iOS 11.4 brings multi-room audio and messaging to iCloud

Apple introduced the feature that was added with iOS 11.4 last year.
Apple has released iOS 11.4 for download. The update includes important promised features for iPhone and iPad – including AirPlay 2.

iOS 11.4 brings multi-room audio and messaging to iCloud, iOS 11.4 brings multi-room audio and messaging to iCloud,

iOS 11.4 is now generally available. Just under a week before the expected launch of iOS 12 at the WWDC developer conference, Apple has released two important – and long-delayed – features for iOS 11. The update brings both “News on iCloud” and multi-room audio with AirPlay 2 to iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

iCloud synchronizes iMessages and text messages

iCloud stores – optionally – all iMessage and SMS messages on Apple’s servers. Similar to the iCloud photo library, this should free up local storage space since the data is then only loaded locally when needed instead of being continuously stored there – and thus quickly taking up several GByte of space if you want to store it over the long term.

iCloud storage is also designed to ensure seamless synchronization of iMessages between your devices and move all conversations to a new device without having to restore it from an existing backup. The function also synchronizes changes such as deleting a message between your own devices, as Apple announced last year.

Messaging in iCloud also appears to better secure the end-to-end encryption communications service, which has been in place since its inception, by eliminating a loophole.

AirPlay 2 integrates support for multi-room audio into iOS: Users can stream music and audio content directly from their iPhone and iPad to multiple speakers instead of just one.

The prerequisite is that the speakers also understand AirPlay 2. Various manufacturers have already promised support, Sonos wants to deliver AirPlay 2 via software update on newer hardware, for example. More generous buffering also promises smoother playback via AirPlay 2 – and calls or games should no longer interrupt music playback.

[Update 29.5.2018 19:25] iOS 11.4 is now available, Apple has also released tvOS 11.4 and watchOS 4.3.1 for download. iOS 11.4 extends the functionality of the HomePod and solves problems, including the “Black Dot Bug”, the latest text bomb. The update is also intended to eliminate certain problems with music playback in the car.