Apple News and more! New developments at Apple and Android and what they mean for MDM users.

The world of mobile devices is constantly changing and there is news from Apple or Android almost every month, be it in relation to the latest operating system update, new features or even features that will no longer be available in the future. In our article we look at what’s new and what awaits us as the spring and summer progresses. You will also find out what these changes mean for you as an MDM customer.

Apple News: What can iOS device users expect in companies?

30% of the population worldwide uses iOS devices – a not insignificant proportion, considering that iPhones and tablets are quite expensive to purchase. Apple devices are currently becoming popular work devices, especially in the corporate environment, simply because they receive regular operating system updates for up to six years.

What can Apple users look forward to?

iPhone SE 4: The fourth generation of the iPhone SE will have a modern design without a home button and will rely on Face ID instead. It is based on the design of the iPhone 14 and offers the latest hardware. Since it supports enrollment as a managed device via Apple Business Manager, even companies with smaller budgets can equip their employees with the iPhone SE 4. Other plus points will be the optimized battery life and the robust case.

New iPad-Models: Apple plans to release new iPads, including the 6th generation iPad Air and 7th generation iPad mini. These are intended to appeal to both beginners and more demanding users. These Apple News should be particularly interesting for users of the Shared iPad model. For example, the iPad mini can be used in schools to support learning, while the larger iPads can also be used in health care and nursing facilities.

Apple Intelligence: With the introduction of iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia, Apple Intelligence, an advanced AI, will be integrated. This offers features such as text summarization and sound adjustment and is available on devices with Apple Silicon chips. In the run-up to the release in Europe, Apple first had to eliminate data protection concerns and partially adapt the feature for the European market. Despite these changes, many companies are likely to decide against using Apple Intelligence for the time being, as there are still some security concerns that Apple has not been able to fully address, such as what happens to the personal data on the device when the AI ​​has access to it. Apple Intelligence can therefore be deactivated for the time being using MobiVisor MDM.

Apple News for MDM users: New policy features

Apple has introduced new functions and key terms (keystrings) for Mobile Device Management (MDM) with the latest operating system versions (iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, macOS 15.3, tvOS 18.3, watchOS 11.3 and visionOS 2.3).

New MDM features and limitations:

  • Managing Apple Intelligence integrations:
    MDM can now manage Apple Intelligence integrations, including external services such as ChatGPT. Administrators can determine whether and how these services can be used.
    In MobiVisor MDM: “Allow External Intelligence Integrations”.
  • Limitation of image generation:
    It is possible to limit or disable Apple Intelligence image generation in applications such as Image Playgrounds.
    In MobiVisor MDM: “Allow Image Playground”
  • Disabling RCS messages:
    MDM can block the receipt and sending of RCS messages to increase control over messaging services.
    In MobiVisor MDM: “Allow RCS messaging”
  • Management of writing tools and email summaries:
    Administrators can control whether users can use writing tools or create email summaries.
    In MobiVisor MDM: “Allow writing tools” and “Allow mail summary”
  • Control over hiding apps:
    MDM can prevent users from hiding or locking apps, ensuring consistent app usage.
    In MobiVisor MDM: “Allow apps to be hidden”

Android News: What awaits us with Android 16?

Android users can also look forward to interesting changes, because Google naturally wants to keep up with current developments and the changing requirements of users. However, Google has so far placed greater emphasis on adapting the UI and accessibility in order to appeal to even more users.

What general innovations will there be on Android?

Google is already planning to release Android 16 on June 3, 2025, so that new Android devices that are scheduled to be released in the summer and fall will already be equipped with the new version. As far as is known for Android 16 the following innovations are planned:

  • Redesigned user interface:
    A modernized notification bar and a new quick settings panel are expected.
  • Multitasking improvements:
    Apps should be able to turn into floating bubbles to make multitasking easier.
  • Advanced Do Not Disturb Mode:
    This mode is intended to be more powerful, with the ability to create different modes.
  • Advanced privacy features:
    The integration of anti-theft protection directly into the settings is expected.

In general, the update seems to focus mainly on improving existing features and less on a complete redesign of the Android operating system. From the Beta 3 Version, which has been available for some time, these innovations are also included:

  • Introducing a Battery Health Screen:
    The battery status is displayed here and the user can now view basic information about the status of their battery and also receive tips to optimize battery health.
  • Live-Activity Notifications:
    A special feature in the future will be the so-called “Life Activity Notifications”. Anyone familiar with iOS devices may have already seen this feature: app activities are dynamically displayed in the notification bar. Until now there was no Android equivalent for this, which is supposed to be fixed with the new release.
  • Connected Camera: Android allows users to use external cameras such as GoPro devices or other Android smartphones as additional recording sources. These recordings can also be streamed directly to social media. For Google Pixel 9 devices This feature has been available since March 2025.

Android 16 and MDM: What is already known about this?

For companies that manage Android devices with an MDM, it is of course important to know what changes will occur in terms of device management when it comes to Android 16. With each update, APIs (interfaces) that enable certain MDM functions can either be added or removed.

New APIs are particularly interesting for MDM customers, which enable detailed statistics on apps to be read out. Unfortunately, nothing further is known yet.

Conclusion

The current developments at Apple and Android show how dynamically the market for mobile devices and MDM solutions is developing. While Apple optimizes enterprise usage with new devices, improved MDM features and Apple Intelligence, Android relies on intuitive user interfaces and advanced security functions. What remains particularly exciting is how new AI technologies and MDM integrations will impact company operations in the long term. Companies should familiarize themselves with the new possibilities and limitations early on in order to exploit the full potential of their mobile devices while minimizing security risks.

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