On Monday, Apple revealed the features of its latest software update, iOS 12.
The focus? Getting us to spend less time on our phones, not more - for the sake of our own wellbeing.
Here are the main takeaways explained, before the changes are rolled out later this autumn.
Observe how much time you're spending on your phone
The new update will have a 'Screen Time' section which will reveal how many hours you've actually spent on your phone in the form of daily and weekly activity reports. The reports will be broken down into where you've spent most of your time, be it games, entertainment or social media.
"With Screen Time, these new tools are empowering users who want help managing their device time and balancing the many things that are important to them," Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering Craig Federighi said in a statement.
Setting limits on certain apps
As part of the new update, users will not only be able to monitor how much time they've spent on certain apps but also set limits to how much time per day they will allow themselves to invest in them. The user can set the limit which prompts a notification to pop up when it's about to be reached. The theory behind this is monitoring the hours spent on social networking might actually spur users into being more mindful of how their day is spent.
More control over notifications
Apple says the user can also "reduce interruptions" by further controls to their notification settings. Notifications can be turned off or delivered directly to the Notification Centre, under the new changes. Not only this, but Siri can (somehow) suggest settings to the notification centre, judging whether to quietly deliver or turn alerts off based on which alerts are acted upon by the user. The update will also group notifications together. So, say you get four different Whatsapps, they'll be lumped under one Whatsapp notification rather than four separate irritating ones.
Scheduling in downtime
In the new 'Screen Time' section of the phone, there's also an option for 'Downtime' which will allow you to allocate a period of time where notifications won't appear on the screen. Instead, a badge will appear detailing which apps are not allowed to be used. For parents - or adults really struggling in the self-restraint department - there's the added option of 'Block at Downtime' where the phone will be blocked.
Bedtime Mode
The Do Not Disturb function already exists on iPhones, but this new update brings "enhancements" to the function, according to Apple. The new tool, which is to be used while you're sleeping, will dim the display lighting and hide all notifications on the lock screen until the phone is used the next morning. The user can manage a time or location when notifications will be allowed to appear in the morning via the Control Centre.
Let's all look forward to hopefully getting some better quality sleep.
