iOS 16.1 brought some big changes to the iPhone when Apple released that software update earlier this week. but another iOS 16 An update is already in the works that will bring a new app to the iPhone along with other improvements.
Right after the release of the iOS 16.1 update, Apple released iOS 16.2 Beta 1 for developers. That means the software will be available soon as a public beta, with a full release likely before the end of the year.
The arrival of a new Freeform app leads the changes in iOS 16.2, which also includes some other hidden changes to other apps and features.
Here’s what we know so far about iOS 16.2 in terms of the features this update introduces.
iOS 16.2: free form
Maybe you forgot about Freeform, an app that Apple first unveiled during its Worldwide Developers Conference in June. Apple touts Freeform as a brainstorming and collaboration tool, and the app works as a kind of mobile whiteboard where people can work together in real time.
Freeform appears to be geared primarily towards the iPad, taking advantage of that device’s larger screen real estate. In fact, Freeform also debuts with the release of iPadOS 16.2 Beta 1, which arrived at the same time as the iOS 16.2 update. However, Freeform is designed to work across multiple Apple devices, so it’s also included in both iOS 16.2 and the new macOS Ventura beta.
Apple Release Notes for iOS 16.2 Beta 1 (opens in a new tab) warn of some known issues with Freeform that require workarounds to remove offline boards and add or remove collaborators when changing sharing settings. It’s a reminder that this is very much a beta, with a lot of tweaking in the works between now and iOS 16.2 getting a general release.
iPhones with 120 Hz screens: that’s the variety iPhone 13 Pro Y iPhone 14 Pro models: get a performance boost. Apple’s release notes say that animated layout changes now occur at 120Hz on ProMotion displays.
iOS 16.2: new home app architecture
Home has gotten a lot of attention in iOS 16, first with an all-new design that makes it easier to view and control smart home accessories. The iOS 16.1 update brought support for Affairan interoperability protocol backed by Google, Amazon, and Apple that should help different devices work together.
The changes keep coming in iOS 16.2, which will usher in a new architecture for the Home app. Apple says the change will bring faster and more reliable performance, though we’ll have to see it in action before we can see what that means for everyday use.
iOS 16.2: Live Activity Changes
Live Activities also appeared in iOS 16.1, but there will be some improvements to the feature in iOS 16.2. As a reminder, live activities are alerts that appear on the lock screen (or around Dynamic Island if you have an iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 14 ProMax) that give you continuous updates for things like sports scores, delivery statuses, and stopwatches.
9to5Mac Reports (opens in a new tab) I’ve seen code that will allow Live Activities to request updates at shorter intervals, which would increase the frequency of alert updates. Apparently, however, that feature is not yet available in iOS 16.2 Beta 1.
Another report, this one from MacRumors (opens in a new tab), states that Live Activities integration with select sporting events in the TV app has returned in iOS 16.2 beta; it had briefly been part of the iOS 16.1 beta.
According to MacRumors, you’ll be able to tap a Follow button on supported games in the TV app to display score updates on the lock screen or in Dynamic Island. Supported events include MLB and NBA games, as well as Premier League games in the US. We just started poking around in iOS 16.2 Beta 1 and haven’t spotted that feature yet.
iOS 16.2: Accidental Emergency SOS Call Report
New iOS 16.2 accidental emergency SOS call reporting features, I accidentally activated emergency SOS and the police 👮♂️ ended up at my house. 😳 @9to5mac @MacRumors pic.twitter.com/w0OOaK9W7EOctober 25, 2022
If you accidentally activate your iPhone’s SOS emergency call feature, iOS 16.2 Beta 1 apparently adds a way to report an unintentional call. A iOS 16.2 user took to Twitter (opens in a new tab) Say such a feature appeared when they inadvertently launched an Emergency SOS call on their iPhone.