As an enhancement to the iOS version, iPhone users running iOS 18 can access the advanced Halide camera app via the lock screen without having to unlock their devices. This feature, which was earlier available only within the Apple’s native camera application, improves the usability for halide loving users .
Halide has specific photo features like ability to set the shutter speed and processing of image where zero processing is done with prior usage of a lockscreen widget. The app had been opened through a widget on the lock screen, but the user was required to provide authentication via face id, touch id or a passcode to access the app.
In fact, it was possible to impose Halide on the lockscreen instead of for example the default instructions camera or flashlight icon after the latest update of Halide 2.16 and iOS 18. To do this, users need to long-press the lock screen, tap ‘Customize’ and then tap the lock screen again. Here, they are required to delete either flashlight or camera shortcut and insert Halide from the available apps under the Capture tab.
Although the app now folds away the intricacy level of accessing Halide through the use of the app as the same level as using the inbuilt camera, it still needs to be brought to the general public that Halide is a paid app. At a subscription fee of $2.99 monthly or $19.99 every year and a one time payment of $59.99 for a premium app, which is optional as well.
This improvement illustrates that Apple has been making strides in bettering the use of third-party applications and giving users more options when it comes to customizing their devices.