Apple today announced iOS 12, its next-generation platform for the iPhone and iPad. Apple says it spent time improving the performance of the operating system, which in claims will work well on iPhones and iPads that went on sale as far back as 2013. iOS 12 makes changes to how it handles CPU requirements, able to cycle up instantly to handle intense tasks and cycle back down to conserve power. It claims some apps will launch up to 40% faster. In addition to performance, iOS 12 is taking a big step forward with augmented reality. It debuted a new augmented reality file format called USDZ that developers can put to use when creating content. Apple says measurements are important to AR, so it is adding a real-world measuring tool to iOS 12 allowing people to measure physical objects through AR. ARKit 2.0 includes improved face tracking, 3D object detection, realistic rendering, and shared AR experiences. iOS 12 will make improvements to search in Photos with search suggestions, such as people, places, dates, and actions. It adds tools such as suggested sharing, suggested animations, and "remember this day" style images that all fall under a new tab called For You. iOS 12 promises "shortcuts" for Siri, which expose quick actions to Apple's voice-controlled assistant. Developers will be able to add these actions to their own apps, expanding Siri's ability's across the iPhone. Siri will now proactively offer suggestions that are context-aware, such as placing calls or sending alerts. An new tool called Siri Shortcuts will allow people to build custom actions, such as commuting home, that will engage a number of activities, such as checking traffic, changing the thermostat, and turning on lights. iOS 12 makes refreshments to Apple News with a new browse tab for discovering channels and topics. News also gains a new sidebar for easier navigation. The Apple Stocks app gains integration with Apple News, pairing stock price changes with related business news. The voice memos app is rebuilt, and will be available to the iPad for the first time. Voice memos gains iCloud support so recordings stay synced across devices. The iBooks app has been renamed Apple Books, such as a new store, better resume behaviors, and more. iOS 12 adds support to third-party apps in CarPlay. iOS 12 makes a big push to limit excessive use of smartphones. The Do Not Disturb tool is being amped up for bedtime routines, limiting notifications and distractions. iOS 12 retools some notifications, giving people more control over notifications. The update will supported grouped notifications, as well as Siri-based suggestions to mute apps that aren't used often. Group notifications can be dismissed en masse. Another tool provides a full activity report on how much time people spend on their iPhones, such as time, time in apps, how often the phone is picked up, and which apps are sending the most notifications. People can set time limits for individual apps and these can all be controlled by parents within family groups. Parents can dole out device allowances for apps, devices, and more. The iPhone X gains four more emoji (ghost, koala, tiger, t-rex), as well as the ability to interact with the owner's tongue. iOS 12 introduces Memoji, or the ability to create personalized Animoji. iOS 12 will be made available in the fall.