlay for a second monitor or mirroring).
2) iOS 9.3.5 (iPad Mini 1st gen.)
Thanks!