iOS 18.2 is now available to everyone. The update comes with big changes for iPhone users, including new Apple Intelligence features, upgrades to the Find My app, and changes to the Photos app.
After updating to iOS 18. 2, you will see a new app logo on your iPhone home screen: Image Playground. This is what it is. . .
Image Playground is one of the new Apple Intelligence features included with iOS 18.2. The app allows you to generate “fun, playful images” based on text descriptions, people in your Photos library, and more. The photos are generated right on your iPhone or iPad, unlike other platforms where images are generated in the cloud.
Apple explains:
With Image Playground, users can create fun images in seconds, choosing from three styles: Animation, Illustration, or Sketch. Image Playground is easy to use and built right into apps including Messages. It’s also available in a dedicated app, perfect for experimenting with different concepts and styles. All images are created on device, giving users the freedom to experiment with as many images as they want.
In the Image Playground app, you can choose an image from your Photos library as a starting point. You can create pictures based on yourself or other people in your library. You can customize that image by using text descriptions, letting you create infinite combinations of custom images.
You can choose from various themes, places, costumes, and accessories as you create your image. These suggestions are curated by Apple editors and are meant to inspire your custom images.
The pictures generated by Image Playground are not photorealistic. Instead, you can choose from two different styles: animation and illustration. When you generate an image, you can swipe through multiple previews and pick the one you like best.
In addition to being available as a standalone app, Image Playground integrates with several other features on your iPhone. For example, you can place it in the Messages app for easy access. It will also integrate with apps like Keynote, Pages, and Freeform. An API is also available to allow third-party developers to integrate Image Playground into their applications.
iOS 18. 2 is compatible with all devices capable of running iOS 18. However, Apple Intelligence features, adding the new Image Playground app, are only available on iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16. Pro. Matrix and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Have you already updated to iOS 18. 2? Do you plan to use the new Apple Intelligence features as soon as they are released? Will the Image Playground app stay on your iPhone home screen? Let us know in the comments.
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