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Apple expands its progressive technology and vision for more smart and safe technology with the recent release of iOS 18.5. Two of the major enhancements included in this release are of some importance when you consider the functionality and safety of family members. The satellite capability for iPhone 13 is one of the upgrades released with iOS 18.5, even though it was first introduced with the iPhone 14. Satellite Connectivity to Emergency SOS has demonstrated to be a critical advancement in emergency response services for iPhone users who travel to remote or signal dead zones. With iOS 18.5, Apple is extending its Emergency SOS Via relay through satellite capabilities to iPhone 13 users and beyond. This collaborative approach for expedited EMR response becomes better accessible to mid-range iPhone users.
Users can connect directly to satellites outside of cellular or Wi-Fi coverage. This user interface simplifies the ability to send and receive emergency message and share most recent location with emergency responders. This rollout is valuable for travelers, hikers, or anyone in areas that are prone to natural disaster and emergency action when communication networks are down surrounding traditional response services.
We've Added New Parental Alerts
iOS 18.5's next most noteworthy highlight is the improvement to Apple's parental control system. This update introduces smarter alerts for parents, giving them deeper insights into their children's digital habits and whose content they’re interacting with.
When your child:
- Attempts to access restricted content.
- Downloads new apps or permissions change.
- When potential online threats, such as inappropriate messages or questionable links.
Also, Apple is expanding its Communication Safety offerings, which now include scanning incoming and outgoing images and videos in Messages using on-device artificial intelligence to detect nudity or other graphic content, without breaking the end-to-end encryption.
Putting the Safety in Better, Usability
With the addition of satellite support for older models like the iPhone 13 and the continued refinement of digital parenting tools, Apple is also maintaining its balance between innovation and the usefulness in everyday life. These updates create not only improvements with the iPhone's emergency abilities; but give parents guidance to help their children navigate their digital experience more responsibly.
Compatible Devices and Availability
iOS 18.5 is getting rolled out for all iPhones starting from the iPhone XS and newer. If you have an iPhone 13, you can activate satellite connectivity once you've completed the upgrade. Any users with Family Sharing will be able to start using the new parental alert tools right away after the upgrade.
Final Thoughts
Apple's iOS 18.5 update may not come with a huge redesign, but the performance improvements are more substantial. From tools to communicate in times of need, to helping parents be more proactive in knowledge, this update is about technology doing more, and better for users and their families.
As Apple continues to build towards a more AI driven experience via iOS 19, iOS 18.5 reminds us that innovation can be about feeling safer in both the digital and analog worlds.