Apple details Siri shortcuts, screen time, student cards, etc.

After the release of iOS 12, Apple released Monday a revised version of its iOS security guide detailing new features and system enhancements, including Siri Suggestions, the new shortcut app, Screen Time and more.

Based on a review history provided by Apple, the Security Guide includes a number of new iOS 12-specific enhancements and entries, including secure enclaves for iOS devices, Power-On Express cards, DFUs, and recovery modes. . Selection features such as Siri Suggestions, Keyboard Shortcuts, Screen Time, and HomeKit TV Remote Accessories are also listed in the discussion topics.

From Siri, the document indicates that Siri Suggestions for applications and shortcuts are generated on the device using machine-learning resources, while anonymized data is returned to Apple for help provide more accurate forecasts.

"Customized shortcuts are versatile – they are similar to scripts or programs. A quarantine system isolates shortcuts downloaded from the Internet, "says Apple. "The user is notified the first time that he is trying to use the shortcut and has the opportunity to inspect the shortcut, including information about its origin."

In addition, since shortcuts can run JavaScript on specific websites, iOS downloads and updates malware definitions when a shortcut runs to prevent exposure to malware. When a shortcut containing JavaScript is executed for the first time on a particular Web domain, users receive a prompt that cancels the operation or allows it to continue.

Shortcuts, activated through an eponymous application, are synchronized to all devices connected via iCloud, making customizable Siri commands available on multiple devices. All information is protected using CloudKit end-to-end encryption, and although the phrases are sent to Siri servers for voice recognition, Apple does not receive the contents of the created shortcuts.

An overview of Screen Time, the solution for tracking the use of Apple's apps, is also included in the updated Security Guide. Apple notes that the new feature allows users to view usage data, set the limits of use of the applications or the Web, configure the shutdown times and the time of the day. apply additional restrictions. Shutdowns allow users to set application time limits and idle hours to control application usage.

Apple points out that parents can control screen time settings and monitor their children's usage patterns, restrictions, and tools that can be disabled by the child at their eighteenth birthday. .

If a user has the Share iPhone & Watch Analytics If enabled on their device, Apple collects a small amount of anonymous data to understand the use of Screen Time. Data points include when Screen Time has been enabled, when it is enabled, when the stop time is enabled, the number of times the "Ask more" request has been used, and the number of times currently active on a device.

Interesting for users holding Express cards such as transit cards or student cards, Apple claims that NFC-compatible cards provisioned on the iPhone can be used even if iOS does not work because of 39, a weak battery. According to the company, a device that requires charging can be powerful enough to make Express Card transactions.

"By pressing the side button, the low battery icon appears, as well as the text stating that Express cards are available," Apple says. "The NFC controller performs express card transactions under the same conditions as when iOS is running, except that transactions are only indicated with haptic notification." displayed. "

By helping to reduce battery expenses, Express Mode cards are accessible without Touch ID authentication, face ID, or authentication code.

Support for Student ID is also new in iOS 12. This feature allows students, teachers, and staff to provide their identity card to Wallet through an application provided by the institution. transmitter. Note that sending applications must support two-factor authentication for account access, while adding these cards to Wallet automatically activates Express mode.

A section on the HomeKit TV remote control details future support for Siri-compatible remote control hardware, including how the system handles Siri commands.

"The third party HomeKit TV accessories provide HID events and Siri audio to an associated Apple TV added via the Home app," reads the document. "HID events are sent via the secure session between the Apple TV and the remote. A Siri-compatible TV remote control sends audio data to Apple TV when the user explicitly activates the microphone on the remote control using a dedicated Siri button. are sent directly to Apple TV via a dedicated local network connection between the Apple TV and the remote control "

Those interested in deepening the ins and outs of iOS 12 security, as well as details on a number of new features, can read the entire white paper published on the Apple website in. PDF today.

Apple generally updates the security guide with each major version of iOS, providing security and security information about the latest features and additions to the operating system. The white paper was last updated in July to cover HomeKit, Apple Pay, Business Chat, and other iOS 11.4 features.