Exploring the Quirks of iOS 18: Math Notes and UI Choices

Chapter 1: Overview of iOS 18 Features

If you have one of the Apple devices depicted in the screenshot below, you're in for a treat with the latest smart features in iOS 18. One aspect that caught me off guard is the introduction of graphing capabilities within the Math Notes app, which I initially thought would be exclusive to the iPad and Apple Intelligence.

Math Notes stands out on its own, but the option to graph equations adds a whole new level of functionality. I still reminisce about the days of using graph paper during my high school Calculus classes over sixty years ago. Having access to a tool like this would have been revolutionary back then.

Today, it’s astonishing that you can utilize this feature not only in the Calculator app but also in Notes, with third-party developers having the potential to leverage the new Math Notes API for integrating graphing functionalities into their applications.

However, the user interface leaves much to be desired.

Section 1.1: User Experience Challenges

At first glance, it seems simple enough to input your equation, right? Unfortunately, that’s not the case. For instance, to graph “y=4x^2”, you can’t simply enter the entire equation. Instead, you must first input “4x^2” and then prepend “y=” to it. Only then will you receive a small pop-up that offers to graph the equation.

But there’s a catch: whether that pop-up appears can be quite random during beta testing. Even if it does show up, touching anywhere else on the screen could make it disappear. It begs the question: will these issues be resolved in the final version? We can only hope.

Section 1.2: Suggestions for Improvement

This could have been made significantly easier. Instead of the current cumbersome interface, why not utilize a more traditional and intuitive method that has been around for years?

Imagine simply highlighting the equation and accessing a context menu with graphing options! Wouldn’t that be a much more intuitive approach than what Apple has currently implemented? I truly cannot fathom why Apple overlooked this.

Update: A couple of individuals in the comments section have mentioned they noticed this option in the far-right pop-up. Unfortunately, I haven’t had the same experience.