It’s the start of a new year, and many of us are trying to establish new habits. Here’s why recent changes to the Journal and Fitness apps merit you giving Apple’s apps another try.
One of Apple’s newest apps, Journal, arrived last year as an iPhone exclusive with lots of potential. iOS 18 builds on that foundation, bringing upgrades to Journal in a variety of key ways. There’s still no iPad or Mac app, but Journal on iPhone is better than ever. Here’s everything that’s new.
Last year, Apple introduced its brand new Journal App alongside its iOS 17.2 update. It was a very basic app with one real function: inputting journal entries in chronological order. While customers welcomed the new free app, many pretty basic features were missing. There was no search functionality, no password protection, and no additional insights that could be seen. Just one continuous feed for your journal entries. But, it looks as though Apple listened to our feedback and added a few new features to the iOS 18 version of the Journal App. Here are all the changes you can use today!
Apple’s WWDC keynote is fast approaching, where the company will unveil all its AI features for iOS 18, macOS 15, and more.
I’ve written previously about how Apple has the potential to make AI mass-market with iOS 18 in a way few other companies can. I expect Apple’s presentation to largely focus on AI features that are simple to use and serve existing needs in a more convenient way. There probably won’t be many jaw-dropping moments during the keynote, but rather a lot of nice-to-haves.
However, after seeing what a new third-party autobiography app is doing with AI, I’m convinced Apple could have a blow away moment if it showed off an AI-supercharged Journal app.
The first beta of iOS 17.2, released two weeks ago, introduced Apple’s new Journal app. The idea is to offer users some basic journaling features so that people can write about their day based on intelligent suggestions. But Apple’s Journal app is too simple, which could end up ruining it.
Apple’s new Journal app is now available in the developer beta of iOS 17.2, ahead of a public beta coming soon, and official launch later this year. But an early Apple Journal hands-on says that the mental health feature is unlikely to pose any threat to existing third-party journaling apps – at least, in its current form.
A longtime Day One user found that Apple’s app is extremely basic – so much so that he at first wondered whether he was missing something …